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acuriousreader's Reviews (573)
It was good. Not great. Definitely slow paced. For being such a small book it felt like it took me forever to get through it.
Actual rating 2.5 star.
review to come....but, so much could have been better
review to come....but, so much could have been better
This ARC was graciously provided by Edelwiess and Bloomsbury in exchange for my honest review
ugh, this is a hesitant 3 star... more like a 2.5 star if I'm being completely honest.
The story had all the building blocks to be something great, but I fear the lack in development with some of the characters and how the story was executed really fell short for me.
I think that Lia Mara's PoV was completely unnecessary. she was definitely more like an important side character than a main that needed her own chapters. Not to mention that put both PoVs on the exact same path throughout the book, which was a bit off putting considering the first book was completely about Rhen and Harper, and that this book surrounded Rhen's possible downfall and Grey's unwanted rise. I think it would have played out a lot better with Grey and RHEN having PoV's. to get a glimpse of the darkness Grey left back at Ironrose and what Greys decisions left in his wake back at his old home and with his people.
And, without getting into spoiler territory here, I feel like certain endgame decisions were wrapped up a bit to easily and that epilogue? No... it made the whole journey so far feel pointless. And it also contradicts a lot of where she had Rhens character go/his reasons for certain actions.
The other problem I had was the amount of "Creamy pale skin" there was in this book... and the fact that THAT was how they were described... continuously. the lack of diversity in this book is very apparent, and in 2019 especially with that big of a world and the many cast of characters... it just ain't it.
I am hoping that maybe some of these shortcoming can be fixed and wrapped up in the third instalment. and definitely some diversity should be added, although with the ground that has been laid, I'm not sure if it can be done properly now.
Over all I do enjoy the story and want to see where it goes from here, but this book suffers heavily from second book syndrome and a great lack of diversity.
ugh, this is a hesitant 3 star... more like a 2.5 star if I'm being completely honest.
The story had all the building blocks to be something great, but I fear the lack in development with some of the characters and how the story was executed really fell short for me.
I think that Lia Mara's PoV was completely unnecessary. she was definitely more like an important side character than a main that needed her own chapters. Not to mention that put both PoVs on the exact same path throughout the book, which was a bit off putting considering the first book was completely about Rhen and Harper, and that this book surrounded Rhen's possible downfall and Grey's unwanted rise. I think it would have played out a lot better with Grey and RHEN having PoV's. to get a glimpse of the darkness Grey left back at Ironrose and what Greys decisions left in his wake back at his old home and with his people.
And, without getting into spoiler territory here, I feel like certain endgame decisions were wrapped up a bit to easily and that epilogue? No... it made the whole journey so far feel pointless. And it also contradicts a lot of where she had Rhens character go/his reasons for certain actions.
The other problem I had was the amount of "Creamy pale skin" there was in this book... and the fact that THAT was how they were described... continuously. the lack of diversity in this book is very apparent, and in 2019 especially with that big of a world and the many cast of characters... it just ain't it.
I am hoping that maybe some of these shortcoming can be fixed and wrapped up in the third instalment. and definitely some diversity should be added, although with the ground that has been laid, I'm not sure if it can be done properly now.
Over all I do enjoy the story and want to see where it goes from here, but this book suffers heavily from second book syndrome and a great lack of diversity.