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gretchenplz's Reviews (542)
I want to give this book one star for Nesta and one star for Azriel, but I don't know if I have it in me.
This was an absolute crock of shit.
What in the alien Avengers bullshit was that?! I can't stop imagining the Aesteri as those aliens from Indiana Jones 4.
What was more ridiculous: the magic language bean, the cure being discovered in ~60 minutes, or Hunt's flaccid dick being too big for underwear?
Everything about this book comes across as juvenile — "Alphahole," "Light it up," "Level up," and "Through love, all things are possible" literally made me cringe every time.
SJM was clearly not ready to delve into adult high fantasy, and her lack of care and effort throughout the writing process shows. Did she even want to continue this series? It seems like she wrote the first book and then realized, "Oh, shit. I actually have to continue." Did no editor see this, either for plot/character continuity or for typos? Could no one offer her a ghostwriter?
2400 pages in the series, and I don't give a single shit about any of the characters. There's nothing keeping me attached to this series. How do you make your own FMC THAT unlikeable? Like... advocating for genocide one second then flipping the next chapter? THE FUCK?! No empathy for her mate and his trauma after he's been tortured for days on end? Plus, she's, what? A big glowstick that everyone wants to fuck? SO. LAME.
Please do not let anyone like Bryce "rescue" and take over the rule of my world. Sure, the intergalactic alien parasites are defeated, but not the entire infrastructure of the planet is destroyed with absolutely no plan forward. Also, all hierarchies are now destroyed! There definitely won't be anarchy, chaos, or civil war now!
So many characters and details were introduced that meant absolutely nothing in the end. The absolutely lamest use of a crossover of all time.
A laughable effort. What a waste of time.
I'm beginning to think SJM herself is a fraud. TOG was a plagiarized mess. CC was a sham. ACOTAR, for it's many flaws, at least made me care about the characters, the plot, and the world.
This was an absolute crock of shit.
What in the alien Avengers bullshit was that?! I can't stop imagining the Aesteri as those aliens from Indiana Jones 4.
What was more ridiculous: the magic language bean, the cure being discovered in ~60 minutes, or Hunt's flaccid dick being too big for underwear?
Everything about this book comes across as juvenile — "Alphahole," "Light it up," "Level up," and "Through love, all things are possible" literally made me cringe every time.
SJM was clearly not ready to delve into adult high fantasy, and her lack of care and effort throughout the writing process shows. Did she even want to continue this series? It seems like she wrote the first book and then realized, "Oh, shit. I actually have to continue." Did no editor see this, either for plot/character continuity or for typos? Could no one offer her a ghostwriter?
2400 pages in the series, and I don't give a single shit about any of the characters. There's nothing keeping me attached to this series. How do you make your own FMC THAT unlikeable? Like... advocating for genocide one second then flipping the next chapter? THE FUCK?! No empathy for her mate and his trauma after he's been tortured for days on end? Plus, she's, what? A big glowstick that everyone wants to fuck? SO. LAME.
Please do not let anyone like Bryce "rescue" and take over the rule of my world. Sure, the intergalactic alien parasites are defeated, but not the entire infrastructure of the planet is destroyed with absolutely no plan forward. Also, all hierarchies are now destroyed! There definitely won't be anarchy, chaos, or civil war now!
So many characters and details were introduced that meant absolutely nothing in the end. The absolutely lamest use of a crossover of all time.
A laughable effort. What a waste of time.
I'm beginning to think SJM herself is a fraud. TOG was a plagiarized mess. CC was a sham. ACOTAR, for it's many flaws, at least made me care about the characters, the plot, and the world.
This series was bonkers.
Honestly, I liked where this was going and the author had a cool vision, but it was honestly just over complicated. I could’t keep track of all the names and honestly the whole situation was super unbelievable (I know, I know, it’s fiction).
Did I devour the whole series in just a few days? Yes. Do think this series needs a big editing pass and some reorganizing and a slight rewrite and it’d be stellar? Also yes.
Honestly, I liked where this was going and the author had a cool vision, but it was honestly just over complicated. I could’t keep track of all the names and honestly the whole situation was super unbelievable (I know, I know, it’s fiction).
Did I devour the whole series in just a few days? Yes. Do think this series needs a big editing pass and some reorganizing and a slight rewrite and it’d be stellar? Also yes.
This is a brutal memoir, that covers some very intense subjects.
It clearly took the author a lot of strength to write it, and I applaud her for that.
I sincerely hope for a follow-up memoir in 20 years where we can hear more about her recovery and her life since this book.
It clearly took the author a lot of strength to write it, and I applaud her for that.
I sincerely hope for a follow-up memoir in 20 years where we can hear more about her recovery and her life since this book.
You can tell this is SJM’s first series.
Other note: I just cannot buy in on Celaena/Aelin being the strong female protagonist that everyone says she is. I find her selfish, vapid, annoying, and hypocritical, with no ability to understand nuance or see a bigger picture outside herself. A 19-year-old will not make a strong queen. And I know (I've seen this film before) she and Rowan are mates, so don't even get me started on that.
I sincerely hope she gains perspective in the next book
Other note: I just cannot buy in on Celaena/Aelin being the strong female protagonist that everyone says she is. I find her selfish, vapid, annoying, and hypocritical, with no ability to understand nuance or see a bigger picture outside herself. A 19-year-old will not make a strong queen. And I know (I've seen this film before) she and Rowan are mates, so don't even get me started on that.
I sincerely hope she gains perspective in the next book
This was basically a rehash of the first book, but with less substance. Like... we're right back to where we started? It wasn't bad, it just... I'll leave it there.
I know this is likely an unpopular opinion, but I really loved the slang the author created for this era. It really helped me immerse in the "pretty-mindedness" of it all.
I know this is likely an unpopular opinion, but I really loved the slang the author created for this era. It really helped me immerse in the "pretty-mindedness" of it all.
The curse of BookTok's endorsement strikes again.
Honestly? Den of Vipers has better smut and better plot.
Honestly? Den of Vipers has better smut and better plot.
I never thought I would be so riveted by a book about plagues...
I'm gonna say something nasty and say that all those bemoaning, "I thought I was going to read about plagues, not history," either lack reading comprehension or just refuse to Get It. This was such an in-depth look at how it's not JUST plagues — it's our world and our systems and how it was built and how it is transitioning in the future.
Really a fascinating look at history through the lense of the diseases that shaped us.
I'm gonna say something nasty and say that all those bemoaning, "I thought I was going to read about plagues, not history," either lack reading comprehension or just refuse to Get It. This was such an in-depth look at how it's not JUST plagues — it's our world and our systems and how it was built and how it is transitioning in the future.
Really a fascinating look at history through the lense of the diseases that shaped us.