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thebiglittlelibrary's Reviews (622)
3 ⭐ Meh, it's okay
Kingdom of the Wicked is a YA fantasy novel with lots of suspense, a bit of mystery, and a slow-burn romance.
“There are victors and victims. Decide who you want to be. Or the choice will be made for you, witch. And I doubt you’ll like it.”
Summary:
The setting is 19th century Palermo, Sicily. Emilia and her twin sister, Vittoria, are both witches. Even though they are twins, they couldn't be any different. While Vittoria is adventurous and wild, Emilia is more reserved and traditional. Their family owns a popular Sicilian restaurant and avoids other witches for fear of notice and persecution. One night, Emilia happens upon Vittoria's mutilated body and vows to avenge her sister at any cost - even if that means using dark magic.
Desperate for help, Emilia tries conjuring a low-level demon from hell but is surprisingly met by Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that her grandmother has warned her about since she was a child. Seeing that Wrath is already tasked with solving the murders of several other female witches on the island, Emilia decides her best chance of revenge is partnering with this devilishly attractive Prince. As they work together to solve these murders, Emilia is confronted with the painful truth that her sister was hiding something important from her. . . something that could change the world for better or worse.
My Thoughts:
I genuinely enjoyed the story, world-building, and descriptive writing. However, while there were more than a few entertaining moments, Kingdom of the Wicked didn't capture my attention. Granted, I did have high hopes because it came highly recommended on Tiktok, but I just didn't understand the hype.
First off, the plot was extremely predictable. This isn't necessarily bad, but it definitely didn't help keep my interest. It had the predictability of a fairytale story, where you get the general idea of where the story will lead within the first chapter.
There were a lot of repetitive ramblings made by Emilia. These didn't really inform the reader of anything useful, so it just felt like they were filler sentences. I found myself skimming quite a bit when this happened.
There's not a lot of explanation about the magic used by witches or demons. We see both use their powers, but I don't understand the overall magic system. This is definitely something that should be addressed better in the next book.
Many characters withheld information for no real reason but for the sake of creating mystery in the story. One prime example is how her Nonna knew about the prophecy but chose to keep it from the twins. You're telling me this overprotective grandmother wouldn't warn her granddaughters about a prophecy that potentially involves them? This, of course, is all revealed in a sudden moment of danger when there is no time for Nonna to explain. Like, come on. I enjoy drama, but this was painfully forced.
Emilia's character had many inconsistencies. The author portrays her as the more reserved, thoughtful twin. However, once her sister is murdered, she is extremely reckless and makes most of her decisions with haste, putting her in plenty of dangerous scenarios. I understand her rash behavior could be due to grief, but it didn't really come across that way. Instead, it just felt like another easy way for the author to move the story along.
The enemies-to-lovers romance hardly sizzled. Wrath is eye-candy, and Emilia is a beauty herself. However, Wrath is a demon Prince of Hell, which makes him Emilia's forbidden fruit. The romance is slow-burn, and in the end, there's only one PG-13 kissing scene. But that wasn't the real issue.
I truly didn't feel any chemistry between these two. I don't get the leap from enemies to (sort of) lovers. I needed more sexy banter and a better understanding of why either one is interested in the other besides their obvious attraction.
I still don't understand the ending. I read a lot of fantasy books, but that ending confused the hell out of me. All I could think was, "What the f*ck just happened?" The cliffhanger was fine, but the revelations in the last 30 pages didn't fit together. It felt rushed and forced.
Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was far from a bad book, but there were too many issues that took away from my enjoyment of the story.
*I'm pretty bummed that the two recent reads that were Booktok favorites (Six of Crows and Kingdom of the Wicked) turned out to be just okay. If anyone wants to recommend a 5-star book, I'm all ears. Help me before I fall into a reading slump. . .
Kingdom of the Wicked is a YA fantasy novel with lots of suspense, a bit of mystery, and a slow-burn romance.
“There are victors and victims. Decide who you want to be. Or the choice will be made for you, witch. And I doubt you’ll like it.”
Summary:
The setting is 19th century Palermo, Sicily. Emilia and her twin sister, Vittoria, are both witches. Even though they are twins, they couldn't be any different. While Vittoria is adventurous and wild, Emilia is more reserved and traditional. Their family owns a popular Sicilian restaurant and avoids other witches for fear of notice and persecution. One night, Emilia happens upon Vittoria's mutilated body and vows to avenge her sister at any cost - even if that means using dark magic.
Desperate for help, Emilia tries conjuring a low-level demon from hell but is surprisingly met by Wrath, one of the Wicked Princes of Hell that her grandmother has warned her about since she was a child. Seeing that Wrath is already tasked with solving the murders of several other female witches on the island, Emilia decides her best chance of revenge is partnering with this devilishly attractive Prince. As they work together to solve these murders, Emilia is confronted with the painful truth that her sister was hiding something important from her. . . something that could change the world for better or worse.
My Thoughts:
I genuinely enjoyed the story, world-building, and descriptive writing. However, while there were more than a few entertaining moments, Kingdom of the Wicked didn't capture my attention. Granted, I did have high hopes because it came highly recommended on Tiktok, but I just didn't understand the hype.
First off, the plot was extremely predictable. This isn't necessarily bad, but it definitely didn't help keep my interest. It had the predictability of a fairytale story, where you get the general idea of where the story will lead within the first chapter.
There were a lot of repetitive ramblings made by Emilia. These didn't really inform the reader of anything useful, so it just felt like they were filler sentences. I found myself skimming quite a bit when this happened.
There's not a lot of explanation about the magic used by witches or demons. We see both use their powers, but I don't understand the overall magic system. This is definitely something that should be addressed better in the next book.
Many characters withheld information for no real reason but for the sake of creating mystery in the story. One prime example is how her Nonna knew about the prophecy but chose to keep it from the twins. You're telling me this overprotective grandmother wouldn't warn her granddaughters about a prophecy that potentially involves them? This, of course, is all revealed in a sudden moment of danger when there is no time for Nonna to explain. Like, come on. I enjoy drama, but this was painfully forced.
Emilia's character had many inconsistencies. The author portrays her as the more reserved, thoughtful twin. However, once her sister is murdered, she is extremely reckless and makes most of her decisions with haste, putting her in plenty of dangerous scenarios. I understand her rash behavior could be due to grief, but it didn't really come across that way. Instead, it just felt like another easy way for the author to move the story along.
The enemies-to-lovers romance hardly sizzled. Wrath is eye-candy, and Emilia is a beauty herself. However, Wrath is a demon Prince of Hell, which makes him Emilia's forbidden fruit. The romance is slow-burn, and in the end, there's only one PG-13 kissing scene. But that wasn't the real issue.
I truly didn't feel any chemistry between these two. I don't get the leap from enemies to (sort of) lovers. I needed more sexy banter and a better understanding of why either one is interested in the other besides their obvious attraction.
I still don't understand the ending. I read a lot of fantasy books, but that ending confused the hell out of me. All I could think was, "What the f*ck just happened?" The cliffhanger was fine, but the revelations in the last 30 pages didn't fit together. It felt rushed and forced.
Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was far from a bad book, but there were too many issues that took away from my enjoyment of the story.
*I'm pretty bummed that the two recent reads that were Booktok favorites (Six of Crows and Kingdom of the Wicked) turned out to be just okay. If anyone wants to recommend a 5-star book, I'm all ears. Help me before I fall into a reading slump. . .
3 ⭐️ Entertaining quick-read; it's just not for me. (Ages 13+)
Summary: The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch is a Dark YA Fantasy novel inspired by English folklore and horror. Thomas Ward is sent to be Old Gregory's apprentice, the local spook whose job is to protect the area from things that lurk in the dark such as witches, ghosts, and boggarts. But Thomas isn't an ordinary apprentice. He is the seventh son of a seventh son, which gives him special gifts that help him fight the Dark. While the Spook is away, Thomas is tricked by a village girl with pointy shoes to free Mother Malkin, the evilest witch in the County, and he must find a way to stop her before it's too late.
If I were an adolescent or enjoyed this genre, I probably would give it 4 stars. The writing was clean and simple, it's relatively fast-paced, the plot is engaging, and the characters are interesting. However, the story didn't truly captivate me and lacked depth.
Also, there's some blatant sexism. The Spook tells Thomas that girls are untrustworthy, especially if they wear pointy shoes. The women of this story are either witches (most are bad) or mothers (who are good, but their only role is to have children and take care of the home). Oh, and men don't do "women's work." And no one contradicts these notions - yikes. I get this is part of the medievalesque world-building, but the lack of positive female representation is problematic, especially since this is written for a younger (more impressionable) audience.
For now, I'm going to pass on reading the rest of the series, but the plot was interesting enough that I may pick it up on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Summary: The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch is a Dark YA Fantasy novel inspired by English folklore and horror. Thomas Ward is sent to be Old Gregory's apprentice, the local spook whose job is to protect the area from things that lurk in the dark such as witches, ghosts, and boggarts. But Thomas isn't an ordinary apprentice. He is the seventh son of a seventh son, which gives him special gifts that help him fight the Dark. While the Spook is away, Thomas is tricked by a village girl with pointy shoes to free Mother Malkin, the evilest witch in the County, and he must find a way to stop her before it's too late.
If I were an adolescent or enjoyed this genre, I probably would give it 4 stars. The writing was clean and simple, it's relatively fast-paced, the plot is engaging, and the characters are interesting. However, the story didn't truly captivate me and lacked depth.
Also, there's some blatant sexism. The Spook tells Thomas that girls are untrustworthy, especially if they wear pointy shoes. The women of this story are either witches (most are bad) or mothers (who are good, but their only role is to have children and take care of the home). Oh, and men don't do "women's work." And no one contradicts these notions - yikes. I get this is part of the medievalesque world-building, but the lack of positive female representation is problematic, especially since this is written for a younger (more impressionable) audience.
For now, I'm going to pass on reading the rest of the series, but the plot was interesting enough that I may pick it up on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
3 ⭐ More plot, less romance
"I'll sleep long and hard when I'm dead. You defy death by celebrating life."
Summary:
Picking up where Radiance left off, Secmis, the Queen of Haradis, has unleashed a terrible demon horde that destroys the royal family and most of the inhabitants of Haradis. Brishen, the once unimportant younger prince of the Kai, finds himself ruler of the kingdom, making his human wife queen. Their new roles threaten their relationship, as Ildiko must decide if she will stand by the man she loves or give him up to secure his throne. All the while, Brishen must find a way to unite three enemy kingdoms to save the world from inhalation.
My Thoughts:
Radiance and Eidolon are very different books. Where Radiance solely focuses on romance, Eidolon centers around a global threat with romance as a subplot. However, I use the word 'romance' loosely because there's hardly any. Instead, we get a lot of angst and drama surrounding Ildiko and Brishen's relationship as they navigate their new roles as king and queen.
I mentioned in my review of Radiance that I wished there were a more captivating plot and better world-building, which Eidolon fixes. However, the lack of romance and spicy scenes made the book less enjoyable. I am obsessed with Ildiko and Brishen, so it was disappointing to see them mostly in conflict with each other and their relationship constantly tested. Yes, they, of course, can overcome these obstacles. Still, I needed more romance, especially with an overarching plotline about a demon horde that threatens to devour the entire world. A little more romance and spice would have lightened up the dark mood of this book.
And maybe it was the lack of romance compared to the first book, but I just found myself less and less interested as I continued reading. I can't really explain it because the plot did pick up and got 'interesting,' but by the end, I was indifferent to the story.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Radiance with the understanding that there's less romance. While I won't be diving right into the next, I plan to read it sometime in the future.
"I'll sleep long and hard when I'm dead. You defy death by celebrating life."
Summary:
Picking up where Radiance left off, Secmis, the Queen of Haradis, has unleashed a terrible demon horde that destroys the royal family and most of the inhabitants of Haradis. Brishen, the once unimportant younger prince of the Kai, finds himself ruler of the kingdom, making his human wife queen. Their new roles threaten their relationship, as Ildiko must decide if she will stand by the man she loves or give him up to secure his throne. All the while, Brishen must find a way to unite three enemy kingdoms to save the world from inhalation.
My Thoughts:
Radiance and Eidolon are very different books. Where Radiance solely focuses on romance, Eidolon centers around a global threat with romance as a subplot. However, I use the word 'romance' loosely because there's hardly any. Instead, we get a lot of angst and drama surrounding Ildiko and Brishen's relationship as they navigate their new roles as king and queen.
I mentioned in my review of Radiance that I wished there were a more captivating plot and better world-building, which Eidolon fixes. However, the lack of romance and spicy scenes made the book less enjoyable. I am obsessed with Ildiko and Brishen, so it was disappointing to see them mostly in conflict with each other and their relationship constantly tested. Yes, they, of course, can overcome these obstacles. Still, I needed more romance, especially with an overarching plotline about a demon horde that threatens to devour the entire world. A little more romance and spice would have lightened up the dark mood of this book.
And maybe it was the lack of romance compared to the first book, but I just found myself less and less interested as I continued reading. I can't really explain it because the plot did pick up and got 'interesting,' but by the end, I was indifferent to the story.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Radiance with the understanding that there's less romance. While I won't be diving right into the next, I plan to read it sometime in the future.
3 ⭐️ Underwhelming but still satisfying
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interested as this series went on. Maybe it was the continuous cringe-worthy teen dialogue or the major info dumps or repetitive descriptions. Seriously, I can only listen to Layla go on and on about Roth's 'tawny eyes' or his abs. Believe me, Layla, I heard you the first hundred times.
Every Last Breath was a good finale to The Dark Elements series. However, I found myself less and less interested as this series went on. Maybe it was the continuous cringe-worthy teen dialogue or the major info dumps or repetitive descriptions. Seriously, I can only listen to Layla go on and on about Roth's 'tawny eyes' or his abs. Believe me, Layla, I heard you the first hundred times.
4 ⭐️ Entertaining teen paranormal romance
I've only ever read the From Blood, and Ash series by Jennifer L Armentrout and absolutely loved it! I was a little nervous heading into this one since it's a YA book about gargoyles and demons; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Only JLA could find a way to make gargoyles normal and even sexy.
I've only ever read the From Blood, and Ash series by Jennifer L Armentrout and absolutely loved it! I was a little nervous heading into this one since it's a YA book about gargoyles and demons; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Only JLA could find a way to make gargoyles normal and even sexy.
2.5 ⭐ If Gossip Girl, Lucifer, and The Sopranos had a child, this book would be it.
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault and intended rape (does not happen though) in chapters 36 and 37.
The Summary:
Vein of Love is a paranormal romance based in NYC about nineteen-year-old Molly Darling, who has sensitive, glowing eyes and random outbursts of strength. When a sexy, arrogant demon shows up claiming Molly is his fiance due to a blood contract signed by her ancestors 300 years ago, her world is turned upside down. While being forced to spend time with her fiance, Tensley, Molly learns that the first rule for demons is never to develop a full heart. Well, that explains his jerk-like behavior and bad attitude, but sometimes Molly sees glimpses of the tortured soul that lies beyond those liquid grey eyes. Maybe he is capable of love? Regardless, Molly must find a way to reclaim her life and get out of the contract without hurting those she cares for, which may include her betrothed.
I really like the concept of this story. However, there were a few reasons why I'm giving it 3-Stars.
Molly's character is so cliche. She is the epitome of a gorgeous blonde girl with huge boobs, a big butt, and a tiny waist. BUT of course doesn't know she's hot. Instead, Molly is insecure and shy because she has been the topic of rumors due to her constantly wearing of sunglasses (to hide her glowing daemon eyes) and some instances where she showed some superhuman strength. Awww, poor baby. Also, Molly is super-rich. Like, she lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan rich, or at least her parents do. But she wants to be independent, so she lives in a crappy apartment with her best friend (who doesn't come from money and is very loud and obnoxious). Everything just seems so freaking cliche and unoriginal.
Oh, and did I mention Molly is a virgin? Yes, we can't forget to have a virgin MC who is forced into an engagement with a succubus demon who literally gains power by physical intimacy. Cue the sexual tension.
Molly is too naive. Molly is a 19-year-old and hasn't once tried to learn more about why her freaking eyes glow???? I know she's young, and her parents have been protecting her, but if you're mature enough to move out and get a job on your own, you would think she would also see a doctor about her glowing eyes! Also, how do you even hide that for 19 years just by sunglasses??? I'm pretty sure the US government would have already experimented on her by now.
She also made some really dumb decisions throughout the book. I get she was scared about Tensley being her fiance and her loved ones possibly being in danger, but YOU DO NOT EVER make a blood oath with a bunch of strangers you JUST met! I don't care how desperate you are. How can anyone be this naive and stupid, especially when you've grown up in NYC???
Tensley was not likable. Maybe that's the point, but his constant entitled attitude and rudeness got really annoying. He also never explains anything about himself or demon culture to Molly, which leads her to make such stupid decisions. If Tensley had just sat down with Molly and her family, explained the situation calmly, and answered some of their questions in a civilized manner, things would have been fine. BUT NO. We need drama, so cue the miscommunication and alpha-male behavior. There were moments of his kindness and gentleness, but I wish there were more of it.
Slow-pace and weak plot. While the story's paranormal concept was interesting, this book was mostly about Tensley and Molly's relationship. I just finished this yesterday, and I honestly cannot remember what happened in most of this book. The beginning. Got it. The end. Got it. But the middle. . . nope. I know there's a ton of sexual tension and conflict due to miscommunication, but I couldn't tell you the specifics. I often found myself skimming paragraphs to keep things moving along.
The slow, slow, slow-burn romance. I guess with the book cover, I expected more sex. Molly and Tensley have chemistry, and pretty much every encounter is filled with sexual tension. There are a total of three 'sex' scenes, but they do not go all the way. I was expecting and hoping for more.
Overall, I thought Vein of Love wasn't great, but for some reason, I'm invested in knowing what the hell happens between Molly and Tensley. This story has potential based on the ending, so I'll give the second book a try. Hopefully, I don't regret it.
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault and intended rape (does not happen though) in chapters 36 and 37.
The Summary:
Vein of Love is a paranormal romance based in NYC about nineteen-year-old Molly Darling, who has sensitive, glowing eyes and random outbursts of strength. When a sexy, arrogant demon shows up claiming Molly is his fiance due to a blood contract signed by her ancestors 300 years ago, her world is turned upside down. While being forced to spend time with her fiance, Tensley, Molly learns that the first rule for demons is never to develop a full heart. Well, that explains his jerk-like behavior and bad attitude, but sometimes Molly sees glimpses of the tortured soul that lies beyond those liquid grey eyes. Maybe he is capable of love? Regardless, Molly must find a way to reclaim her life and get out of the contract without hurting those she cares for, which may include her betrothed.
I really like the concept of this story. However, there were a few reasons why I'm giving it 3-Stars.
Molly's character is so cliche. She is the epitome of a gorgeous blonde girl with huge boobs, a big butt, and a tiny waist. BUT of course doesn't know she's hot. Instead, Molly is insecure and shy because she has been the topic of rumors due to her constantly wearing of sunglasses (to hide her glowing daemon eyes) and some instances where she showed some superhuman strength. Awww, poor baby. Also, Molly is super-rich. Like, she lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan rich, or at least her parents do. But she wants to be independent, so she lives in a crappy apartment with her best friend (who doesn't come from money and is very loud and obnoxious). Everything just seems so freaking cliche and unoriginal.
Oh, and did I mention Molly is a virgin? Yes, we can't forget to have a virgin MC who is forced into an engagement with a succubus demon who literally gains power by physical intimacy. Cue the sexual tension.
Molly is too naive. Molly is a 19-year-old and hasn't once tried to learn more about why her freaking eyes glow???? I know she's young, and her parents have been protecting her, but if you're mature enough to move out and get a job on your own, you would think she would also see a doctor about her glowing eyes! Also, how do you even hide that for 19 years just by sunglasses??? I'm pretty sure the US government would have already experimented on her by now.
She also made some really dumb decisions throughout the book. I get she was scared about Tensley being her fiance and her loved ones possibly being in danger, but YOU DO NOT EVER make a blood oath with a bunch of strangers you JUST met! I don't care how desperate you are. How can anyone be this naive and stupid, especially when you've grown up in NYC???
Tensley was not likable. Maybe that's the point, but his constant entitled attitude and rudeness got really annoying. He also never explains anything about himself or demon culture to Molly, which leads her to make such stupid decisions. If Tensley had just sat down with Molly and her family, explained the situation calmly, and answered some of their questions in a civilized manner, things would have been fine. BUT NO. We need drama, so cue the miscommunication and alpha-male behavior. There were moments of his kindness and gentleness, but I wish there were more of it.
Slow-pace and weak plot. While the story's paranormal concept was interesting, this book was mostly about Tensley and Molly's relationship. I just finished this yesterday, and I honestly cannot remember what happened in most of this book. The beginning. Got it. The end. Got it. But the middle. . . nope. I know there's a ton of sexual tension and conflict due to miscommunication, but I couldn't tell you the specifics. I often found myself skimming paragraphs to keep things moving along.
The slow, slow, slow-burn romance. I guess with the book cover, I expected more sex. Molly and Tensley have chemistry, and pretty much every encounter is filled with sexual tension. There are a total of three 'sex' scenes, but they do not go all the way. I was expecting and hoping for more.
Overall, I thought Vein of Love wasn't great, but for some reason, I'm invested in knowing what the hell happens between Molly and Tensley. This story has potential based on the ending, so I'll give the second book a try. Hopefully, I don't regret it.
3.5 ⭐ Sweet and Interesting
Radiance follows two characters bound by duty to marry. One is human; the other is Kai (a different species, yet still humanoid). While both find each other extremely unattractive, they build a friendship based on honesty and love, which turns into something beautiful. While I may not have given it the highest rating, I was so pleasantly surprised by this unique story that I read it in one night.
Things I liked:
Unique fantasy world. There may not be any fae or vampires, but there's plenty of political drama and magic in this realm. The Kai are an ancient people with gray skin, razor-sharp teeth, claw-like nails, and yellow eyes. Their Kai kingdom, Bast-Haradis, neighbors a few different human kingdoms like the Gauri and the Beladine. The differences between the Kai and humans are as stark as night and day, yet Brishan and Ildiko also show how similar they may be.
Slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Brishen and Ildiko. These two are the sweetest couple I've read about in a long time. Since this story centers around their arranged marriage, I figured their relationship would be filled with loathing and conflict. However, I was so wrong. Both Brishen and Ildiko are mature and accepting of their duty to wed and immediately form a friendship based on honesty, trust, and understanding. I've been reading a lot of enemies-to-lovers lately, so this was really refreshing!
While they are initially revolted by one another physically, they quickly see the beauty that lies beneath, which leads to them falling deeply in love. Their romance is a very, VERY slow burn, but I'm not mad about it. It's beautiful and so pure. They make me happy.
The humor. Brishen and Ildiko are not only adorable but hilarious. Their honesty with one another had me cackling at some points! For example:
This is the conversation between Brishen and Ildiko when they first meet, and their frankness with one another continues throughout the book.
Another favorite moment between them was when Ildiko crossed her eyes in front of Brishen to freak him out.
Let's also not forget Brishen is introduced to potatoes for the first time.
Radiance follows two characters bound by duty to marry. One is human; the other is Kai (a different species, yet still humanoid). While both find each other extremely unattractive, they build a friendship based on honesty and love, which turns into something beautiful. While I may not have given it the highest rating, I was so pleasantly surprised by this unique story that I read it in one night.
Things I liked:
Unique fantasy world. There may not be any fae or vampires, but there's plenty of political drama and magic in this realm. The Kai are an ancient people with gray skin, razor-sharp teeth, claw-like nails, and yellow eyes. Their Kai kingdom, Bast-Haradis, neighbors a few different human kingdoms like the Gauri and the Beladine. The differences between the Kai and humans are as stark as night and day, yet Brishan and Ildiko also show how similar they may be.
Slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance. Brishen and Ildiko. These two are the sweetest couple I've read about in a long time. Since this story centers around their arranged marriage, I figured their relationship would be filled with loathing and conflict. However, I was so wrong. Both Brishen and Ildiko are mature and accepting of their duty to wed and immediately form a friendship based on honesty, trust, and understanding. I've been reading a lot of enemies-to-lovers lately, so this was really refreshing!
While they are initially revolted by one another physically, they quickly see the beauty that lies beneath, which leads to them falling deeply in love. Their romance is a very, VERY slow burn, but I'm not mad about it. It's beautiful and so pure. They make me happy.
The humor. Brishen and Ildiko are not only adorable but hilarious. Their honesty with one another had me cackling at some points! For example:
"You find me ugly, don't you?"
"Hideous. A hag of a woman. And you? You don't think me a handsome man?"
"Had you crawled out from under my bed when I was a child, I would have bludgeoned you to death with my father's mace."
This is the conversation between Brishen and Ildiko when they first meet, and their frankness with one another continues throughout the book.
Another favorite moment between them was when Ildiko crossed her eyes in front of Brishen to freak him out.
He almost leapt out of his skin when Ildiko stared at him as both of her eyes drifted slowly down and over until they seemed to meet together, separated only by the elegant bridge of her nose.
"Lover of thorns and holy gods!" he yelped and clapped on hand across her eyes to shut out the sight. "Stop that," he ordered.
Ildiko laughed and pushed his hands away. She laughed even harder when she caught sight of his expression. "Wait," she gasped on a giggle. "I can do better. Want to see me make one eye cross and have the other stay still?"
Brishen reared back. "No!" He grimaced. "Nightmarish. I'll thank you to keep that particular talent to yourself, wife."
Let's also not forget Brishen is introduced to potatoes for the first time.
4.5 Stars ⭐️ Heart-pounding, epic conclusion
I truly LOVED this finale! The story was constantly moving with loads of action, which was sorely missed from Siege and Storm, and a few plot twists left me gaping or screaming at the book. Once again, Leigh Bardugo does an incredible job developing the 'Grishaverse' and an even better job wrapping up Alina's story. I could not put this book down!!!
*SPOILERS*
Well, turns out the Darkling is ACTUALLY a bad guy with ZERO chance of redemption.
I truly LOVED this finale! The story was constantly moving with loads of action, which was sorely missed from Siege and Storm, and a few plot twists left me gaping or screaming at the book. Once again, Leigh Bardugo does an incredible job developing the 'Grishaverse' and an even better job wrapping up Alina's story. I could not put this book down!!!
*SPOILERS*
Well, turns out the Darkling is ACTUALLY a bad guy with ZERO chance of redemption.
3.5 Stars ⭐️ Amazing writing, slow-pace
"You know the problem with heroes and saints? They always end up dead."
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Shadow and Bone. This was mostly due to the incredibly dull moments between high-action points and irritating conversations with Mal (seriously, I hate him). Both were distracting enough that I can't give it anything more than 3.5-Stars. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. Just know that it might take a little more of your concentration and patience. Still, the storyline and character developments along the way are worthwhile and important for continuing onto the next book.
*SPOILERS*
What I liked:
World building. Leigh Bardugo once again immerses us into this Russian-inspired land of magic. We sail across the True Sea from Novyi Zem, through the Bone Road, and back to Ravka. I absolutely love Bardugo's descriptive writing because you can really imagine yourself on this journey with Alina.
Alina's character development. In a short time, Alina has gone from a weak, lowly soldier to one of the most powerful beings in her world. And as her power grows, so does her desire for more. Perhaps she and the Darkling are not so different. After all, "like calls to like." In Siege and Storm, she struggles to accept the person she is becoming while trying to hold onto the past, but it becomes clear that the old Alina is gone.
Sturmhond / Nikolai. What a hoot! Honestly, he was the most interesting character in the entire book. I enjoyed his way with words and how he got under everyone's skin. Also, I definitely didn't see his true identity reveal coming, so that was a nice surprise.
The beginning and end. The first 100 pages and the last 50 pages are basically the only exciting moments in this book. And no surprise, it's all whenever the Darkling is around.
What I didn't liked:
Slow pace. As I mentioned above, the beginning and the end are the best parts of this book, but it's 400+ pages long, so getting through the middle required determination. Once Alina and Mal go back to Os Alta, I felt like the story flatlined. Even though it was boring, it was all essential to the story's progression, so I didn't totally hate it. I just wish there were more high-action moments during this lull instead of Alina and Mal's drama.
Confusing nature of Alina's powers. Alina gets another amplifier which increases her already enormous power, but there isn't any development regarding her understanding of that power. Leigh Bardugo toys with the idea that Alina can create monsters from the light the same way the Darkling can create shadow monsters, but we don't see this happening. In the next book, I hope Alina takes a deep dive exploring her powers (if she still has them) and the ancient magic that seems to be its source.
Mal. I hate this guy. He is constantly holding Alina back from her true potential and purpose. He fears her and who she is becoming. Instead of supporting and loving Alina, he makes her feel guilty and is jealous of her relationship with other powerful men. Alina better not end up with this POS. I hope Leigh Bardugo is intentionally making him a terrible romantic interest because I don't see how there's any way for him to possibly atone for being such an ass - besides maybe dying. Lord, please let him die in the next book.
"You know the problem with heroes and saints? They always end up dead."
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Shadow and Bone. This was mostly due to the incredibly dull moments between high-action points and irritating conversations with Mal (seriously, I hate him). Both were distracting enough that I can't give it anything more than 3.5-Stars. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. Just know that it might take a little more of your concentration and patience. Still, the storyline and character developments along the way are worthwhile and important for continuing onto the next book.
*SPOILERS*
What I liked:
World building. Leigh Bardugo once again immerses us into this Russian-inspired land of magic. We sail across the True Sea from Novyi Zem, through the Bone Road, and back to Ravka. I absolutely love Bardugo's descriptive writing because you can really imagine yourself on this journey with Alina.
Alina's character development. In a short time, Alina has gone from a weak, lowly soldier to one of the most powerful beings in her world. And as her power grows, so does her desire for more. Perhaps she and the Darkling are not so different. After all, "like calls to like." In Siege and Storm, she struggles to accept the person she is becoming while trying to hold onto the past, but it becomes clear that the old Alina is gone.
Sturmhond / Nikolai. What a hoot! Honestly, he was the most interesting character in the entire book. I enjoyed his way with words and how he got under everyone's skin. Also, I definitely didn't see his true identity reveal coming, so that was a nice surprise.
The beginning and end. The first 100 pages and the last 50 pages are basically the only exciting moments in this book. And no surprise, it's all whenever the Darkling is around.
What I didn't liked:
Slow pace. As I mentioned above, the beginning and the end are the best parts of this book, but it's 400+ pages long, so getting through the middle required determination. Once Alina and Mal go back to Os Alta, I felt like the story flatlined. Even though it was boring, it was all essential to the story's progression, so I didn't totally hate it. I just wish there were more high-action moments during this lull instead of Alina and Mal's drama.
Confusing nature of Alina's powers. Alina gets another amplifier which increases her already enormous power, but there isn't any development regarding her understanding of that power. Leigh Bardugo toys with the idea that Alina can create monsters from the light the same way the Darkling can create shadow monsters, but we don't see this happening. In the next book, I hope Alina takes a deep dive exploring her powers (if she still has them) and the ancient magic that seems to be its source.
Mal. I hate this guy. He is constantly holding Alina back from her true potential and purpose. He fears her and who she is becoming. Instead of supporting and loving Alina, he makes her feel guilty and is jealous of her relationship with other powerful men. Alina better not end up with this POS. I hope Leigh Bardugo is intentionally making him a terrible romantic interest because I don't see how there's any way for him to possibly atone for being such an ass - besides maybe dying. Lord, please let him die in the next book.