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theinquisitxor's reviews
804 reviews
We need more YA fantasy standalones in this world. This book was so refreshing in a industry dominated by series and the notion that the 'longer the book the better'. Sometimes shorter is better, and in this case this book shines. It still has depth, detail and nuance, but it isn't weighed down by the pressures of a series, or an author trying to write a long book.
This book had me interested from the blurb right away. A survival and travel story set in an icy, frozen Northern land. A girl who has to cross the Flats to save her sister and unravel a mystery. A stark brutal landscape with hints of magic and the fantastic sprinkled throughout the book. I was really hopeful when I started this book, and I started to enjoy it almost immediately.
Our main character, Jorie, has been hardened by the land around her, and she is smart and knowledgeable about the land and survival. She is determined and fierce, but not without having her soft spots. I was a little-no, very- nervous when she lets the southerner boy, Colby tag along. I was so afraid of a bland romance or an insta-love. But surprise! The fact that there is not a romance (or at least a romance hinted at, but nothing direct) is so so refreshing.
This book wasn't perfect, and there were some things I wasn't a huge fan of (the accent! a little annoying to constantly read an accent on page) but tbh the other qualities of this book stand out so much that I can't help but like if for all the other great stuff it does.
This book had me interested from the blurb right away. A survival and travel story set in an icy, frozen Northern land. A girl who has to cross the Flats to save her sister and unravel a mystery. A stark brutal landscape with hints of magic and the fantastic sprinkled throughout the book. I was really hopeful when I started this book, and I started to enjoy it almost immediately.
Our main character, Jorie, has been hardened by the land around her, and she is smart and knowledgeable about the land and survival. She is determined and fierce, but not without having her soft spots. I was a little-no, very- nervous when she lets the southerner boy, Colby tag along. I was so afraid of a bland romance or an insta-love. But surprise! The fact that there is not a romance (or at least a romance hinted at, but nothing direct) is so so refreshing.
This book wasn't perfect, and there were some things I wasn't a huge fan of (the accent! a little annoying to constantly read an accent on page) but tbh the other qualities of this book stand out so much that I can't help but like if for all the other great stuff it does.
This book was highly entertaining and enjoyable to read. I knew I would like this, as I've read and enjoyed every single book SJM has written, so I wasn't all that worried about this one. While I do have some nitpicks, my overall feelings and how much I was engaged and enjoyed reading this gives it 5 stars. Fair warning, this review is going to be a bit of a ramble (and very spoilery)
This book was a lot of fun, and I really really liked Nesta. I never hated her in the previous books, and I was excited to see what her journey would be and what her powers are. I thought her arc and personal journey throughout this book was excellent. Her struggles and healing were all so well done. Her battle with the Stairs and relationship with the House was fantastic.
I also loved, LOVED the female friendship we get! I was so glad Nesta got to make friends on her own, and not just forced to be friends with the Inner circle. Gwynn and Emerie are wonderful and they are some of my new favorite characters in this world. Their backstories, their growth and who they become at the end of the book is the best. I'm all here for female friendships. My favorite scene/moment from this book is the Blood Rite--the three of them surviving and climbing the mountain, helping each other, and Nesta making a stand at the pass was so awesome!
We definitely got more info about the larger world, the history of the world and more info about artifacts, peoples and legends. I'm always a little skeptical when we get a series continuation, I'm always a little worried that the series will introduce something wayyy too out there, or make stakes much higher than the first trilogy. Not this case. While there is the potential for stakes to be high, and there is certainly a threat, it doesn't seem too crazy or over the top. I also thought it was resolved pretty well in this book, enough to leave some questions and plot lines open, but doesn't end it on a complete cliff-hanger.
The introduction of Koschei the Deathless made me a little surprised when I first read his name. I was like "The guy from Russian folklore?? Why is SJM being so direct with names of mythological beings from our world?" (same with the Valkyries, I was a little taken-aback with the directness at first.) But I actually think it fit really well into the story and I'm interested in the role of Koschei in the next books.
Nesta's Powers!! I was so excited to see her learning about her abilities and grow into her powers. Her "death-god" abilities are so so cool and I loved every time she did something so freakin awesome! The way she can use the Trove leads to some interesting questions about the next books, or what SJM will eventually do with the world. For example, can the Harp open up portals? SJM hints at it, and I've been waiting and waiting for portals between SJM's worlds, and for our characters to finally meet and experience other worlds. I feel like SJM has been hinting that all her books take place in a 'multi-verse' for so long, and there has been so many hints at certain objects crossing from one world into another, that I'm dying for when a character opens a portal and finds themselves in Crescent City or in Terrasan.
Magic Swords! I love me a good Magic Sword.
Some of my nitpicks with the book:
I didn't like the baby subplot. I feel like she got pregnant really really quick and I feel like we could have done without this subplot and saved it for a later book? Or just take out the whole "omg the baby has wings she's going to die!" IDK, i just didn't care much for it.
Also, I didn't care much for some of the characters. Rhys, Amren, Feyre, Mor were all just a little blah to me? I guess it's because the book is from Nesta's pov, and if she doesn't like them, then we're not supposed to either. Also, Elain is a bore as always. I don't even know if SJM could make an interesting book about her, sorry.
I also didn't really like how Nesta loses(?) some of her powers? I'm going to go back to reread that scene, because she still has some of her powers, but she's not on the "death-god" level that she was on. A super super powerful character either losing their abilities or not being as powerful anymore is a trope that I don't really like. Now that Nesta has 'given-back' what she stole from the Cauldron, can she still use the Trove? I just wish it was more clear on what exactly happened, and what level Nesta is on now.
I also wish Nesta wasn't so rejectful of her abilities. I wish she embraced her magic swords and her 'death' powers entirely. I've seen some theories around about Nesta, about who she is an how she might play into the conflict of this continuation.
Lastly, the Aelin bit! she's just a red comet in the sky :( really wish Rhys and Feyre actually saw her and her person and went "oh wow! there's a person falling through the sky into a portal!" smh at you SJM we could have had it all.
Despite my nitpicks, nothing warranted me knocking the rating down. These are all just little things that irked me, but the entire plot, character growth and relationships were so great in this book that I can't help but give it 5 stars, and eagerly anticipate Crescent City #2
This book was a lot of fun, and I really really liked Nesta. I never hated her in the previous books, and I was excited to see what her journey would be and what her powers are. I thought her arc and personal journey throughout this book was excellent. Her struggles and healing were all so well done. Her battle with the Stairs and relationship with the House was fantastic.
I also loved, LOVED the female friendship we get! I was so glad Nesta got to make friends on her own, and not just forced to be friends with the Inner circle. Gwynn and Emerie are wonderful and they are some of my new favorite characters in this world. Their backstories, their growth and who they become at the end of the book is the best. I'm all here for female friendships. My favorite scene/moment from this book is the Blood Rite--the three of them surviving and climbing the mountain, helping each other, and Nesta making a stand at the pass was so awesome!
We definitely got more info about the larger world, the history of the world and more info about artifacts, peoples and legends. I'm always a little skeptical when we get a series continuation, I'm always a little worried that the series will introduce something wayyy too out there, or make stakes much higher than the first trilogy. Not this case. While there is the potential for stakes to be high, and there is certainly a threat, it doesn't seem too crazy or over the top. I also thought it was resolved pretty well in this book, enough to leave some questions and plot lines open, but doesn't end it on a complete cliff-hanger.
The introduction of Koschei the Deathless made me a little surprised when I first read his name. I was like "The guy from Russian folklore?? Why is SJM being so direct with names of mythological beings from our world?" (same with the Valkyries, I was a little taken-aback with the directness at first.) But I actually think it fit really well into the story and I'm interested in the role of Koschei in the next books.
Nesta's Powers!! I was so excited to see her learning about her abilities and grow into her powers. Her "death-god" abilities are so so cool and I loved every time she did something so freakin awesome! The way she can use the Trove leads to some interesting questions about the next books, or what SJM will eventually do with the world. For example, can the Harp open up portals? SJM hints at it, and I've been waiting and waiting for portals between SJM's worlds, and for our characters to finally meet and experience other worlds. I feel like SJM has been hinting that all her books take place in a 'multi-verse' for so long, and there has been so many hints at certain objects crossing from one world into another, that I'm dying for when a character opens a portal and finds themselves in Crescent City or in Terrasan.
Magic Swords! I love me a good Magic Sword.
Some of my nitpicks with the book:
I didn't like the baby subplot. I feel like she got pregnant really really quick and I feel like we could have done without this subplot and saved it for a later book? Or just take out the whole "omg the baby has wings she's going to die!" IDK, i just didn't care much for it.
Also, I didn't care much for some of the characters. Rhys, Amren, Feyre, Mor were all just a little blah to me? I guess it's because the book is from Nesta's pov, and if she doesn't like them, then we're not supposed to either. Also, Elain is a bore as always. I don't even know if SJM could make an interesting book about her, sorry.
I also didn't really like how Nesta loses(?) some of her powers? I'm going to go back to reread that scene, because she still has some of her powers, but she's not on the "death-god" level that she was on. A super super powerful character either losing their abilities or not being as powerful anymore is a trope that I don't really like. Now that Nesta has 'given-back' what she stole from the Cauldron, can she still use the Trove? I just wish it was more clear on what exactly happened, and what level Nesta is on now.
I also wish Nesta wasn't so rejectful of her abilities. I wish she embraced her magic swords and her 'death' powers entirely. I've seen some theories around about Nesta, about who she is an how she might play into the conflict of this continuation.
Lastly, the Aelin bit! she's just a red comet in the sky :( really wish Rhys and Feyre actually saw her and her person and went "oh wow! there's a person falling through the sky into a portal!" smh at you SJM we could have had it all.
Despite my nitpicks, nothing warranted me knocking the rating down. These are all just little things that irked me, but the entire plot, character growth and relationships were so great in this book that I can't help but give it 5 stars, and eagerly anticipate Crescent City #2
This is a difficult book to rate. I'm thinking 3.5ish stars?? On one hand, I enjoyed the setting, the premise and the execution of this book a lot. I don't read a ton of urban fantasy, nor do I read a lot of books where there are "gods" running around, but I gave this book a go because of a) the stunning cover and b) the greek mythology retelling
I think I liked the first half of this book the best. It actually reminded me of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo a little bit. A traumatized MC, a urban setting, privilege and class, a classical feeling and moments in the past and present. While Ninth House is definitely much more slower paced and all-around very different from this book, I got some similar vibes at some points.
I liked our MC, Lore. She's been though a lot, she just want to leave her heritage behind, but she is sucked in on a revenge quest. She's badass and resourceful and lives up to her name. Castor was sweet and nice, but that's about all I got from him? While I do enjoy the 'childhood friends to lovers' trope, this was just okay? And we got our author checking off her 'racially diverse' and 'lgbt' checkboxes without going too out there.
This book is definitely on the older spectrum of YA, there are some heavy topics discussed and lots of blood, gore and killing in this book. If I didn't know it was YA before I even started it, I might have assumed this was adult. This book was fast paced and had lots of action, but it never felt like it was too much , or over the top. On another hand, I don't think I fully understood the ending. It was a little confusing and I don't think I could tell you what exactly happened. But I don't feel compelled to go back and reread the ending to figure it out
I think I liked the first half of this book the best. It actually reminded me of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo a little bit. A traumatized MC, a urban setting, privilege and class, a classical feeling and moments in the past and present. While Ninth House is definitely much more slower paced and all-around very different from this book, I got some similar vibes at some points.
I liked our MC, Lore. She's been though a lot, she just want to leave her heritage behind, but she is sucked in on a revenge quest. She's badass and resourceful and lives up to her name. Castor was sweet and nice, but that's about all I got from him? While I do enjoy the 'childhood friends to lovers' trope, this was just okay? And we got our author checking off her 'racially diverse' and 'lgbt' checkboxes without going too out there.
This book is definitely on the older spectrum of YA, there are some heavy topics discussed and lots of blood, gore and killing in this book. If I didn't know it was YA before I even started it, I might have assumed this was adult. This book was fast paced and had lots of action, but it never felt like it was too much , or over the top. On another hand, I don't think I fully understood the ending. It was a little confusing and I don't think I could tell you what exactly happened. But I don't feel compelled to go back and reread the ending to figure it out
Well this took me forever. I got swamped with school work, other reading for college classes and general day-to-day life stuff. This was good and I enjoyed reading it, and it's possibly my favorite so far? I really liked how most of this book was Egwene, Nyaneve and Elayne-their journey was great and I enjoyed their time in Tar Valon the most. I hope to get to the fourth book in March, The Shadow Rising, but the way things are going, I can't make any promises.
This book was one my most anticipated releases of all time. I can't think of a book release that I've been more excited about. The Graceling Realms series is perhaps my most favorite series of all time, and I could go on and on and on about why I love it so much, how it's important and what characters and events mean to me.
In Winterkeep, we start off 4 years after the events of Bitterblue in which we left off with Bitterblue as a young queen trying to heal her country from the evils of her father. In this book, Bitterblue is much more of an adult and she's more mature, capable and sure of herself than in her book. In Winterkeep a new continent has been discovered, Torla, and people have been meeting and exchanging their cultures. One of the countries, Winterkeep is a democratic country with more advanced technology than the Seven Realms. The country is split between the Industrilists (who want to bring in more technology into Winterkeep) and the Scholars (who want to protect the natural resources and prevent pollution).
At the beginning of the book, Bitterblue decides to accept the invitation to visit Winterkeep after two of her ambassadors died under mysterious circumstances. So Bitterblue begins to travel to Winterkeep with her advisors along with Giddon and Hava. Bitterblue has an accident, which then results in her kidnapping. Everyone else thinks she is dead, and Giddon and Hava set our to solve the mysteries.
Our new character is a sixteen year old girl named Lovisa. She is the daughter of two very high-up politicians. I honestly didn't really care about her at first, but she grew on me a lot throughout the book. She is the catalyst for everything, and also spends time discovering clues, and piecing together a sinister plot her parent's are working on.
What really shines through in this book are the characters and the worldbuilding. Winterkeep is a beautiful world of mountains, glaciers and hot-springs. It's supposed to be reminiscent of places like Norway and Iceland. The animals of this land have my entire heart right now. In the ocean, there is The Keeper, a mythological sea monster that loves her shiny treasures, loves to sing, and has anxiety. The Silbercows are a dolphin/seal type animals that are friends with humans and can talk to humans telepathically. Lastly, on land, are the Blue Foxes, telepathic foxes that bond to humans and share their lives with them. Adventure Fox is my favorite, I literally cried.
The characters are wonderful as always. Bitterblue is great of course. Hava shines here too, and you can see how much she has grown since Bitterblue . Giddon is a character who I didn't like in Graceling and started to like in Bitterblue , but he is really all forgiven in this book (and honestly, he was 18 in the event of Graceling, so cut him some slack). He loves cats and cries like 300 times over Bitterblue in this book, and he's trying his hardest and I just love him for that.
Lovisa is a character that grew on me. I didn't love her at the beginning, but considering that she is only sixteen (compared to the rest of the characters in their 20s and early 30s) her younger age stands out. I did really enjoy her emotional journey in this book, and she has to do some very hard things for a sixteen year old.
The writing style is a little different, but I think that is attributed to the fact that it's been almost 10 years since Kristin Cashore has written in this world. The content is also a little more mature, but it's not too much. I definitely got some The Golden Compass vibes from this world: Scholars, airships, animal companions, a northern, icy land. This book is a treat, and I'm so so glad Kristin Cashore is revisiting this world. The ending leaves some things open to the possibility of more books, and I really hope there are more!
In Winterkeep, we start off 4 years after the events of Bitterblue in which we left off with Bitterblue as a young queen trying to heal her country from the evils of her father. In this book, Bitterblue is much more of an adult and she's more mature, capable and sure of herself than in her book. In Winterkeep a new continent has been discovered, Torla, and people have been meeting and exchanging their cultures. One of the countries, Winterkeep is a democratic country with more advanced technology than the Seven Realms. The country is split between the Industrilists (who want to bring in more technology into Winterkeep) and the Scholars (who want to protect the natural resources and prevent pollution).
At the beginning of the book, Bitterblue decides to accept the invitation to visit Winterkeep after two of her ambassadors died under mysterious circumstances. So Bitterblue begins to travel to Winterkeep with her advisors along with Giddon and Hava. Bitterblue has an accident, which then results in her kidnapping. Everyone else thinks she is dead, and Giddon and Hava set our to solve the mysteries.
Our new character is a sixteen year old girl named Lovisa. She is the daughter of two very high-up politicians. I honestly didn't really care about her at first, but she grew on me a lot throughout the book. She is the catalyst for everything, and also spends time discovering clues, and piecing together a sinister plot her parent's are working on.
What really shines through in this book are the characters and the worldbuilding. Winterkeep is a beautiful world of mountains, glaciers and hot-springs. It's supposed to be reminiscent of places like Norway and Iceland. The animals of this land have my entire heart right now. In the ocean, there is The Keeper, a mythological sea monster that loves her shiny treasures, loves to sing, and has anxiety. The Silbercows are a dolphin/seal type animals that are friends with humans and can talk to humans telepathically. Lastly, on land, are the Blue Foxes, telepathic foxes that bond to humans and share their lives with them. Adventure Fox is my favorite, I literally cried.
The characters are wonderful as always. Bitterblue is great of course. Hava shines here too, and you can see how much she has grown since Bitterblue . Giddon is a character who I didn't like in Graceling and started to like in Bitterblue , but he is really all forgiven in this book (and honestly, he was 18 in the event of Graceling, so cut him some slack). He loves cats and cries like 300 times over Bitterblue in this book, and he's trying his hardest and I just love him for that.
Lovisa is a character that grew on me. I didn't love her at the beginning, but considering that she is only sixteen (compared to the rest of the characters in their 20s and early 30s) her younger age stands out. I did really enjoy her emotional journey in this book, and she has to do some very hard things for a sixteen year old.
The writing style is a little different, but I think that is attributed to the fact that it's been almost 10 years since Kristin Cashore has written in this world. The content is also a little more mature, but it's not too much. I definitely got some The Golden Compass vibes from this world: Scholars, airships, animal companions, a northern, icy land. This book is a treat, and I'm so so glad Kristin Cashore is revisiting this world. The ending leaves some things open to the possibility of more books, and I really hope there are more!
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. When read Every Heart a Doorway a couple of years ago, I really like it, but I was hesitant to continue on, because I knew this book was about Jack and Jill who I didn’t like in the first book. I actually really enjoyed reading their ‘origin’ story and what happened to them to cause their actions in the first book. I do plan on continuing with the series, as I find the next books. They’re just too short and entertaining to put down!
I knew this book was different from the first, and I’m glad that I went in with some knowledge of what/who this books is about, because otherwise I might have been too surprised.
My favorite aspect of this series is the character work. In ACSDAL, I really liked Harper, Grey and Rhen. This book continues on with good character work with Grey and a new main character, Mia Lara. I really really liked Mia Lara as a character. She’s not your typical sword-wielding-assassin-princess that we get so often in YA (and that’s part of why I love Harper so much too). She’s much more realistic? while still being brave and strong and kind. This book was definitely about developing side characters and giving them their own book—Jake and Noah for example (although Jake honey, you’re in a fantasy land, why would you ever want to go back to D.C???)
I was initially a little upset over such little Harper and Rhen chapters, but I get why there wasn’t many. This book also starts to examine the mental state to the characters post-curse and starts to dig into the fact that they have some pretty bad PTSD.
I just want all my characters sitting around a fire together, talking and laughing and getting along
My favorite aspect of this series is the character work. In ACSDAL, I really liked Harper, Grey and Rhen. This book continues on with good character work with Grey and a new main character, Mia Lara. I really really liked Mia Lara as a character. She’s not your typical sword-wielding-assassin-princess that we get so often in YA (and that’s part of why I love Harper so much too). She’s much more realistic? while still being brave and strong and kind. This book was definitely about developing side characters and giving them their own book—Jake and Noah for example (although Jake honey, you’re in a fantasy land, why would you ever want to go back to D.C???)
I was initially a little upset over such little Harper and Rhen chapters, but I get why there wasn’t many. This book also starts to examine the mental state to the characters post-curse and starts to dig into the fact that they have some pretty bad PTSD.
I just want all my characters sitting around a fire together, talking and laughing and getting along
Oh my gosh, what do I even say about this book? I was a little worried how Brigid Kemmerer would treat certain characters that weren't doing too hot in the second book. I was also worried that the ending would be too 'drastic' or too 'shock-value' for my liking. This book was so so good. It's not secret that I'm usually let down by the finale book-- but this gains a spot on the shelf with the rare exceptions.
I read A Curse so Dark and Lonely when it was released in 2019. I didn't read A Heart so Fierce and Broken when it was released, and I put the series on the back-burner because I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to continue. But oh man, I am so glad I did. I reread ACSDAL a few days ago, I read AHSFAB yesterday, and this book today. I feel like I've been swept up in this fantasy land and like I've spent the last few days riding and battling along with the characters.
There has been several YA fantasy books I read in 2020 that I didn't really like. I've been afraid that I'm aging out of YA, or that I just don't really enjoy YA stories anymore. These books changed that, and made me realize my love of YA books again. This book also had some really good morals? mistakes don't define you forever, forgiveness, believing in yourself, standing tall, understanding and learning about people who are different from you.
Harper: she is the love of my life and possibly an all time favorite character for me. I do wish she had more page time in the last two books. The first book is definitely focused on her, but the second and third, not as much. She still shone in this last book, and I cherished all of her chapters.
Rhen: I've always liked Rhen, even when he is being an ass or making mistakes. I know a lot of people stopped liking Rhen in the second book, but no! this boy has been through years and years of abuse and manipulation and trauma! he has some severe mental health and ptsd issues in this series! yes he makes mistakes and hurts people, but just leave him alone! get him a therapist!
aside, I like what Kemmerer did with Rhen in this book. I was worried that she would either twist up his character too much, make him evil or irredeemable, but no, she handled things really well and I thought it was satisfying.
Grey: oh Grey. I think I like Grey the most in the first book (eek, I'm sorry!). Don't get me wrong, I liked him throughout the series, but first book Grey was the best Grey for me. He is the character who probably goes through the most growth and change throughout the series.
Mia Lara: I liked her most in the second book, but she is still a very good, relatable character. She tries to be strong when all she really feels is fear. She wasn't exactly trained for queenship, but has to navigate ruling anyway. She's trying to take a society so ingrained in brutality and domineering gender roles, and shape it into something softer and kinder.
you-know-who: um yeah. no spoilers. but I thought this specific someone's return was really well done, and actually had me more concerned this time around than in the first book. unnerving and unsettling for the reader, terrifying and traumatic for the characters.
Side Characters: I even thought that just about all of the side/ supporting characters were really well done and likable and very dimensional. Sometimes minor/side characters fall flat, but they did not disappoint. Brave, loyal, capable side characters who challenge, support and love the main characters. They have their own roles to play and are more than just a means to an end.
A couple little nitpicks: at some points in the second and third books, the whole squabble/fight between Rhen and Grey seemed a little pointless and was caused purely by a lack of communication. I just wanted to gather all the characters and lock them in a room together until they sorted out their miscommunications. Sometimes I felt like this was used a little too much to continue the plot. Also, does it really matter that much who was born first? like, shouldn't the person trained in governance be the more logical choice? Why are so many people so stuck up about 'oohh who is the first born, omg they are my one-true-ruler!!" like geesh people, calm down.
more Harper povs (just because she's my fav), but really, Jacob needed to lay off her. Sometimes I felt like characters (cough, Jacob, cough) were trying to degrade her to Rhen's love interest and a woman who is trapped. She's not! she knows her own place and her own worth!
I also would have liked more of the portal element in the second and third book. That might just be because I'm a sucker for portal magic, but I really wanted a scene where our main cast of characters are in D.C. for whatever reason. I would've loved to have seen Rhen reacting to D.C. and his impressions and trying to figure everything out.
There were still some unanswered/unresolved questions that almost makes me wonder if Kemmerer will continue to write more in this universe. I'd honestly be down for just a scene of Harper taking Rhen to D.C, buying him Starbucks frappuccinos and taking him to his weekly therapist appointment.
All in all, a new favorite YA series for me, and a series I can see myself returning to in the future
I read A Curse so Dark and Lonely when it was released in 2019. I didn't read A Heart so Fierce and Broken when it was released, and I put the series on the back-burner because I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to continue. But oh man, I am so glad I did. I reread ACSDAL a few days ago, I read AHSFAB yesterday, and this book today. I feel like I've been swept up in this fantasy land and like I've spent the last few days riding and battling along with the characters.
There has been several YA fantasy books I read in 2020 that I didn't really like. I've been afraid that I'm aging out of YA, or that I just don't really enjoy YA stories anymore. These books changed that, and made me realize my love of YA books again. This book also had some really good morals? mistakes don't define you forever, forgiveness, believing in yourself, standing tall, understanding and learning about people who are different from you.
Harper: she is the love of my life and possibly an all time favorite character for me. I do wish she had more page time in the last two books. The first book is definitely focused on her, but the second and third, not as much. She still shone in this last book, and I cherished all of her chapters.
Rhen: I've always liked Rhen, even when he is being an ass or making mistakes. I know a lot of people stopped liking Rhen in the second book, but no! this boy has been through years and years of abuse and manipulation and trauma! he has some severe mental health and ptsd issues in this series! yes he makes mistakes and hurts people, but just leave him alone! get him a therapist!
aside, I like what Kemmerer did with Rhen in this book. I was worried that she would either twist up his character too much, make him evil or irredeemable, but no, she handled things really well and I thought it was satisfying.
Grey: oh Grey. I think I like Grey the most in the first book (eek, I'm sorry!). Don't get me wrong, I liked him throughout the series, but first book Grey was the best Grey for me. He is the character who probably goes through the most growth and change throughout the series.
Mia Lara: I liked her most in the second book, but she is still a very good, relatable character. She tries to be strong when all she really feels is fear. She wasn't exactly trained for queenship, but has to navigate ruling anyway. She's trying to take a society so ingrained in brutality and domineering gender roles, and shape it into something softer and kinder.
you-know-who: um yeah. no spoilers. but I thought this specific someone's return was really well done, and actually had me more concerned this time around than in the first book. unnerving and unsettling for the reader, terrifying and traumatic for the characters.
Side Characters: I even thought that just about all of the side/ supporting characters were really well done and likable and very dimensional. Sometimes minor/side characters fall flat, but they did not disappoint. Brave, loyal, capable side characters who challenge, support and love the main characters. They have their own roles to play and are more than just a means to an end.
A couple little nitpicks: at some points in the second and third books, the whole squabble/fight between Rhen and Grey seemed a little pointless and was caused purely by a lack of communication. I just wanted to gather all the characters and lock them in a room together until they sorted out their miscommunications. Sometimes I felt like this was used a little too much to continue the plot. Also, does it really matter that much who was born first? like, shouldn't the person trained in governance be the more logical choice? Why are so many people so stuck up about 'oohh who is the first born, omg they are my one-true-ruler!!" like geesh people, calm down.
more Harper povs (just because she's my fav), but really, Jacob needed to lay off her. Sometimes I felt like characters (cough, Jacob, cough) were trying to degrade her to Rhen's love interest and a woman who is trapped. She's not! she knows her own place and her own worth!
I also would have liked more of the portal element in the second and third book. That might just be because I'm a sucker for portal magic, but I really wanted a scene where our main cast of characters are in D.C. for whatever reason. I would've loved to have seen Rhen reacting to D.C. and his impressions and trying to figure everything out.
There were still some unanswered/unresolved questions that almost makes me wonder if Kemmerer will continue to write more in this universe. I'd honestly be down for just a scene of Harper taking Rhen to D.C, buying him Starbucks frappuccinos and taking him to his weekly therapist appointment.
All in all, a new favorite YA series for me, and a series I can see myself returning to in the future
Edit: reread January 2021. In my original read of this book, I gave it 4ish stars, but this book and story has grown on me so much over time that it’s now a 5 star book for me. I really really enjoyed my time rereading it and this story is like a warm blanket on a cold night for me.
This story is about a girl, Harper, from Washington D.C. who is taken from her terminally ill mother, and older brother who is in trouble with a local group of criminals to a fantasy world where she must fall in love to break the curse on the kingdom. This is obviously a retelling of BATB, but I thought it was a fresh retelling that had its own original elements.
I have several mixed feeling about this book. On one hand I liked it, but I also recognize that it is not perfect. It is very YA, which it ok, but I feel like I am bit bit too old to really like this book as much as I should have. Perhaps me from three or four years ago would be fawning over this book, but not really anymore. I also felt that the world building was a little weak, and some of the plot concerning details about the way the world system works felt weak. For example, the explanations given to the people of Emberfall (the fantasy world) did not seem to be realistic enough. If I were a citizen, I think I would see through the lie/story easily. I also did not care too much for the villain. She feel flat and I do not like the whole idea of a 'woman scorned' to be the reason for becoming the villain.
I also don't think I connected to the characters enough to really fall in love with any of them (hehe.. get it). The character I liked the most was Harper. She was great, the way she did not let her disability get in her way (high functioning Cerebral Palsy), or how she took matters into her own hands when the men of the story were too distracted to see the real problems made her very likable, and someone to look up to. I knew I would adore her as soon as she was introduced. I don't think the book explicitly says so, but I did imagine her as a person of color. Either way, she brought in some good rep.
Many reviews claim Grey to be the favorite character, and I can see why. He was very well developed and was probably better written than Rhen. (Even though Rhen might be the weakest written of the three main characters, I still really liked him). I am a little confused on the last chapter however. I went back and read it twice but I still do not understand it entirely. I guess I'll have to read the next book when it comes out. The interactions between our modern world and the world of Emberfall was hilarious to me. There were several times that I laughed. I think any person from our world suddenly put into a fantasy world and vice versa is going to be comical.
This story is about a girl, Harper, from Washington D.C. who is taken from her terminally ill mother, and older brother who is in trouble with a local group of criminals to a fantasy world where she must fall in love to break the curse on the kingdom. This is obviously a retelling of BATB, but I thought it was a fresh retelling that had its own original elements.
I have several mixed feeling about this book. On one hand I liked it, but I also recognize that it is not perfect. It is very YA, which it ok, but I feel like I am bit bit too old to really like this book as much as I should have. Perhaps me from three or four years ago would be fawning over this book, but not really anymore. I also felt that the world building was a little weak, and some of the plot concerning details about the way the world system works felt weak. For example, the explanations given to the people of Emberfall (the fantasy world) did not seem to be realistic enough. If I were a citizen, I think I would see through the lie/story easily. I also did not care too much for the villain. She feel flat and I do not like the whole idea of a 'woman scorned' to be the reason for becoming the villain.
I also don't think I connected to the characters enough to really fall in love with any of them (hehe.. get it). The character I liked the most was Harper. She was great, the way she did not let her disability get in her way (high functioning Cerebral Palsy), or how she took matters into her own hands when the men of the story were too distracted to see the real problems made her very likable, and someone to look up to. I knew I would adore her as soon as she was introduced. I don't think the book explicitly says so, but I did imagine her as a person of color. Either way, she brought in some good rep.
Many reviews claim Grey to be the favorite character, and I can see why. He was very well developed and was probably better written than Rhen. (Even though Rhen might be the weakest written of the three main characters, I still really liked him). I am a little confused on the last chapter however. I went back and read it twice but I still do not understand it entirely. I guess I'll have to read the next book when it comes out. The interactions between our modern world and the world of Emberfall was hilarious to me. There were several times that I laughed. I think any person from our world suddenly put into a fantasy world and vice versa is going to be comical.
4.5/5 ⭐️
My second Wheel of Time book, and I enjoyed it about the same as the first. Here the characters are a little more developed, and they continue to grow even more throughout. The installment doesn’t have as strict of a plot as the first book, and most of the characters are rambling around, finding their footing and adjusting to new environments.
Continues with great world building and dives into some interesting concepts and aspects of the world. Some things I could definitely see coming into play in the conclusion of the series. My only real complaint is the pacing- about 70% of this book is slower, and the last bit is very fast paced and wrapping everything up. I enjoyed the ending though, and I think me sitting there thinking “poor Rand” is going to become a common thought throughout the series
My second Wheel of Time book, and I enjoyed it about the same as the first. Here the characters are a little more developed, and they continue to grow even more throughout. The installment doesn’t have as strict of a plot as the first book, and most of the characters are rambling around, finding their footing and adjusting to new environments.
Continues with great world building and dives into some interesting concepts and aspects of the world. Some things I could definitely see coming into play in the conclusion of the series. My only real complaint is the pacing- about 70% of this book is slower, and the last bit is very fast paced and wrapping everything up. I enjoyed the ending though, and I think me sitting there thinking “poor Rand” is going to become a common thought throughout the series