Reviews with content warning for Death - Wenn ein Stern erstrahlt

As Bryce and Hunt are trying to settle into a "normal" life, they are pulled into the rebel plans.

I was a little lost for most of this book as to why it was necessary (considering the HEA we got in book one), but as we progressed through the book it made more sense. I really liked how the multiverse was beginning to be revealed. I am excited to see how she is going to tie all these worlds together, especially after that ending!!

I felt like Dankia and Jesiba were over used to "explain" or conviently give them things. Dankia was one busy woman. How did she live this entire other life and keep a never ending list of secrets from Bryce? And Jesiba just gives Bryce whatever she needs? I feel like this is a cop out.

Speaking of women, where are all the women at? This was a very male heavy book. Can we get a few more women in the mix?

I liked that we got to see a bit more of the side characters, because the are really great. I am interested to see the direction of each one, especially

Spoiler

Tharion's blood oath (will the dragon be involved here?), Ruhn/Lidia, and Ithan/the Fendyr alpha!

Spoiler

I found the big "reveal" to be interesting. The Asteri survive off of first and secondlight of other species. It is revealed that they have have conquered different planets that they deemed suitable, then drained the life force. But have also destroyed many other planets that rebelled. We are told that both Hel and Prythian had both successfully banished the Asteri.

It turn out that Midgard is actually made up of a collection species the Asteri has stolen from other world to feed on. This explains why the Great Library of Parthos stays hidden. The Asteri do not want the citizens to know the truth of where they came from and what happened before the Asteri conquered the world. They do not want a full scale rebellion. The Asteri also created the Malakim!

We know that is possible for the Asteri to be killed because one was killed when Hel rebelled. So will Bryce return with the knowledge of how to kill them?

Tropes: urban fantasy, multiverse, mates, found family

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em_chata's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Spoiler

I can’t believe the fucking ending of this book. Sarah J Maas really said “ima just do a crossover, why not?” After making Feyre a baby machine in ACOTAR. Goddamn it. I hope my poor baby Ruhn is okay. 🥺

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kenziereads11's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Great second book to the series! I fell more in love with all the character and have so so many questions about the world. I really loved the twists. Many times I would be reading and audibly gasp at what was happening. The ending!!!!! Read ACOTAR series before this series.

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anjasshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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bookishbakesco's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I said I wouldn’t read this after the train wreck that was CC1, but alas, I succumbed to the peer pressure of needing to know the surprise ending.

Full disclosure: I should have just looked it up on the internet.

Look, I am a massive fan of both ACOTAR and TOG. But this series makes my brain melt.

CC2 is even more bloated and convoluted than the first. There are subplots that have no purpose in moving the narrative forward, the two main characters are the worst in all her series, and I am so over the Bond Villain style evil plan reveals at the end.

There are also so many phrases used in this book that make me cringe. Particularly when it comes to the spicy scenes

Spoiler

(ie. balls tightening? For arousal? Someone, please tell her that, anatomically, that is just NOT a thing 🫠)

- it just brings you out of it.

That being said, I’m giving this 2.5 stars because I didn’t feel the need to DNF, I liked the fact we got to see from other (better, more rounded) side characters’ perspectives, even if they were ALL male, and ultimately, because the ending will make me read on.

I have zero willpower.

Content Warnings

kylarenea_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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bethanharcourt's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

It had been a while since I'd read the first edition, so it took a moment to readjust myself into the world. But then I remembered how much I had missed it. Another very exciting edition with a lot of twists, although I was pleased to catch at least one before it was revealed. Although my shock at the final twist probably mitigated that.

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