jlyles_177's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, War, Confinement, Cursing, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Slavery
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Death, War, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
elledanie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Confinement, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Rape, Torture, Infertility, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Slavery, Vomit, War, Murder, and Drug use
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, and Death
em_chata's review against another edition
- 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. 🥺Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual violence, War, and Murder
Minor: Infertility
kenziereads11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child abuse
anjasshelf's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, War, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Classism, Colonisation, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Slavery
bookishbakesco's review against another edition
- 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
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 🫠)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.
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Drug use, Addiction, and Cursing
Minor: Gun violence
kylarenea_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Torture, Colonisation, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, War, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
bethanharcourt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence and Death
Minor: Sexual assault