kelsimitchell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
I AM SHOOK AT THE ENDING!!!! How am I supposed to wait until next year to find out what happens next? The first one took a while to get going, but this one was on full speed from the very beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
jayvdw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is a mixed bag for me. First, what I don't like about the book is that it really feels like the second book in a trilogy (which it is), but that doesn't mean it has to feel like that. What I mean is that the book sets up a lot of things for the last installment of the series while trying to further develop the first book's characters. Secondly, the mysteries in the book are not that exciting. The first book really felt like trying to solve mysteries, whilst in this book the mysteries are less exciting or the answer is quite easy to figure out, leaving little surprise at the revelation. Thirdly, I really didn't enjoy the way Sarah J. Maas wrote the sex scenes, it felt very fake and overly detailed just to be overly detailed.
Now what I did enjoy. I really liked the addition of Ithran in the story, I just like his character. I also enjoyed the world-building a lot, the world Sarah J. Maas built is very interesting with all the magic and various races. Lastly, I really enjoyed the ending.
Overall I enjoyed the book. I liked the writing, I enjoyed the story and really liked the ending. It really feels like "it's the second book" for me, which is not bad but it could have been more. For that reason I give it 4 stars, it's a nice book but the first one is much better.
Now what I did enjoy. I really liked the addition of Ithran in the story, I just like his character. I also enjoyed the world-building a lot, the world Sarah J. Maas built is very interesting with all the magic and various races. Lastly, I really enjoyed the ending.
Spoiler
I loved to read about the different worlds and inclusion of the Astari basically being space leaches. However, I am not that certain about the final ending with the inclusion of the world for Sarah J. Maas's other series. It really depends on how she implements this in the final installment. If you have to read all her other works or not.Overall I enjoyed the book. I liked the writing, I enjoyed the story and really liked the ending. It really feels like "it's the second book" for me, which is not bad but it could have been more. For that reason I give it 4 stars, it's a nice book but the first one is much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sierrabedwell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
This book was even better than House of Earth and Blood! Definitely had to push through to get to the good parts but like any SJM book, the last 100 pages HAD ME HOOKED and made the entire plot building up to it WORTH EVERY PAGE. I CANNOT WAIT to read CC3 in January!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Physical abuse, War, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Torture, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
sarahyjackson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
A reread that was at times unbearably agonizing knowing the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Death, War, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
liograce's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual content and Drug use
elledanie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Slavery, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Rape, Torture, Vomit, War, Child death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Pregnancy
cryosphinx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a freaking GREAT read. The plot is a bit thinner than the first one but without the slog of the world building. There is still more learning about the characters and the world but I found it a lot less info dumpy. I love every character and did love that this book and more POVs and more back and forth. Bryce and Hunt may have moved up to be my favorite SJM couple and they're are just so delightful with the banter and the growth and love they have. And like everyone says...THAT ENDING. I had the very, very end spoiled for me but the build up and the twists and turns still made it one hell of a ride.
If I had to make ken complaint it's that
If I had to make ken complaint it's that
Spoiler
Danika is dead and SJM seems to just hand off anything to her and her lil' secrets club. She's gone so we don't get to hear anything from her about her motivations and can only speculate. But how many damn secrets was she walking about with??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: War and Torture
Minor: Grief and Confinement
colorwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I love the world that SJM has built and find all the characters loveable. I do feel like this was a step down from the first book as to depth of plot. In the second half the spice level upped quite a bit and I found myself frustrated with the characters because the plot line was on a time crunch and this is really what your focusing on over and over again instead of the missing kid you're desperate to protect?
That said I enjoyed the expansion of the CC world beyond the confines of Lunathion and exploring the impact of the war on the continent. I hope the next book delivers on the highly anticipated plot and probable crossover.
That said I enjoyed the expansion of the CC world beyond the confines of Lunathion and exploring the impact of the war on the continent. I hope the next book delivers on the highly anticipated plot and probable crossover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, War, Murder, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5
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
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, and Death
bkc's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I wrote down my thoughts in a jumbled mess as I was reading the book:
Bryce is selfish and so is Tharion (he also lacked morality). Hunt is being a bit of a loser in this book, pining over Bryce for most of it, and Ruhn is making bad choices. I don't get why SJM has committed such character assassinations in this book, as this is the first time (out of her books) that I didn't love anybody. It was also very boring for the first 500 pages, got mildly interesting, then got boring again very quickly, and there was too much smut for my liking. It almost felt like filler, and the book could have been shorter as a whole. I only really got into the book at around page 700, and even then I could put it down and be done. Very disappointing read. The only good thing is the ACOTAR reveal at the end.
Generally, I just didn't like how selfish Bryce was relative to Hunt. Also Danika is a liar and a terrible friend. If they just left everything alone, it would have been fine and the Asteri would not be able to do anything and it would have been fine, but they had to meddle.
⭐⭐✨/5 where one of the stars is literally for the inner circle.
Spoiler
Bryce is selfish and so is Tharion (he also lacked morality). Hunt is being a bit of a loser in this book, pining over Bryce for most of it, and Ruhn is making bad choices. I don't get why SJM has committed such character assassinations in this book, as this is the first time (out of her books) that I didn't love anybody. It was also very boring for the first 500 pages, got mildly interesting, then got boring again very quickly, and there was too much smut for my liking. It almost felt like filler, and the book could have been shorter as a whole. I only really got into the book at around page 700, and even then I could put it down and be done. Very disappointing read. The only good thing is the ACOTAR reveal at the end.
Generally, I just didn't like how selfish Bryce was relative to Hunt. Also Danika is a liar and a terrible friend. If they just left everything alone, it would have been fine and the Asteri would not be able to do anything and it would have been fine, but they had to meddle.
⭐⭐✨/5 where one of the stars is literally for the inner circle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content