cassandrat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
I read this book in one day. Urban fantasy is my pulp, and this series hits all the best points. It is just so fun.
This book seemed to focus more on Arden gaining confidence in her powers and her allies.I'm glad Duke is back, and joined the team. Her romance with Troy is a major focus, and turns her into a queen. The binding thing was ok at first, but the whole subjugation of men in elf biology ( t's a hormone thing) and hierarchy was too much. The bond is too much, it's basically like mating in some of those supernatural romances and YA. I basically pretend the hormone bond doesn't exist. The more psychic bond is ok because it seems less contractual and more malleable. They can shut it down, no one is mated to anyone; they are just aware of feelings.
I have some mixed feelings about Arden's character development andbecoming queen of House Solari. I mean, being Queen is rad, but it also feels like she's fallen in with a toxic crowd. spending too much time with elves and authoritarian Otherside culture. What was great about her, was her reluctance to do that and more compassionate elemental side. This book really went into the violent, ornery, elf side. I hope it leads to get recording with the mundane and elemental values again. The vengeance seemed warranted, but a slippery slope. Calling the gods at the end was a puzzling decision.
This book seemed to focus more on Arden gaining confidence in her powers and her allies.
I have some mixed feelings about Arden's character development and
geenahnola's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
djreads's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
4.5
This series just keeps getting better!
intisarspeaks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mystiereads's review against another edition
5.0
Well, well, well, just when I thought things were going to go a bit smoother for Arden, they AMPED right up!
In my first review of this series, I said to buy all of the available books and clear your time. After this fourth book, I am saying join me in solidarity as I camp out in front of the author's house and wait impatiently for the conclusion of this series!
Sigh...sadly that is impractical, and also probably illegal. But these books, OMG...sometimes you can just read the words and know an author laid her soul bare onto the pages. In book 4, Ms. Hill did exactly that and so much more. Our heroine tackles many difficult changes and realities in this one. Hardest of all may be the way she was manipulated into not being her full self. Ms. Hill pulls these emotions out and walks us through a difficult healing, with the kind of compassion, I wish every one in the whole world was able to receive, whenever we felt broken.
Added to that, the transition of enemies, to working together, to maybe more, with the main male character, is a slow burn journey, where trust is built brick by brick, no insta-anything here at all! And as a reader and a real person, who loves when life collides and expands on pages, I LOVED it!
Arden grows, the people around her gives her the support and space to do so, with one notable exception, but seeing her outgrow him, was delicious.
Ms. Hill has a talent for knitting real life issues with fantasy to broaden horizons and give readers a perspective they may not have thought of before, but they will not be able to deny now. So well fashioned are her words, and this story.
I cannot get enough of this series and I will live in hope that Book 5 drops early lol, and Ms. Hill keeps taking us back to the Otherside!
In my first review of this series, I said to buy all of the available books and clear your time. After this fourth book, I am saying join me in solidarity as I camp out in front of the author's house and wait impatiently for the conclusion of this series!
Sigh...sadly that is impractical, and also probably illegal. But these books, OMG...sometimes you can just read the words and know an author laid her soul bare onto the pages. In book 4, Ms. Hill did exactly that and so much more. Our heroine tackles many difficult changes and realities in this one. Hardest of all may be the way she was manipulated into not being her full self. Ms. Hill pulls these emotions out and walks us through a difficult healing, with the kind of compassion, I wish every one in the whole world was able to receive, whenever we felt broken.
Added to that, the transition of enemies, to working together, to maybe more, with the main male character, is a slow burn journey, where trust is built brick by brick, no insta-anything here at all! And as a reader and a real person, who loves when life collides and expands on pages, I LOVED it!
Arden grows, the people around her gives her the support and space to do so, with one notable exception, but seeing her outgrow him, was delicious.
Ms. Hill has a talent for knitting real life issues with fantasy to broaden horizons and give readers a perspective they may not have thought of before, but they will not be able to deny now. So well fashioned are her words, and this story.
I cannot get enough of this series and I will live in hope that Book 5 drops early lol, and Ms. Hill keeps taking us back to the Otherside!
jesm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
The latest installment of Shadows if Otherside did not dissapoint. I just love watching Arden grown and developed as a kick ass leader. The action was non stop and Hill handles romance so well. I love these books so much!
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