bri4484's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was given this book by the publisher via netgalley in return for an honest review. While the plot had promise it just didn't land for me.
The sisters constant bickering through the whole book got old pretty quickly. Their growth was also pretty smart nonexistent.
There was no grey area for them it was either trust or don't but for individuals constantly being betrayed they often made questionable choices. I mean you know, you can change your image but don't consider that others could too?
I feel even the supporting characters are very black and white.
I thought the constant repetition of certain points was also unneeded.
The other had some questionable verbage as well often simplistic but throwing in SAT words for funsies.
Ultimately this duology fell flat for me. I finished it but it's not memorable in any way.
The sisters constant bickering through the whole book got old pretty quickly. Their growth was also pretty smart nonexistent.
There was no grey area for them it was either trust or don't but for individuals constantly being betrayed they often made questionable choices. I mean you know, you can change your image but don't consider that others could too?
I feel even the supporting characters are very black and white.
I thought the constant repetition of certain points was also unneeded.
The other had some questionable verbage as well often simplistic but throwing in SAT words for funsies.
Ultimately this duology fell flat for me. I finished it but it's not memorable in any way.
almuthmith's review
I stopped 34% into the audiobook because the main couple got too obnoxious and everyone was annoying.
story_sanctuary's review
I didn’t realize this was a sequel before I began reading it, which is totally my own error. I’ve tried to be more careful about this, but I think I was specifically looking for Blink books when I stumbled onto this one, so I probably downloaded it without looking carefully enough.
No worries, though. I was confused at the very beginning because a LOT is happening in that first scene. Aissa and her sister are on the run, reeling from a serious betrayal, grieving over their parents’ deaths, and Aissa is missing the boy she loves and to whom she is now magically bonded. Once I got that sorted out and figured out who everyone was, I followed the story without much trouble.
I have kind of mixed feelings about the story. There were things I liked, like the fact that it’s a book about sisters. I love those. It’s also got some interesting exploration of two peoples with grievances against each other going back generations. It shows leaders who want to try to bring them together despite those past wounds and traumas. I liked that there were two distinct people. Magi have the ability to perform magic as defense or offense. Technocrats have no magic but create powerful machines to protect themselves or battle the Magi.
On the other hand, some things about the book didn’t resonate with me. Aissa and Aro are pretty gooey with each other. A couple times, they’re literally in the middle of a battle or intense situation and they just drop what they’re doing for a minute and get all smoochy. I felt like that interrupted the tension in the scene. It didn’t feel to me like something that would realistically happen in a situation where adrenaline would be that high and for trained fighters.
I also had some issues with the way Aissa treated Aro. There were times she was really patronizing, treating him like he was this fragile flower who had to stay locked away to protect her because of their magic bond, which meant that if he got injured or killed, the same would happen to her. I at least wanted him to confront her about the way she was treating him. I didn’t feel like there was a satisfying resolution to that issue.
On the whole it was an interesting book, and I enjoyed some things about it. It reminded me a tiny bit of the Safe Lands series by Jill Williamson because of its dystopian-type setting.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
No worries, though. I was confused at the very beginning because a LOT is happening in that first scene. Aissa and her sister are on the run, reeling from a serious betrayal, grieving over their parents’ deaths, and Aissa is missing the boy she loves and to whom she is now magically bonded. Once I got that sorted out and figured out who everyone was, I followed the story without much trouble.
I have kind of mixed feelings about the story. There were things I liked, like the fact that it’s a book about sisters. I love those. It’s also got some interesting exploration of two peoples with grievances against each other going back generations. It shows leaders who want to try to bring them together despite those past wounds and traumas. I liked that there were two distinct people. Magi have the ability to perform magic as defense or offense. Technocrats have no magic but create powerful machines to protect themselves or battle the Magi.
On the other hand, some things about the book didn’t resonate with me. Aissa and Aro are pretty gooey with each other. A couple times, they’re literally in the middle of a battle or intense situation and they just drop what they’re doing for a minute and get all smoochy. I felt like that interrupted the tension in the scene. It didn’t feel to me like something that would realistically happen in a situation where adrenaline would be that high and for trained fighters.
I also had some issues with the way Aissa treated Aro. There were times she was really patronizing, treating him like he was this fragile flower who had to stay locked away to protect her because of their magic bond, which meant that if he got injured or killed, the same would happen to her. I at least wanted him to confront her about the way she was treating him. I didn’t feel like there was a satisfying resolution to that issue.
On the whole it was an interesting book, and I enjoyed some things about it. It reminded me a tiny bit of the Safe Lands series by Jill Williamson because of its dystopian-type setting.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
the_bookish_raven's review
4.0
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Spoilers for book 1 ahead!
After escaping the Technocrat prison, Aissa, Zandria, and Remy are on the run. Zandria is a completely different person after having suffered at the hands of Technocrats. Remy’s allegiance may or may not be to his father, a leader of the Magi who doesn’t believe their story. Aissa isn’t sure who she can trust or rely on. Meanwhile, her life is in danger since her heart is bound to Aro’s, the Technocrat prince. Her only hope is to learn more about the Alchemist Alliance, her and Zandria’s powers, and fulfill the Alliance’s goal of reuniting the Magi and the Technocrats. War is coming, and it might destroy them all.
Having enjoyed Twin Daggers, I was excited to read this duology’s conclusion! I absolutely adored Aissa and Aro’s romance in the first book, and I was also intrigued by the cliffhanger book one ended on. This sequel was a solid follow-up to Twin Daggers, though I think I enjoyed the plot of book one more!
A lot of this book consists of the characters learning more about their origins while trying to prevent Darian Azul from creating his own army of Heartless. I really enjoyed learning more about the magic in this story! However, at times, the story could drag a little.
The romance was sweet; there were even some new potential ships that I enjoyed! I was satisfied with the ending, but I wouldn’t have minded if it was a bit longer! Overall, I think this sequel was good even if I had a few problems with it here and there!
If you enjoyed book one, I would recommend finishing this duology! If you haven’t read book one, it’s an action/adventure/spy take on Romeo and Juliet! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, give it a read!
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Spoilers for book 1 ahead!
After escaping the Technocrat prison, Aissa, Zandria, and Remy are on the run. Zandria is a completely different person after having suffered at the hands of Technocrats. Remy’s allegiance may or may not be to his father, a leader of the Magi who doesn’t believe their story. Aissa isn’t sure who she can trust or rely on. Meanwhile, her life is in danger since her heart is bound to Aro’s, the Technocrat prince. Her only hope is to learn more about the Alchemist Alliance, her and Zandria’s powers, and fulfill the Alliance’s goal of reuniting the Magi and the Technocrats. War is coming, and it might destroy them all.
Having enjoyed Twin Daggers, I was excited to read this duology’s conclusion! I absolutely adored Aissa and Aro’s romance in the first book, and I was also intrigued by the cliffhanger book one ended on. This sequel was a solid follow-up to Twin Daggers, though I think I enjoyed the plot of book one more!
A lot of this book consists of the characters learning more about their origins while trying to prevent Darian Azul from creating his own army of Heartless. I really enjoyed learning more about the magic in this story! However, at times, the story could drag a little.
The romance was sweet; there were even some new potential ships that I enjoyed! I was satisfied with the ending, but I wouldn’t have minded if it was a bit longer! Overall, I think this sequel was good even if I had a few problems with it here and there!
If you enjoyed book one, I would recommend finishing this duology! If you haven’t read book one, it’s an action/adventure/spy take on Romeo and Juliet! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, give it a read!
sararose013's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.
Aissa and Zandria are back together and have escaped the Technocrats prison. The trauma that Zandria suffered in the prison has hardened her, so much that Aissa has never felt so alone, even with her twin back. Zandria wants all Technocrats dead, Aissa wants to grant mercy to the innocent. Will either get what they want?
The pacing in this book was much better than the first. Personally, I liked the first book, but it did have a tendency to drag on, with little action happening. In the sequel, there were still a few places it dragged, but that was rare. The story was pretty good, though I spent so much of the book being absolutely annoyed at how dead set the characters were with their prejudices and close-mindedness. I expected this series to end up being a trilogy-I had 7% of the book left, and so many loose ends to tie up, but somehow, the author managed to squeeze it all in.
This cover is absolutely stunning and definitely does justice to the story within. I will definitely be watching this author for any future books.
Aissa and Zandria are back together and have escaped the Technocrats prison. The trauma that Zandria suffered in the prison has hardened her, so much that Aissa has never felt so alone, even with her twin back. Zandria wants all Technocrats dead, Aissa wants to grant mercy to the innocent. Will either get what they want?
The pacing in this book was much better than the first. Personally, I liked the first book, but it did have a tendency to drag on, with little action happening. In the sequel, there were still a few places it dragged, but that was rare. The story was pretty good, though I spent so much of the book being absolutely annoyed at how dead set the characters were with their prejudices and close-mindedness. I expected this series to end up being a trilogy-I had 7% of the book left, and so many loose ends to tie up, but somehow, the author managed to squeeze it all in.
This cover is absolutely stunning and definitely does justice to the story within. I will definitely be watching this author for any future books.
jordanisreading's review
3.0
I liked the concept of the first book in this series and was delighted to be given the opportunity to read the sequel as a digital ARC.
Following their escape, we see the characters battling with the trauma of the events from the first book. The divide between Zandria and Aissa widens as their ideas of revenge diverge dramatically.
I thought this book was a good development from the first - the characters felt authentic, thought I still didn't like them as much as I wanted to, and this book had a better pace than the first, which dragged in the first half a little. I also liked that the history and wider social structure of the world were explained more in this book, though I generally don't enjoy when sequels have to continue world-building in order to make sense.
I thought this was a nice end to the duology and I'll be interested to see what MarcyKate Connolly writes next.
Following their escape, we see the characters battling with the trauma of the events from the first book. The divide between Zandria and Aissa widens as their ideas of revenge diverge dramatically.
I thought this book was a good development from the first - the characters felt authentic, thought I still didn't like them as much as I wanted to, and this book had a better pace than the first, which dragged in the first half a little. I also liked that the history and wider social structure of the world were explained more in this book, though I generally don't enjoy when sequels have to continue world-building in order to make sense.
I thought this was a nice end to the duology and I'll be interested to see what MarcyKate Connolly writes next.
abigailfair's review
4.0
I felt like this sequel didn't have quite the same urgency and cleverness as the first book, but in the end it still managed to surprise me, and I like where it landed.
goblinmilk's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Heartless Heirs by MarcyKate Connolly
Release date: August 10th
---------------
The second book in the Twin Daggers duology is here at last. The fates of Aissa, Zandria, Aro and the entire Magi and Technocrat populace was left hanging since the first book a year ago. But the wait was worth it.
Machines will be torn apart, innocents will bleed, lies uncovered and plots will crumble and rise in this nail-biting finale. There is some great character development and the relationships they maintain are realistically frustrating at times. For the most part those interactions are what made the book so enjoyable but some minor characters did have their development a bit rushed. Poor Remy, though vital in the first book, was practically forgotten about by the end. But let’s face it, mostly we cared about Aissa and Aro, and we got a wonderfully satisfying portion of that.
All in all I would give this a 3.5 / 5. Yes it has its problems but I was still gripped and fully satisfied by the end.
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