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jasmindragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Such a good book, but weird how they skip over multiple centuries like it's nothing? I expected more of the lovers from the first book and was disappointed. Amazing world-building, betrayal from left and right, angsty lesbians with tension in the royal court, what more could you want.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mirandyli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
THIS BOOK WAS SO MESSY! The plot of the second book was so much worse than the first one. The first book had great world building, which is expanded on in the second book. But the main character is hopelessly and problematically in love with her oppressor. It’s a whole mess. There are so many plot twists that will make you so frustrated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism
princess_sara_sparkles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Great duology and story. Heart-wrenching the whole way through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
fatedefied's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Trafficking
emmiej's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really really wanted to love this book a lot more than I did. Malice was absolutely phenomenal but this sequel fell a little short.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book but I really did enjoy reading it. However, once Aurora woke up it kind of went downhill. Aurora spends her whole time showing that her allyship for the magical creatures from the first book was pretty much all performative. She really can't let go of what Alyce has done (which fair), but keeps putting her through this on again off again things which is just very toxic for everyone involved. Honestly I just stopped liking her and I was rooting for them to completely end their relationship.
Additionally I feel like there were a lot of loose threads that tied up too quickly and in a rather unsatisfying manner.
However it was the last couple of chapters that really frustrated me. Regan died?! Why?? It felt like it was just to avoid dealing which the romance between her and Alyce.
And then there was Aurora getting all the power to unite the kingdoms. I don't think she deserved that at all. And I can't think of anyone worse for the job after the way she acts throughout the book.
Honestly I'm glad Alyce and Aurora don't end up together but I wish it had been a clean break, none of this maybe we'll get back together in 100 years because you are my true love stuff.
Overall I think this book had so much potential. I really do enjoy the author's writing and her characters. I could 100% have read a whole book on Alyce, the dark court and their war. I'd even enjoy Derek being there.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book but I really did enjoy reading it. However, once Aurora woke up it kind of went downhill. Aurora spends her whole time showing that her allyship for the magical creatures from the first book was pretty much all performative. She really can't let go of what Alyce has done (which fair), but keeps putting her through this on again off again things which is just very toxic for everyone involved. Honestly I just stopped liking her and I was rooting for them to completely end their relationship.
Additionally I feel like there were a lot of loose threads that tied up too quickly and in a rather unsatisfying manner.
However it was the last couple of chapters that really frustrated me.
And then there was Aurora getting all the power to unite the kingdoms. I don't think she deserved that at all. And I can't think of anyone worse for the job after the way she acts throughout the book.
Honestly I'm glad Alyce and Aurora don't end up together but I wish it had been a clean break, none of this maybe we'll get back together in 100 years because you are my true love stuff.
Overall I think this book had so much potential. I really do enjoy the author's writing and her characters. I could 100% have read a whole book on Alyce, the dark court and their war. I'd even enjoy Derek being there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
Too slow, got bored, first book was better
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
scifi_rat's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot: 3.5 ★
Prose: 4 ★
Pace: 3 ★
Concept/Execution: 4 ★/3★
Characters: 3.5 ★
Worldbuilding: 3.5 ★
Ending: 3.5 ★
Prose: 4 ★
Pace: 3 ★
Concept/Execution: 4 ★/3★
Characters: 3.5 ★
Worldbuilding: 3.5 ★
Ending: 3.5 ★
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
yofrere's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Check out my review of Malice!
Compared to the first book , Misrule felt rather slow. While the world building was a bit more fleshed out, it seemed like a time sucker after the 500 page prequel. It was interesting but directionless for most of the book. I understood Aurora even less in this book which was, in a way, more relatable considering she had to reimagine her life when she woke up after 100 years to find out that the person she was in love with murdered her entire family and destroyed everything she’d ever known save for a bedroom and the skeleton of her childhood home .
I wasn’t overly interested in Alyce’s story. I was actually hoping that the second book would be from someone else’s point of view. But she was a familiar narrator and it was nice to see some insight from her unique perspective. The court politics confused me along with several plot points that weren’t really explained. They just sort of were. It may seem unfair to compare this book to Malice but after the scandal and intrigue of the first book, Misrule’s paced out counterbalance was a bit boring.
The supporting cast was actually pretty fun and definitely more likable than the Graces in the first book. The found family trope was a little unexpected but endearing?The “love triangle” was also unexpected and a bit boring. I wish Neve had more time in the spotlight. I did not like Regan really at all.
The ending was ultimately satisfying but I wouldn’t recommend this series for everyone. An unusual twist on a classic story.
Compared to the first book , Misrule felt rather slow. While the world building was a bit more fleshed out, it seemed like a time sucker after the 500 page prequel. It was interesting but directionless for most of the book. I understood Aurora even less in this book which was, in a way, more relatable
I wasn’t overly interested in Alyce’s story. I was actually hoping that the second book would be from someone else’s point of view. But she was a familiar narrator and it was nice to see some insight from her unique perspective. The court politics confused me along with several plot points that weren’t really explained. They just sort of were. It may seem unfair to compare this book to Malice but after the scandal and intrigue of the first book, Misrule’s paced out counterbalance was a bit boring.
The supporting cast was actually pretty fun and definitely more likable than the Graces in the first book. The found family trope was a little unexpected but endearing?
The ending was ultimately satisfying but I wouldn’t recommend this series for everyone. An unusual twist on a classic story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Murder, and War
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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? Yes
3.5
After reading and absolutely obsessing over Malice, I was thrilled to dive into Misrule as soon as possible. The previous book left us on a bit of an intense, emotional cliffhanger and I had to know what happened next...
...what I wasn't expecting was for this book to take place 100 years in the future. That threw me for a loop, I'll be honest. It also made me a little bit frustrated because it showed that Alyce really hadn't grown at all in that time, but completely given in to every bit of evil that was plaguing her from the get-go.
However, that meant there was nowhere to go but up. It just took a while to get there.
This book was a great deal slower than the first and didn't really suck me in until the final third of the story. I kept expecting crazy twists or exciting magic but instead, it became a bit boring, focusing more on the political intrigue and how all of the creatures/monsters were harmed or taken advantage of over the years.
That being said, the ending was really well done. While there were plenty of predictable moments throughout the book, the conclusion was something that gave me pause. I wasn't fully expecting the resolution, which was super pleasing. In addition to that, it also made the slower aspects of the story more beneficial. I believe that if I were to reread it, I would appreciate it more for how it turned out.
I also feel the need to mention that I read this over the course of a month (as a buddy-read) when it would typically be a book I would finish in a matter of days. If I pick it up again in the future, I'd be curious to see how it would make me feel if I flew through it a little quicker and if that would make it feel like an easier, less monotonous read.
As a duology, I'd give it 4 stars. It's a unique twist on Sleeping Beauty and I really enjoyed how the classic fairytale was reimagined!
...what I wasn't expecting was for this book to take place 100 years in the future. That threw me for a loop, I'll be honest. It also made me a little bit frustrated because it showed that Alyce really hadn't grown at all in that time, but completely given in to every bit of evil that was plaguing her from the get-go.
However, that meant there was nowhere to go but up. It just took a while to get there.
This book was a great deal slower than the first and didn't really suck me in until the final third of the story. I kept expecting crazy twists or exciting magic but instead, it became a bit boring, focusing more on the political intrigue and how all of the creatures/monsters were harmed or taken advantage of over the years.
That being said, the ending was really well done. While there were plenty of predictable moments throughout the book, the conclusion was something that gave me pause. I wasn't fully expecting the resolution, which was super pleasing. In addition to that, it also made the slower aspects of the story more beneficial. I believe that if I were to reread it, I would appreciate it more for how it turned out.
I also feel the need to mention that I read this over the course of a month (as a buddy-read) when it would typically be a book I would finish in a matter of days. If I pick it up again in the future, I'd be curious to see how it would make me feel if I flew through it a little quicker and if that would make it feel like an easier, less monotonous read.
As a duology, I'd give it 4 stars. It's a unique twist on Sleeping Beauty and I really enjoyed how the classic fairytale was reimagined!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Torture and Grief
Minor: Self harm