frog1989's review against another edition
4.0
The first book was better. This one was very slow in the beginning and then a lot happened all at once. I did enjoy it and look forward to the conclusion.
helpme71's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
hermione12973's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As the second book in this series, I found I was struggling with Brianna's character after having rather enjoyed her in the first book.
It felt more like a slow build up with alot of information for the majority of the book to then finally get some good character action and development. Near the end it started to pick up good traction only to come to an end of the book to be picked up once more in the third.
It felt more like a slow build up with alot of information for the majority of the book to then finally get some good character action and development. Near the end it started to pick up good traction only to come to an end of the book to be picked up once more in the third.
mwhiting522's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kduncan's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Feathers of Snow a bit better than this one. I think the reason for this is because this one does have more of the Fantasy aspect than the first book. We go to the border wall with Brianna broken and rejected for her to find out who is calling her. She has a run in with some bad spirit beasts and is saved by a white bird. She begins to bond with this bird and learn more about the spirit beasts. Jian is there as well which I was very happy about, for some reason I didn't think he would be as present in this one. There were some things I didn't like at the ending concerning Elyanna. I really do love the authors writing style. She keeps great pace and makes it a very easy and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book!
Spoiler
Mostly I feel like there was a huge build up about what exactly is her part in all of this with the evil bird. There were questions left unanswered with her that I feel should have been cleared up before her death. Especially since it was talked about multiple times during the book about what she was planning.constant2m's review against another edition
5.0
It felt like such a long wait between Feathers of Snow and Feathers in Blood, but oh so worth it! I loved Brianna in the first book, and the impossible situation she found herself in. But where book one ended in exile, book two shows her finding her courage and traveling to places and creatures undiscovered by most humans. It also veers far from the polite society of book one. Brianna learns to function outside of all the norms she is used to. She also lets anger get the best of her more than once, but I have to admit, I loved it when she and Jian fought, it made me love both of them so much more because it felt like the relationship mattered so much to both of them. They argued until they were understood and it was good. I also loved that they both rescued each other. It was much more violent than the previous book, but also an incredibly beautiful story and I cannot wait to read book three.
I might appear biased because I had the privilege of editing this book, but I can assure you that there is no bias at all in my review. However, you'll want to read it for yourself to be sure.
I might appear biased because I had the privilege of editing this book, but I can assure you that there is no bias at all in my review. However, you'll want to read it for yourself to be sure.
bookdragonheart's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars! Starting out at a little bit of a slower pace, there is a lot of world building happening in this book in regards to the magic system and specifically, the spirit animals. Brianna has been essentially exiled with her two very loyal guards, and she must figure out who she wants to be, what she wants to do. We get much more into the lore of the spirit animals as Brianna develops a bond with a spirit bird, which is fascinating and intriguing. And as circumstances bring Jian back into her life, Brianna struggles with moving on and finding her own purpose without him.
The story builds gradually, but steadily, we see Brianna build strength, both physically and emotionally. She starts to take control of her own life, and her determination to make a difference and help continues to grow. But a breach of trust blows a whole in everything, and suddenly her world is spiraling towards a confrontation with everything she has feared her whole life.
There is a level of resolution with Jian, both recognizing that there is too much to walk away from but not knowing the best path forward. The book ends on the precipice of big changes in the Borderlands, for not only Brianna and Jian, and all the humans in the land, but likely for all the spirit animals as well. Book three is setting up to be an intense culmination of magic, faith, and love.
The story builds gradually, but steadily, we see Brianna build strength, both physically and emotionally. She starts to take control of her own life, and her determination to make a difference and help continues to grow. But a breach of trust blows a whole in everything, and suddenly her world is spiraling towards a confrontation with everything she has feared her whole life.
There is a level of resolution with Jian, both recognizing that there is too much to walk away from but not knowing the best path forward. The book ends on the precipice of big changes in the Borderlands, for not only Brianna and Jian, and all the humans in the land, but likely for all the spirit animals as well. Book three is setting up to be an intense culmination of magic, faith, and love.
waclements7's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 71%
There are things that bothered me in the first book that just got worse in the second. Taking Chinese characteristics and names was bad enough, but then taking the written language as well? It makes absolutely no sense. They don’t _speak_ a different language, so why would they have a different written language—and it’s even mentioned that it’s not the characters of the alphabet. It’s sloppy world building to simply import a nationality.
Brianna is so incredibly angsty—the arguments she has with Jian are childish. She certainly doesn’t act like she’s 18, and he doesn’t act like he’s 24 and a general.
My interest in the spirit creatures waned, and wasn’t enough to keep reading.
There are things that bothered me in the first book that just got worse in the second. Taking Chinese characteristics and names was bad enough, but then taking the written language as well? It makes absolutely no sense. They don’t _speak_ a different language, so why would they have a different written language—and it’s even mentioned that it’s not the characters of the alphabet. It’s sloppy world building to simply import a nationality.
Brianna is so incredibly angsty—the arguments she has with Jian are childish. She certainly doesn’t act like she’s 18, and he doesn’t act like he’s 24 and a general.
My interest in the spirit creatures waned, and wasn’t enough to keep reading.
barbi7's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
allisondevine's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
It was interesting to see brianna explore her own powers and the plot is compelling enough but I still am not sure the world building is seriously fleshed out and some plot points are too convenient