Scan barcode
k8young_1013's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder
nineinchnails's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book (thankfully) didn't have the same issue with little focus on gareth so i ended up liking it a lot more. even though it was a little slow in the first half there was just more focus on looking into leads and figuring out what happened to gareth compared to in savage fae and i was so grateful. there was a lot more character development here than the last book and it was really satisfying to see them all grow and see their relationships develop too. that being said elise was pretty irritating as an fmc in the last book but i feel like she's evolving too, and even in the last book i never disliked her because she has a pretty good reason to be a little annoying and immature.
this book definitely grabbed my attention more than the last one despite starting somewhat slow since there was more than enough focus on gareth and the side plot this time so it felt way more balanced and satisfying to read. there was so many shenanigans in general and i think that's what i was missing from savage fae. the focus on the side plot (in my opinion) strengthened their relationships with each other and just made the book more enjoyable in general. the second half was a wild ride but it was pretty cathartic by the end even if it did end on a cliffhanger.
there was so much more lance orion than i was expecting (i also was not expecting to miss his presence so much wow) and the cameos from the heirs were really fun but none of it took away from the story too much. i was kinda worried of that when i heard there would be cameos in this series since ZA is set 5 years later and i assumed it would feel super forced so i'm relieved it wasn't overdone. their time at zodiac academy was somewhere in the middle and like i said before the first half was kinda slow but once they got back to aurora academy everything kicked off so it gave the series the kick up the butt it needed!
this book definitely grabbed my attention more than the last one despite starting somewhat slow since there was more than enough focus on gareth and the side plot this time so it felt way more balanced and satisfying to read. there was so many shenanigans in general and i think that's what i was missing from savage fae. the focus on the side plot (in my opinion) strengthened their relationships with each other and just made the book more enjoyable in general. the second half was a wild ride but it was pretty cathartic by the end even if it did end on a cliffhanger.
there was so much more lance orion than i was expecting (i also was not expecting to miss his presence so much wow) and the cameos from the heirs were really fun but none of it took away from the story too much. i was kinda worried of that when i heard there would be cameos in this series since ZA is set 5 years later and i assumed it would feel super forced so i'm relieved it wasn't overdone. their time at zodiac academy was somewhere in the middle and like i said before the first half was kinda slow but once they got back to aurora academy everything kicked off so it gave the series the kick up the butt it needed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abandonment
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This book wrapped my heart up in barbed wire and ripped it from my chest.
As tensions rise between Elise and the four kings, so does the amount of information and threats headed her way. The Black Card isn't the only adversary that she'll need to face if she's going to figure out who's responsible for killing her brother - and the answers will come with a few familiar faces from across the world of Solaria.
I think the only way I can accurately talk about this book is by ignoring the last 20% and instead talk about the absolute gut-wrenching growth we get in these pages. There is something heartbreaking about being able to read Elise's grief in one chapter and her drive to find information and solve this mystery, and then to SEE it in the next moment when the POV shifts to one of the kings, trying so hard to make Elise smile but knowing that none of them can ever compare to the things she's willing to do to avenge her brother. The way that she works with each of the four kings is something so masterfully done that I feel like I need to take notes. There is so much raw emotion wrapped into each character, fleshing them out to feel like people I care about.
Speaking of notes: I made over 200 notes in this book while I read, ranging from me crying with laughter to full on sobbing in my bed towards the end of the novel. I knew that I couldn't get out of this book unscathed, but I truly didn't expect the turn that it made and even though I had multiple people warn me, I guess I should have listened. I think what I love most about this series is the way it makes me feel for every single character, whether that's sheer love or pure hatred, I caught myself multiple times with knee-jerk reactions to the mere mention of a name. I can't think of another book series that I've read recently that can so quickly cut to my heart and tug on my emotions. This one does it and I both love and hate it for it because I know that this is tame compared to what else these authors do and I'm not sure if my poor heart can take it.
If you've been following these reviews, I don't know what else to say other than I feel like these characters have burrowed into me and become a part of my very being. This series certainly isn't for everyone - and you probably won't have the same emotional connections to specific moments like I do - but I can say that you'll probably find yourself forming other ones and getting swept away in the magic of it all. At least I hope you can, I hope everyone can find a series that makes them feel the way this has made me feel.
Content Warnings: A continuation of prior warnings, blood, violence, grief, past sexual assault, emotional abuse, and more. A sincere warning that you will suddenly start to bawl during this book and if you don't I don't know what to say because I have six selfies on my phone with snot and tears all over my face to prove what it did to ME. I think I need a break and a tylenol for my head.
As tensions rise between Elise and the four kings, so does the amount of information and threats headed her way. The Black Card isn't the only adversary that she'll need to face if she's going to figure out who's responsible for killing her brother - and the answers will come with a few familiar faces from across the world of Solaria.
I think the only way I can accurately talk about this book is by ignoring the last 20% and instead talk about the absolute gut-wrenching growth we get in these pages. There is something heartbreaking about being able to read Elise's grief in one chapter and her drive to find information and solve this mystery, and then to SEE it in the next moment when the POV shifts to one of the kings, trying so hard to make Elise smile but knowing that none of them can ever compare to the things she's willing to do to avenge her brother. The way that she works with each of the four kings is something so masterfully done that I feel like I need to take notes. There is so much raw emotion wrapped into each character, fleshing them out to feel like people I care about.
Speaking of notes: I made over 200 notes in this book while I read, ranging from me crying with laughter to full on sobbing in my bed towards the end of the novel. I knew that I couldn't get out of this book unscathed, but I truly didn't expect the turn that it made and even though I had multiple people warn me, I guess I should have listened. I think what I love most about this series is the way it makes me feel for every single character, whether that's sheer love or pure hatred, I caught myself multiple times with knee-jerk reactions to the mere mention of a name. I can't think of another book series that I've read recently that can so quickly cut to my heart and tug on my emotions. This one does it and I both love and hate it for it because I know that this is tame compared to what else these authors do and I'm not sure if my poor heart can take it.
If you've been following these reviews, I don't know what else to say other than I feel like these characters have burrowed into me and become a part of my very being. This series certainly isn't for everyone - and you probably won't have the same emotional connections to specific moments like I do - but I can say that you'll probably find yourself forming other ones and getting swept away in the magic of it all. At least I hope you can, I hope everyone can find a series that makes them feel the way this has made me feel.
Content Warnings: A continuation of prior warnings, blood, violence, grief, past sexual assault, emotional abuse, and more. A sincere warning that you will suddenly start to bawl during this book and if you don't I don't know what to say because I have six selfies on my phone with snot and tears all over my face to prove what it did to ME. I think I need a break and a tylenol for my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Grief
sarah_amy11's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
More...