Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Двор от мъгла и ярост by Sarah J. Maas

12 reviews

effy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book picks up not long after the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Feyre and Tamlin are deeply scarred by what happened Under The Mountain and their relationship is suffering too; the portrayable of trauma felt really authentic. 

This is my best friend's favourite series so I went into this book knowing some tidbits of information which made for it really enjoyable when I saw things that I knew were going to happen, happen.

This book is junk food for the soul and is pretty enjoyable from start to finish. I found the description of Velaris when we first see it a little on the lengthy side and felt drawn out of the book but otherwise it is pretty faultless for what it is i.e. a not very diverse fairy romance featuring the chosen one trope.
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the_chaotic_witch's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

624 pages; 2016; 4/5 stars; 7.43 CAWPILE; spoiler-free 

This book. Oh, this book. This is the one I always look forward to when I reread this series. Is it because of the shift in the plot, the characters, the tension? I can't properly say. Just that this book adds to the series, what makes it my favorite series of maybe even all-time: hive-mind, found family, soulmates, healing, multiple well-rounded and relevant characters. Expansion on the world as well as the cast. Is this book perfect, by far no, and not even for most people, I would assume. But for Me, it is a solid 4 stars. 

Why is that? If you have read my review of the first book, I hope you will not accuse Me of letting these off too easily because of my attachment to them. And reading the series now for the fourth time, I certainly see things more clearly, notice more issues. 

But first for the trusted c-a-w-p-i-l-e. 

The characters I feel like in this book all get more depth, and what I like is that while it may seem a little on the nose sometimes, we don't get everything at once and just like that, or out of thin air because it makes the plot easier. And more importantly: the characters are relevant. One of my biggest pet peeves with books is when we are supposed to attach ourselves to characters who are only there for the sob-story. Or so through explaining their tale of sorrow, we can characterize another character more strongly. Maybe I have too much love in Me for the (well done) found family trope, but I firmly believe these characters can stand on their own, hold themselves against the plot and the reader, and have a reason to be there as well. 

The atmosphere changes entirely from the first book. I alluded to it in the review of ACOTAR; this book takes a 180 on the plot, the atmosphere, the character(s), and the tale. This is even another retelling, some might say. Again I didn't notice it the first few times. (Hades and Persephone) 

While some of you who might have enjoyed the first book and especially its characters might absolutely loathe this one, I think it was not surprising. There were tendencies and signs to quite blatantly show that something and what exactly was going to happen. So I can't agree with those who say this change came out of nowhere, but I can understand your hurt. As for the atmosphere itself, it didn't do a whole 180, I'm sorry I lied, maybe a 160. There were themes of this in the first book, but where the first is about learning to love, to trust, to fight, and to forgive. This one is to learn to love yourself, to trust yourself, to demand your well-being to be respected and to fight for it, to forgive yourself, and to learn to love other people again after hurt in every possible way. It is to fight for what you want, and for what you deserve, to stand up for yourself, and overcoming the drowning dark. 

Here: a clear trigger warning for depression, PTSD, physical and emotional abuse, as well as kidnapping and violence. 

The world-building was one of the weakest points, in my opinion, regarding the first book. Here we expand because the plot expands. We got to see more of the land, the people, the different Courts, and over the borders of the soil they live on (make if that what you will). By exploring other characters and their backstories, we consequently - if it's well-done - also expand our understanding of the world. Of course, with the ending of the first book, we also learn more about the magic system and the High Fae in general. But with the plot being so much more open in this installment, there is much more space to play with. 

As for the plot. While I think it 100% better, but also 80% different and incomparable to the first book, I think I like it less than the last times I've read it. I loved this book for its timing, especially in contrast to the mess that was the first book. But reading it this time, I feel like it was rather a bit too fast-paced for my liking. Yes, a lot happens in this book, and it is a long book. But for all the world-building and character growth we explore, it was... rather quick. The beginning was good and due to its topic and atmosphere. But once we got to the more "pleasant" topics... some things were glossed over that made the progress in the characters appear a little rushed. 

This book also tries to make up for what was lacking in the first one. While almost nothing happened in that first book. Here we have a lot happening: From finding a found family to a couple of big missions, a dramatic ending, and world-building in the sense of character development and magic system. It was a lot. I don't mind because I love this series. But I strongly see why some of you might be bothered. 

The intrigue is clearly there if this book is for you. Not helpful, I know. As I said, this one added one of my favorite tropes to the pile: soulmates. So that in itself kept Me on the edge of my seat. But I think it also adds to the strategic aspects of the story. You might also enjoy it if you like spy stories or protecting what you love at all costs if you like Epic Fantasy in the way that it combines multiple parties and weaves them together with their own motivations and traditions while not being too bothered with contemporary aspects that are supposed to make the reader relate better to the characters. The fashion described and the language used are clearly meant to appeal to us, but in my opinion, it isn't that strong in focus anyway. 

For the logic, again, the pacing might be an issue, but other than that: it again leads to the next book in some of its flaws, but I personally wasn't bothered by any plotholes or inconsistencies. I rather enjoyed the cohesion. Needless to say, my enjoyment of this book was a clear 8/10. I love it; I can't deny it. But maybe I could sum up some points on why you might not have enjoyed it so much. 

That's Me, signing off. Be kind, especially to yourselves, bye ♥ 
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