Reviews

The Ever Cruel Kingdom by Rin Chupeco

jonnaandherwails's review against another edition

5.0

OH MY GOD. THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER. I would die for this duology. I am in love. I am happy. It literally has everything I could ever ask for.

For now, let me float in my own tears.

Full review to follow.

lesserjoke's review against another edition

3.0

In the first volume of this YA fantasy duology, twin sisters raised on opposite sides of a stationary world each fall in love and get caught up in a propulsive plot that brings them and their partners hurtling together in its final pages. This sequel is fun for finally showing those four characters interacting -- and it remains a nice piece of representation that one of the romantic relationships is F/F and the other involves a young man with only one arm -- but there's a little less conflict all around now that everyone's feelings are settled and their epic travels across a Mad Max-style desert are largely behind them. The quartet of viewpoint protagonists all sharing a common space also underscores how similarly author Rin Chupeco has written their voices, which was less evident before.

Ultimately I'm satisfied by how the story resolves here, and the central metaphor of a new generation tackling the climate crisis brought on by their elders is certainly apt, but the narrative hasn't quite grabbed me the way the previous book does.

[Content warning for self-harm, panic attacks, and cannibalism.]

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maddyy13's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

stephondrusek's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.25

steamsuccubus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

novaturient_bibliophile's review against another edition

4.25

The ending was really exciting, and tense, and brilliant. But up until the last hundred or so pages, the rising action just was not very engaging. Yes, it had positive messages; yes, it built on ideas so the climax would make sense; yes, it developed important relationships. It didn’t keep me hooked, though, and it didn’t add to my investment in the story. That being said, the last third of the book was great. The ending was well-written too, because it was good and happy without being unrealistic and too perfect. I loved the casual queer rep, too. However, I must admit, some of the “sisterhood comments made me cringe”. Overall, this book shocked me. Some of the twists were just really out of nowhere. They made sense, but they were not predictable. 
This reminded me of the Cerulean by Amy Ewing and Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor.

marieintheraw's review against another edition

4.0

This was so satisfying.

megdconway's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

moonsweetie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense

4.0

lunamothma's review against another edition

adventurous 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