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emma_fay's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
The ending got me STRESSED
A little annoyed how much of a downgrade this felt compared to the first book. The first 200 pages were an absolute slog to get through but I loved the second half. Very excited to see how this series will end!
A little annoyed how much of a downgrade this felt compared to the first book. The first 200 pages were an absolute slog to get through but I loved the second half. Very excited to see how this series will end!
gods_dont_poop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kiraa's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
brisaa's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
leopardsummer8's review against another edition
4.0
I can't tell if this novel suffers from second-book syndrome or if the series just isn't living up to my expectations.
While The Smoke Thieves felt like preparation for the next book, I still think that The Demon World felt like it was setting up for the next book.
Did I read it in one day? Yes. But once again, it felt like so much and so little happened at the same time. I actually found the first half to be more interesting than the second, as it felt more urgent and dangerous. While I liked that all of the POV characters got together only to split up again, I got annoyed once again by some POVs that were useless or boring. Let me explain:
Ambrose and Catherine are one of the pairs that have POVs almost always involving each other...and there's only so much I can take. While I can tolerate Catherine and her intelligence, Ambrose doesn't grow at all as a character. His thoughts are constantly just "Catherine, Catherine, Catherine" and he literally does nothing helpful...ever.
I liked Tash again, and I like that she's a solitary character with a handful of "found family" friends. I'll be interested to see how her character arc plays out in the next book.
In the first book, Edyon and March were my favorites but honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of them in the sequel. Edyon never stopped flirting, which wouldn't be a bad thing if he, y'know, was better at it. He uses the same pickup lines over and over again... And March just wallowed in self-pity and failure to make smart decisions the whole book. In the first book, they faced a lot of danger but in this one, it felt significantly less urgent, and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. I intend to finish the series eventually, but it's not at the top of my priorities.
The Demon World is the second installation in The Smoke Thieves series, and it expands the world established in the first novel while also setting up for an epic finale.
3.75/5
Link to Libby Annotations
While The Smoke Thieves felt like preparation for the next book, I still think that The Demon World felt like it was setting up for the next book.
Did I read it in one day? Yes. But once again, it felt like so much and so little happened at the same time. I actually found the first half to be more interesting than the second, as it felt more urgent and dangerous. While I liked that all of the POV characters got together only to split up again, I got annoyed once again by some POVs that were useless or boring. Let me explain:
Ambrose and Catherine are one of the pairs that have POVs almost always involving each other...and there's only so much I can take. While I can tolerate Catherine and her intelligence, Ambrose doesn't grow at all as a character. His thoughts are constantly just "Catherine, Catherine, Catherine" and he literally does nothing helpful...ever.
I liked Tash again, and I like that she's a solitary character with a handful of "found family" friends. I'll be interested to see how her character arc plays out in the next book.
In the first book, Edyon and March were my favorites but honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of them in the sequel. Edyon never stopped flirting, which wouldn't be a bad thing if he, y'know, was better at it. He uses the same pickup lines over and over again... And March just wallowed in self-pity and failure to make smart decisions the whole book. In the first book, they faced a lot of danger but in this one, it felt significantly less urgent, and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. I intend to finish the series eventually, but it's not at the top of my priorities.
The Demon World is the second installation in The Smoke Thieves series, and it expands the world established in the first novel while also setting up for an epic finale.
3.75/5
Link to Libby Annotations
thattheatrekid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Loved this book as a continuation to the Smoke Thieves! I loved the action scenes and the continued world building, as well as the character development. I only feel like I read so much and so little happened though; it could have been more condensed. I really enjoy these because I am equally invested in all characters and not skipping around to the “good stories,” which is easy to do with books that have multiple POVs. I also maintain my complaint about the last book, that the cursing feels way too basic/modern for this world, and that the feminist message for Catherine is too forced. And maybe it’s just part of her arc, but while I loved Catherine in the first book, I really didn’t like her in this one as she let her morals and values become grey. But maybe that’s how it’s planned. Great book overall but I prefer the last one! Eager to read the next
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first book, and the first half of this led me to believe this was as good. Sadly, it was let down by the second half where really only stash was consistently excellent as a character. Ambrose in particular was a massive idiot and I want to push him into a river. Or a demon hole.
laesemus9's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
War gut. Was soll dieser Clifhanger am Ende mit Tash?!