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_isabel_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My first reaction upon finishing M.A. Grant's upcoming masterpiece of a sequel (and my subsequent discovery that there were no other pages left) was just a very loud and distressed moan. Then a: "OH MY GOD, what was that ending and how am I supposed to wait for the next book?!!!"
I loved "Crooked Shadows" so damn much, even more than the first book.
It starts where "Rare Vigilance" leaves off, with Atlas and Cristian escaping Scarsdale and heading off to Romania to investigate and hopefully discover more about the mysterious (and enormously creepy) Strigoi and the reason behind their attacks. Romania brings about new characters and new vampiric families, even more political maneuverings and lots and lots of action-packed moments and shocking discoveries. It also brings about new challenges to Cristian and Atlas' slowly-blossoming relationship and intimacy.
I utterly loved the change in setting of the book: I think this might be my first romance where the whole of the story is set in a different country other than the usual USA or UK. I loved how different the atmospheric vibe was to the previous book, the vivid and colourful and realistic descriptions of the countryside, towns and mountains.
The writing was, as usual, gorgeous and poetic and transported you right into the pages of the book: I was so immersed in the story I actually hadn't realized the end of the novel was near until I looked down and saw the dreaded "95%" on my kindle screen.
The thing I really appreciated of this sequel, and I think one of the main reasons I loved it even more than the first book, was the fact that we finally get Cristian's POV. And what a POV. When you first meet him, through Atlas' eyes, he comes across as an arrogant brat , and even after discovering that there's more to him than his bratty exterior, you don't actually get to see how vulnerable and deep his inner self is. He still acts arrogant and snarky in this second book, but his thoughts and feelings are so soft, so vulnerable and his care (and yes, love) for Atlas runs so deep you'll want to dive inside the book, hug him and shelter him from the world. I only wanted to shout at him (and Atlas) a couple of times, because they were acting like insecure, self-sacrificing "he doesn't deserve me" idiots, but still, I loved how far both of them come throughout the book and the chemistry and care between them is *chef's kiss*
I loved the new characters, especially Daria (whom I'm hoping we'll get more of in the third book), and the few interactions we get with the Dunării family members are promising.
Those last few chapters were WILD: they left me with even more questions (especially about the Strigoi and Atlas) and a desperate need to speed up time to when I'll have the third book in my greedy hands.
I'm so so looking forward to reading what else M.A. Grant has planned for Atlas and Cristian: I'm sure it will be great (and involve lots of tears and screaming).
My first reaction upon finishing M.A. Grant's upcoming masterpiece of a sequel (and my subsequent discovery that there were no other pages left) was just a very loud and distressed moan. Then a: "OH MY GOD, what was that ending and how am I supposed to wait for the next book?!!!"
I loved "Crooked Shadows" so damn much, even more than the first book.
It starts where "Rare Vigilance" leaves off, with Atlas and Cristian escaping Scarsdale and heading off to Romania to investigate and hopefully discover more about the mysterious (and enormously creepy) Strigoi and the reason behind their attacks. Romania brings about new characters and new vampiric families, even more political maneuverings and lots and lots of action-packed moments and shocking discoveries. It also brings about new challenges to Cristian and Atlas' slowly-blossoming relationship and intimacy.
I utterly loved the change in setting of the book: I think this might be my first romance where the whole of the story is set in a different country other than the usual USA or UK. I loved how different the atmospheric vibe was to the previous book, the vivid and colourful and realistic descriptions of the countryside, towns and mountains.
The writing was, as usual, gorgeous and poetic and transported you right into the pages of the book: I was so immersed in the story I actually hadn't realized the end of the novel was near until I looked down and saw the dreaded "95%" on my kindle screen.
The thing I really appreciated of this sequel, and I think one of the main reasons I loved it even more than the first book, was the fact that we finally get Cristian's POV. And what a POV. When you first meet him, through Atlas' eyes, he comes across as an arrogant brat , and even after discovering that there's more to him than his bratty exterior, you don't actually get to see how vulnerable and deep his inner self is. He still acts arrogant and snarky in this second book, but his thoughts and feelings are so soft, so vulnerable and his care (and yes, love) for Atlas runs so deep you'll want to dive inside the book, hug him and shelter him from the world. I only wanted to shout at him (and Atlas) a couple of times, because they were acting like insecure, self-sacrificing "he doesn't deserve me" idiots, but still, I loved how far both of them come throughout the book and the chemistry and care between them is *chef's kiss*
I loved the new characters, especially Daria (whom I'm hoping we'll get more of in the third book), and the few interactions we get with the Dunării family members are promising.
Those last few chapters were WILD: they left me with even more questions (especially about the Strigoi and Atlas) and a desperate need to speed up time to when I'll have the third book in my greedy hands.
I'm so so looking forward to reading what else M.A. Grant has planned for Atlas and Cristian: I'm sure it will be great (and involve lots of tears and screaming).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
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