hue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My heart is swelling!
I must admit I was afraid at first to find out the sequel was written in first person rather than third like the Midnight Lie, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dwelve into both Sid and Nirrim's thoughts and turmoils—as well as the storytelling of the God of Lies—was absolutely marvelous. Sure, sometimes it felt as if there was no "true" plot to follow, but I did not mind one bit about it. The characters and their stories, the threads that weave their lives—it was rich and fantastical, full of grief and love and desperation. I cannot find the words to describe it any better. I could stay in this world for all of entirety!
I must admit I was afraid at first to find out the sequel was written in first person rather than third like the Midnight Lie, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dwelve into both Sid and Nirrim's thoughts and turmoils—as well as the storytelling of the God of Lies—was absolutely marvelous. Sure, sometimes it felt as if there was no "true" plot to follow, but I did not mind one bit about it. The characters and their stories, the threads that weave their lives—it was rich and fantastical, full of grief and love and desperation. I cannot find the words to describe it any better. I could stay in this world for all of entirety!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, War, Murder, and Violence
claudiamacpherson's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Grief, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Child death, Classism, Gun violence, and Sexual content
angstifies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
honestly so disappointing, this sequel should’ve focused on actually being a sequel not to give content about the other series the author wrote. i wasn’t interested in anything that was going on most of the time, i’m so sad because i truly loved the first book and now i wish i had read it as a stand-alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and War
Minor: Death of parent
giuliaprim's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don't know what to say, a shame. If it had at least 100 more pages it would have been a good book. It's totally incomplete, I really don't understand what happened in the writing process, I'm stunned.
I give it 3 stars, but only because the god of compassion, if they even exist, forced me.
I give it 3 stars, but only because the god of compassion, if they even exist, forced me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: War and Violence
tiredbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
The Hollow Heart has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and it did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved the multiple POVs and interconnected stories in this sequel. I appreciate especially being able to see inside Sid's thoughts.
Nirrim's POV was difficult to read, but in the best way. It was like she was a shadow of her former self and leaves you just begging for other characters to try to help her faster.
I read the original Winner's Trilogy after I read The Midnight Lie and fell in love with Marie Rutkoski's writing style. I appreciated Sid's POV bringing us back to characters from TWT, but still focusing on her and making sure this was her story.
Sid's descriptions of how she experiences gender also made me feel very connected to her. I thought Sid seemed like a nonbinary lesbian in the first book and this one pointed even more in that direction.
I loved the focus on familial love as well as romantic in this story as well. Love and forgiveness have been major themes in both the winner's trilogy and this duology and I think they are written and emphasized so beautifully.
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer so that I could have seen more of Sid and Nirrim being together. I don't think it was a bad thing that they were separated, it was necessary for the story, I just wish we had gotten a little bit more.
Like the first book, the writing was absolutely beautiful. The way environments and feelings are described made me put down the book several times just to think about how pretty those descriptions were.
This book, especially near the ending, read like a beautiful queer fairytale and I look forward to more of Rutkoski's writing in the future.
I absolutely loved the multiple POVs and interconnected stories in this sequel. I appreciate especially being able to see inside Sid's thoughts.
Nirrim's POV was difficult to read, but in the best way. It was like she was a shadow of her former self and leaves you just begging for other characters to try to help her faster.
I read the original Winner's Trilogy after I read The Midnight Lie and fell in love with Marie Rutkoski's writing style. I appreciated Sid's POV bringing us back to characters from TWT, but still focusing on her and making sure this was her story.
Sid's descriptions of how she experiences gender also made me feel very connected to her. I thought Sid seemed like a nonbinary lesbian in the first book and this one pointed even more in that direction.
I loved the focus on familial love as well as romantic in this story as well. Love and forgiveness have been major themes in both the winner's trilogy and this duology and I think they are written and emphasized so beautifully.
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer so that I could have seen more of Sid and Nirrim being together. I don't think it was a bad thing that they were separated, it was necessary for the story, I just wish we had gotten a little bit more.
Like the first book, the writing was absolutely beautiful. The way environments and feelings are described made me put down the book several times just to think about how pretty those descriptions were.
This book, especially near the ending, read like a beautiful queer fairytale and I look forward to more of Rutkoski's writing in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
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