ladyknightmeg's review against another edition
5.0
After eagerly awaiting this book, I was not disappointed. I felt much more immersed in this world than I did in First Year, the first book in The Black Mage series. Perhaps because First Year did not move too much outside of the Academy walls.
Throughout this book, Ryiah, the leading lady, develops as a character, and as a mage. She encounters many frustrating situations that most teenage girls go experience (I had to constantly remind myself of her age when I would get frustrated with what I thought were terrible decisions on her part.) We watch her grow over a 4-year period of time, and learn (or not) from her mistakes along the way.
Quite a few of the characters frustrated me to no end - not because they were poorly characterized... but simply because of their personalities/actions. I'm sure that Carter had great fun creating scenes that made her readers seethe with indignation over what a certain someone was doing to our poor Ryiah's emotions.
All in all, this was an excellent sequel. There was more action, adventure and magic, and some steamy scenes mixed in for good measure. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter or any books by my personal favorite, Tamora Pierce , and I look forward to reading more from Rachel E. Carter!!
Throughout this book, Ryiah, the leading lady, develops as a character, and as a mage. She encounters many frustrating situations that most teenage girls go experience (I had to constantly remind myself of her age when I would get frustrated with what I thought were terrible decisions on her part.) We watch her grow over a 4-year period of time, and learn (or not) from her mistakes along the way.
Quite a few of the characters frustrated me to no end - not because they were poorly characterized... but simply because of their personalities/actions. I'm sure that Carter had great fun creating scenes that made her readers seethe with indignation over what a certain someone was doing to our poor Ryiah's emotions.
All in all, this was an excellent sequel. There was more action, adventure and magic, and some steamy scenes mixed in for good measure. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Harry Potter or any books by my personal favorite, Tamora Pierce , and I look forward to reading more from Rachel E. Carter!!
womanon's review against another edition
5.0
2023: I'm still loving it. Still irrevocably in love with Darren.
Okay. I might be in love with Darren. Though there's also a part that hates him the tiniest bit.
But this book. THIS BOOK. It's something else. I'm obsessed with it. I'm obsessed with the series.
The way it's written, the character-building, the complexness of the characters, it all just... fits. This really has to be one of my favourite series of all time. And I can't find the right words to describe it. There is enough action, enough fantasy, enough romance, everything is balanced, which makes it easy to read.
I would really recommend this series (and yes I'm saying it again) for lovers of Throne of Glass, Air Awakens and Falling Kingdoms. This series fits right in.
Now on to book three ♡
Okay. I might be in love with Darren. Though there's also a part that hates him the tiniest bit.
But this book. THIS BOOK. It's something else. I'm obsessed with it. I'm obsessed with the series.
The way it's written, the character-building, the complexness of the characters, it all just... fits. This really has to be one of my favourite series of all time. And I can't find the right words to describe it. There is enough action, enough fantasy, enough romance, everything is balanced, which makes it easy to read.
I would really recommend this series (and yes I'm saying it again) for lovers of Throne of Glass, Air Awakens and Falling Kingdoms. This series fits right in.
Now on to book three ♡
ncjfnxjxj's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
charliereadsattimes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
gnidaer_ekil_i's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
franzi1703's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
2.0
ellentje1997's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It was different than the last one, with a lot of time passing in this book. It was nice to have the apprentice years pass by quickly, yet you know everything you need to know. I'm still in love with the story, the characters and the world. All I can say at this point is: where's the next book? I'm very qurious about the romantic developments and the further continuation of the story.
I'm happy with how things ended up between Ryley and Ian before he "graduated", but damn so many relationships still drive me crazy in this story. How people who were never nice kind of start being nicer and how people you start to trust as a reader break your heart, more than once.
Overall, this is just a very exciting story and I'm unable to stop reading.
I'm happy with how things ended up between Ryley and Ian before he "graduated", but damn so many relationships still drive me crazy in this story. How people who were never nice kind of start being nicer and how people you start to trust as a reader break your heart, more than once.
Overall, this is just a very exciting story and I'm unable to stop reading.
angelicasreads's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 3.75
This book. I don’t really know what to say about it. When I read the first book,[b:First Year|23365048|First Year (The Black Mage, #1)|Rachel E. Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413305559s/23365048.jpg|42470738], a few months ago I was blown away. The story and the characters surprised me and I was so looking forward to reading this next installment. Now I have read this and am slightly disappointed.
The writing in this novel was just as good, if not better, than the writing in book one. [a:Rachel E. Carter|8440277|Rachel E. Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1413660741p2/8440277.jpg] has really improved since then and there is not a doubt in my mind that she will only get better. The action in this book is at an all-time high. Carter writes action very well and there is a whole lot of it. The plot has expanded and has become much more complicated than just the original idea of a girl just trying to reach her dream at a magic school. Now there are other nations and rebels and wars thrown into the mix. This brings me to the world building and the magic system which both seem very strong. I would definitely want to see more of this world.
With all of that one might ask what the problem was. I will tell you. It was the characters. Not all of them of course, most were just as awesome as before. Ella and Alex were great, I loved them and their relationship with both each other and with Ryiah. I also hated Pricilla a little less in this one. Sure, she is still a bitchy character who is there for the purpose of being bitchy, but her position is more understandable in this one. She has grown up believing that she is better than everyone and grown up thinking she was going to marry the prince, one can hardly blame her for wanting to destroy anyone who would challenge those beliefs.
The one character who I had a problem with was the main character. Ryiah. Why, oh why? Ryiah was doing so well! In this book she does nothing but whine and cry and get stuck in a … *shudders* LOVE TRIANGLE! Also, Darren. He needs to stop with this bipolar love affair. It’s like, ‘I hate you…I love you…I hate you gain…but wait, I actually love you’. I could no longer deal with either of them. Ryiah kept jumping from one guy to the other and back again so fast I was getting dizzy just reading about it. The only thing I can say in Ryiah’s defense was that she did not let her love triangle and constant crying and complaining get in the way of chasing her dream and coming out on top. She somehow managed to retain some of her original badassery.
In spite of the problems I had with this sequel I must admit that I really enjoyed it. While there were times in which I wanted nothing more than to put my hand through the page and slap Ryiah I also kind of understood her situation (If a guy did that to me I don’t know what I would do with myself). Another point that just came to mind was that this book happened over the span of four years so while it might have seen like she cried every few chapters she actually only did this a few times within four years. I don’t know how much I cry per year but I don’t think Ryiah was above average. In a way I suppose that her actions were justified, I just wish there would have been just a little less of it.
In the end, this was a pretty solid second installment and I cannot wait to read book three now that certain problems have been resolved. I want to see this competition for the Black Mage and what will become of the impending war and the mages of Combat, Alchemy and Restoration.
This book. I don’t really know what to say about it. When I read the first book,[b:First Year|23365048|First Year (The Black Mage, #1)|Rachel E. Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413305559s/23365048.jpg|42470738], a few months ago I was blown away. The story and the characters surprised me and I was so looking forward to reading this next installment. Now I have read this and am slightly disappointed.
The writing in this novel was just as good, if not better, than the writing in book one. [a:Rachel E. Carter|8440277|Rachel E. Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1413660741p2/8440277.jpg] has really improved since then and there is not a doubt in my mind that she will only get better. The action in this book is at an all-time high. Carter writes action very well and there is a whole lot of it. The plot has expanded and has become much more complicated than just the original idea of a girl just trying to reach her dream at a magic school. Now there are other nations and rebels and wars thrown into the mix. This brings me to the world building and the magic system which both seem very strong. I would definitely want to see more of this world.
With all of that one might ask what the problem was. I will tell you. It was the characters. Not all of them of course, most were just as awesome as before. Ella and Alex were great, I loved them and their relationship with both each other and with Ryiah. I also hated Pricilla a little less in this one. Sure, she is still a bitchy character who is there for the purpose of being bitchy, but her position is more understandable in this one. She has grown up believing that she is better than everyone and grown up thinking she was going to marry the prince, one can hardly blame her for wanting to destroy anyone who would challenge those beliefs.
The one character who I had a problem with was the main character. Ryiah. Why, oh why? Ryiah was doing so well! In this book she does nothing but whine and cry and get stuck in a … *shudders* LOVE TRIANGLE! Also, Darren. He needs to stop with this bipolar love affair. It’s like, ‘I hate you…I love you…I hate you gain…but wait, I actually love you’. I could no longer deal with either of them. Ryiah kept jumping from one guy to the other and back again so fast I was getting dizzy just reading about it. The only thing I can say in Ryiah’s defense was that she did not let her love triangle and constant crying and complaining get in the way of chasing her dream and coming out on top. She somehow managed to retain some of her original badassery.
In spite of the problems I had with this sequel I must admit that I really enjoyed it. While there were times in which I wanted nothing more than to put my hand through the page and slap Ryiah I also kind of understood her situation (If a guy did that to me I don’t know what I would do with myself). Another point that just came to mind was that this book happened over the span of four years so while it might have seen like she cried every few chapters she actually only did this a few times within four years. I don’t know how much I cry per year but I don’t think Ryiah was above average. In a way I suppose that her actions were justified, I just wish there would have been just a little less of it.
In the end, this was a pretty solid second installment and I cannot wait to read book three now that certain problems have been resolved. I want to see this competition for the Black Mage and what will become of the impending war and the mages of Combat, Alchemy and Restoration.