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afantaseaofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
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atrailofpages's review against another edition
5.0
Wow do I adore this series! I had the opportunity to be a beta reader, and an arc reader of this book. Thank you so much to the author
thechroniclesofmedora's review against another edition
5.0
As the last book of 2022, I only have one question, why? Why, oh why would end the book on a cliff hanger like that?! I am the edge of my seat. I need the next book in my hands rn, I cannot do that. Bedside that ending, this book was amazing, I love the character development of Red and Aly and how they managed to grow together through all the hardships that they went through. I can’t wait to see how this story needs for all these characters, I want Red’s sister to fight for her life and stop going to going back to that worthless Prince.
thesqueakycleanreader's review against another edition
5.0
Red and Aly have defeated the sorcerer who was hunting Aly and who sent the death curse. Now they need to protect their kingdom from the political intrigue from within.
Will they believe the lies they’ve always known about the people in their kingdom? Can they trust their allies and those right next to them?
As Red and Aly learn more about their magic and binding they come to realize they mean more to each other than they thought. As their relationship grows can it stand the tests of the hardship they’re about to go through?
The Writing:
This second book was full of intrigue and more of the moral dilemma of truth vs. lies. It sometimes got a bit too much for me in my personal preferences for writing. It was still very well written and I did enjoy seeing the character growth in this book. I also loved the addition of more character perspectives in this book, it added more depth to the situation and added intrigue to the plot.
The Romance: This is a slow burn CLEAN romance. There are a kiss or two but the characters are too busy saving the world to go beyond that.
Overall Theme and Message: The theme I got out of book two is that truth is worth it. That working hard to be honest about who you are and what your intentions are always pays off even when others are trying to ruin you and your goals. I really enjoyed seeing Red's growth in this book as he took on his responsibilities and tried his best to help his people even when his people were trying to pull him down.
Age recommendation: 14-16+ due to the nature of the war and the intrigue.
Things to be aware of: Book 2: The side character, Elise, really goes through a hard time with her relationship with her ex. He is very manipulative and it could be triggering for someone who has issues with people lying and deceiving and being used. There is also characters who escape from cults and the emotional damage that came from living in one. At the end of the book there is some fighting. Seb gets whipped publicly and Red gets beaten.
Will they believe the lies they’ve always known about the people in their kingdom? Can they trust their allies and those right next to them?
As Red and Aly learn more about their magic and binding they come to realize they mean more to each other than they thought. As their relationship grows can it stand the tests of the hardship they’re about to go through?
The Writing:
This second book was full of intrigue and more of the moral dilemma of truth vs. lies. It sometimes got a bit too much for me in my personal preferences for writing. It was still very well written and I did enjoy seeing the character growth in this book. I also loved the addition of more character perspectives in this book, it added more depth to the situation and added intrigue to the plot.
The Romance: This is a slow burn CLEAN romance. There are a kiss or two but the characters are too busy saving the world to go beyond that.
Overall Theme and Message: The theme I got out of book two is that truth is worth it. That working hard to be honest about who you are and what your intentions are always pays off even when others are trying to ruin you and your goals. I really enjoyed seeing Red's growth in this book as he took on his responsibilities and tried his best to help his people even when his people were trying to pull him down.
Age recommendation: 14-16+ due to the nature of the war and the intrigue.
Things to be aware of: Book 2: The side character, Elise, really goes through a hard time with her relationship with her ex. He is very manipulative and it could be triggering for someone who has issues with people lying and deceiving and being used. There is also characters who escape from cults and the emotional damage that came from living in one. At the end of the book there is some fighting. Seb gets whipped publicly and Red gets beaten.
darkclouds's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
I am angry.
I'm actually fuming.
What in tarnation was this? How did we go SO wrong? I felt like the writing dwindled down to an embarrassing degree. Poor is not even a strong enough a term.
Don't give me 18+ aged characters if they're going to act and speak as if they're in grade school. Aly's description of her stamping her foot in a tantrum just had me cackling because WHY IS THIS SO UNSERIOUS? Purely felt secondhand embarrassment reading this.
I'm not sure why I continued this. Maybe for the false hope it could get better? That the slow burn crumbs we had would work to appease me? Even that was wasted. The biggest betrayal. We had all that tension, all this promo about this being some forbidden swoony romance to be reduced to having one single line about Red kissing Aly and the chapter - the WHOLE SCENE, ends. That's it. We don't address it again. It's mentioned in passing but there's no talk about their feelings. We are just forced to accept they love each other apparently. Then everything they've been working for suddenly gets flipped and now we are all about THE ROMANCE. Red would do absolutely anything to not lose Aly. He's fighting to defend his crown to keep her. What happened to doing what's right for your people? For your love for them? It became a cringey mess of a story that dragged and infuriated me to no end.
How has one man swayed an entire Kingdom to turn against their King and they just took his word for it? How in the fuck did Red's prized Mother who is SO ADORED by the public, did absolutely NOTHING for her son? Not once did his family do a thing to defend and actually protect Red. There's all this talk of powerful people, threats of harm but literally it feels like a sad joke. There is nothing threatening about the "bad people" of this book. There's not enough evidence, no character building or examples that would prove to me Aly and Red should have bowed down and given into this weak threats when all Red talks about is how Aly has the strongest magic and power.
Ridiculous. Purely a waste of time.
You know who else was a waste of time? Elise. If I could erase her entire existence we'd be a degree happier. Nothing about her descent into being a cold, malicious bitch made any sense. Yes she was fooled again by giving into a toxic man to then suddenly entering her "villain era". She decided to be a "spy" for her brother and family and yet she's absolutely malicious against them? Literally why? For what purpose? There were no explanations. Nothing to ease a reader into being forgiving towards her and see why she is doing what she is doing. She became a spy to help her brother yet did absolutely fuck all to help him. If anything she threw him and his best friend Seb into the hell fire. What a loathsome vile human I found her to be. Her change was so jarring and uncalled for.
The end quarter was a rushed botched job with lots of sparkles because *magic*, silly decisions and convenient realisations - it was a shambles.
I have absolutely no desire to finish this series. There is not a single redeeming quality left for it.
I'm actually fuming.
What in tarnation was this? How did we go SO wrong? I felt like the writing dwindled down to an embarrassing degree. Poor is not even a strong enough a term.
Don't give me 18+ aged characters if they're going to act and speak as if they're in grade school. Aly's description of her stamping her foot in a tantrum just had me cackling because WHY IS THIS SO UNSERIOUS? Purely felt secondhand embarrassment reading this.
I'm not sure why I continued this. Maybe for the false hope it could get better? That the slow burn crumbs we had would work to appease me? Even that was wasted. The biggest betrayal. We had all that tension, all this promo about this being some forbidden swoony romance to be reduced to having one single line about Red kissing Aly and the chapter - the WHOLE SCENE, ends. That's it. We don't address it again. It's mentioned in passing but there's no talk about their feelings. We are just forced to accept they love each other apparently. Then everything they've been working for suddenly gets flipped and now we are all about THE ROMANCE. Red would do absolutely anything to not lose Aly. He's fighting to defend his crown to keep her. What happened to doing what's right for your people? For your love for them? It became a cringey mess of a story that dragged and infuriated me to no end.
How has one man swayed an entire Kingdom to turn against their King and they just took his word for it? How in the fuck did Red's prized Mother who is SO ADORED by the public, did absolutely NOTHING for her son? Not once did his family do a thing to defend and actually protect Red. There's all this talk of powerful people, threats of harm but literally it feels like a sad joke. There is nothing threatening about the "bad people" of this book. There's not enough evidence, no character building or examples that would prove to me Aly and Red should have bowed down and given into this weak threats when all Red talks about is how Aly has the strongest magic and power.
Ridiculous. Purely a waste of time.
You know who else was a waste of time? Elise. If I could erase her entire existence we'd be a degree happier. Nothing about her descent into being a cold, malicious bitch made any sense. Yes she was fooled again by giving into a toxic man to then suddenly entering her "villain era". She decided to be a "spy" for her brother and family and yet she's absolutely malicious against them? Literally why? For what purpose? There were no explanations. Nothing to ease a reader into being forgiving towards her and see why she is doing what she is doing. She became a spy to help her brother yet did absolutely fuck all to help him. If anything she threw him and his best friend Seb into the hell fire. What a loathsome vile human I found her to be. Her change was so jarring and uncalled for.
The end quarter was a rushed botched job with lots of sparkles because *magic*, silly decisions and convenient realisations - it was a shambles.
I have absolutely no desire to finish this series. There is not a single redeeming quality left for it.
helpme71's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brittsbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Book 2 was intense and stressful! 😅 Really really good! Glad I have book 3 after that cliffhanger!