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tajah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cdiviakauthor's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 / 5
As much as I loved the first book, this one fell short of expectations. The worldbuilding and characters exuded complexity except for the main villain, who felt more cartoonish than insidious. But, in tandem with other critiques I've seen, the pacing felt all off.
The presence of multiple POVs caused some head-hopping and felt more chaotic than the first book, which I distinctly remember was centered on Eva.
But beyond the pacing issue and the slew of events happening at once that made the book jammed packed with a bit too much, I would still suggest it as a read. Worldbuilding is this book's saving grace.
As much as I loved the first book, this one fell short of expectations. The worldbuilding and characters exuded complexity except for the main villain, who felt more cartoonish than insidious. But, in tandem with other critiques I've seen, the pacing felt all off.
The presence of multiple POVs caused some head-hopping and felt more chaotic than the first book, which I distinctly remember was centered on Eva.
But beyond the pacing issue and the slew of events happening at once that made the book jammed packed with a bit too much, I would still suggest it as a read. Worldbuilding is this book's saving grace.
princessbilbo's review against another edition
4.0
I'm giving this book a 3.5. While I enjoyed it, I didn't feel like it was as exciting as the first book. So much was going on in the first book. It was full of excitement, while this one was charming, but not as action-packed. It was nice to get all the relationship building, but I felt like that was all that happened in this book. There were two big action scenes, and they were rather anticlimactic. It's even more disappointing because the first book was so good and intriguing.
While I'm satisfied with the end, I just wish the rest of the book was as interesting. I wish I had more to say in this, but the book was just ok, so I don't have a lot to gush about, and my complaints are already here. I'm not sure I'd recommend this series. I really want to because the world was so beautiful but at the same time, this book was just boring and nothing really happened. I guess, I suggest reading the first book and asking a friend what happened in this book.
While I'm satisfied with the end, I just wish the rest of the book was as interesting. I wish I had more to say in this, but the book was just ok, so I don't have a lot to gush about, and my complaints are already here. I'm not sure I'd recommend this series. I really want to because the world was so beautiful but at the same time, this book was just boring and nothing really happened. I guess, I suggest reading the first book and asking a friend what happened in this book.
novelhaus's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars!
We had some good character development with this one. And the world building was incredible, which I was expecting of course! However I just didn't think the plot was as strong here. And the romance, while cute, just wasn't really adding all too much for me, but overall the book was definitely still enjoyable.
And that ending!
We had some good character development with this one. And the world building was incredible, which I was expecting of course! However I just didn't think the plot was as strong here. And the romance, while cute, just wasn't really adding all too much for me, but overall the book was definitely still enjoyable.
And that ending!
brandie_shanae's review against another edition
3.0
This book was one of my highly anticipated reads and I was so excited to know and read the final conclusion of this book. Well................... I was really disappointed in the conclusion and felt like the ending of the book was rushed with no creativity. I immediately fell in love with the first book and was eager to learn more about Eva (who is the main character) and find out more about her father and his family. The beginning of book was amazing it started from where we left off in the first book, which was amazing. Though as you get closer to the end of the book it seemed to drag a little bit and so as I reached the finish line the ending was not what I was expecting. I really wished that there was more to the ending. Now these are my own opinions and as I am writing this review I have literally just finished the book after reading the ending multiple times to try to give it another chance. To me with how it ended I wished there was a third book.
eternalcat's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 but rounded down because of how the book got to the ending - more on this shortly.
First, I continued to like the characters. I also liked the addition of Isa as a narrator (Bacha and Aketo also were new narrators in this book) because it provided us with both sisters perspectives. It was frustrating and realistic to see the both Eva and Isa had made assumptions about each other and misunderstood things that were important yet they were too proud and angry to discuss said misunderstandings. I thought this relationship was very well written.
Second, Bacha. I liked him a lot more in the first book than in this one even though we got to know him a bit better in this one. He seemed almost unnecessary.
Third and last, the ending. I listened to the audiobook and at one point I checked where I was in the book and saw I only had an hour left and nothing had been resolved. At this point I checked if this was a trilogy and saw that it was only a duology. The ending came way too fast. In my opinion, it needed more time - at least two or three more chapters. If the author was trying to stick to a specific page count, then the removal of some of the earlier chapters and addition of further chapters for the end.
So many unanswered questions is the reason for rounding down my rating.
Overall, a good book.
First, I continued to like the characters. I also liked the addition of Isa as a narrator (Bacha and Aketo also were new narrators in this book) because it provided us with both sisters perspectives. It was frustrating and realistic to see the both Eva and Isa had made assumptions about each other and misunderstood things that were important yet they were too proud and angry to discuss said misunderstandings. I thought this relationship was very well written.
Second, Bacha. I liked him a lot more in the first book than in this one even though we got to know him a bit better in this one. He seemed almost unnecessary.
Third and last, the ending. I listened to the audiobook and at one point I checked where I was in the book and saw I only had an hour left and nothing had been resolved. At this point I checked if this was a trilogy and saw that it was only a duology. The ending came way too fast. In my opinion, it needed more time - at least two or three more chapters. If the author was trying to stick to a specific page count, then the removal of some of the earlier chapters and addition of further chapters for the end.
So many unanswered questions is the reason for rounding down my rating.
Spoiler
Like what happened in the conversation between Isa and Eva at the end? We're never told. What about the details of the test for Eva? It happened in the span of what felt like two pages. Why was is just breezed over? And how was the king's secret discovered? When? Why was his murder planned? Why were the Dracallans involved? (spelling maybe, audiobook only)Overall, a good book.
calllmekali_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0