scribe391's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
2.0
Narrated by sixteen year old Jetta Chantray, now that both the rebels and the colonial army know about her abilities, Jetta’s life is in danger.
heathersbike's review against another edition
This didn't take as long to read as what it says. I started it and then tons of homework collided with too many requests from the library all at once. This resulted in frantic reading of books that couldn't be renewed. And a bunch of fines. Anyway, this is a good series. I am looking forward to the third book.
storiedadventures's review against another edition
4.0
This was my favorite of the 3! I loved getting to know the world more and the characters!
pelargonia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wittyandsarcasticbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
There are spoilers for For a Muse of Fire (first in the series) below. You can find my review for that book here.
** Here Be Spoilers**
Oh man, I loved this book! From the plot-line to the characters, everything was done well. It was a worthy sequel to For a Muse of Fire, which was a huge relief after some of the sequels I’ve read lately.
Jetta is a great character. She’s tough without being cold and emotionless. In fact, her emotions are a big part of what makes her so tough. She has an illness that is most definitely bipolar (as confirmed by the author). I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but books that feature mental illness with consideration and respect automatically get extra points from me. This one in particular means a lot, since I also have bipolar. It is a mental illness that is rarely represented in YA, and even more rarely mentioned in the fantasy genre. Heidi Heilig’s choice to not only feature it in a fantasy, but to show both the positive and negative aspects of it is pretty stinking cool. But I digress.
In this book, Jetta has been offered a medication that will help with her illness, in exchange for the use of her blood by the crown. Whoever uses the blood can bind souls to inanimate objects, essentially animating-and controlling-them. The crown wants to use her power as a weapon against the rebels, who Jetta sympathizes with.
The rebels also want to use Jetta. Meanwhile, she’s afraid to use her power at all, worrying that it will make her like her biological father. He’s a monstrous necromancer, and everyone is afraid of what would happen if he- or another like him- came to power.
Of course, there’s also ye random romantic entanglement with Leo, another rebel. I’m not a huge fan of their relationship because it often came across as an unnecessary distraction from the rest of the plot, but I admittedly don’t like most dramatic bookish relationships.
I liked that Heilig didn’t pull punches. I was justifiably concerned about what would happen to some of the characters in the book. I like when an author gives things a sense of urgency, and she does that very well. I raced through this book, enjoying every moment of it.
I feel like this series is very underrated and deserves way more hype. It’s well-written and fast-paced, with memorable characters and an interesting plot. The mental illness representation just pushes it even higher in my esteem. I highly recommend this book.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
** Here Be Spoilers**
Oh man, I loved this book! From the plot-line to the characters, everything was done well. It was a worthy sequel to For a Muse of Fire, which was a huge relief after some of the sequels I’ve read lately.
Jetta is a great character. She’s tough without being cold and emotionless. In fact, her emotions are a big part of what makes her so tough. She has an illness that is most definitely bipolar (as confirmed by the author). I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but books that feature mental illness with consideration and respect automatically get extra points from me. This one in particular means a lot, since I also have bipolar. It is a mental illness that is rarely represented in YA, and even more rarely mentioned in the fantasy genre. Heidi Heilig’s choice to not only feature it in a fantasy, but to show both the positive and negative aspects of it is pretty stinking cool. But I digress.
In this book, Jetta has been offered a medication that will help with her illness, in exchange for the use of her blood by the crown. Whoever uses the blood can bind souls to inanimate objects, essentially animating-and controlling-them. The crown wants to use her power as a weapon against the rebels, who Jetta sympathizes with.
The rebels also want to use Jetta. Meanwhile, she’s afraid to use her power at all, worrying that it will make her like her biological father. He’s a monstrous necromancer, and everyone is afraid of what would happen if he- or another like him- came to power.
Of course, there’s also ye random romantic entanglement with Leo, another rebel. I’m not a huge fan of their relationship because it often came across as an unnecessary distraction from the rest of the plot, but I admittedly don’t like most dramatic bookish relationships.
I liked that Heilig didn’t pull punches. I was justifiably concerned about what would happen to some of the characters in the book. I like when an author gives things a sense of urgency, and she does that very well. I raced through this book, enjoying every moment of it.
I feel like this series is very underrated and deserves way more hype. It’s well-written and fast-paced, with memorable characters and an interesting plot. The mental illness representation just pushes it even higher in my esteem. I highly recommend this book.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
morgarelibrare's review against another edition
3.0
*Read at work for review for ROYAL*
This book was fine. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. Required reading at work for my review group.
Full review to come!
This book was fine. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. Required reading at work for my review group.
Full review to come!
carlyoc's review against another edition
4.0
This sequel picks up where Book One left off - Jetta has rescued her father from torture, although he is weak and missing some fingers and his tongue. She pulled her brother back from the grip of death. Her mother is still far away with the other rebels, but she is getting closer to bringing her family back together. All that is missing is Leo, her love interest who left her in her hour of need.
But when she finds herself back in the hands of Leo's legitimate half-brother and -sister, Jetta must fight not to become a tool of both sides of the war.
This book felt much shorter than the first book, but fast-paced and full of twists and turns and action. No second book slump here. Although if you are looking for Heilig's usual touch of romance, you won't find more than a few sweet stolen moments in this installment.
The ending sets up very nicely for Book Three - not quite a cliffhanger but with a clear problem to be solved in the final book.
We get to know Leo's half-sister Theodora pretty well in this book, and a new character, the leader of the resistance known as the Tiger. We also get to know some of the key bad guys a little better, too, - Leo's half-brother Xavier who took over as general when their father died, Le Trépas the original necromancer, and Lieutenant Peak (not sure about spelling because I read the audiobook), one of the most racist and bloodthirsty members of the army.
All scenes not from Jetta's perspective are formatted like a play and just as in the first book, there are songs complete with sheet music interspersed with the story. It was cool to hear the songs come to life by listening to the audiobook.
But when she finds herself back in the hands of Leo's legitimate half-brother and -sister, Jetta must fight not to become a tool of both sides of the war.
This book felt much shorter than the first book, but fast-paced and full of twists and turns and action. No second book slump here. Although if you are looking for Heilig's usual touch of romance, you won't find more than a few sweet stolen moments in this installment.
The ending sets up very nicely for Book Three - not quite a cliffhanger but with a clear problem to be solved in the final book.
We get to know Leo's half-sister Theodora pretty well in this book, and a new character, the leader of the resistance known as the Tiger. We also get to know some of the key bad guys a little better, too, - Leo's half-brother Xavier who took over as general when their father died, Le Trépas the original necromancer, and Lieutenant Peak (not sure about spelling because I read the audiobook), one of the most racist and bloodthirsty members of the army.
All scenes not from Jetta's perspective are formatted like a play and just as in the first book, there are songs complete with sheet music interspersed with the story. It was cool to hear the songs come to life by listening to the audiobook.
jesssireads's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a heck of a lot more than I did the first one! The stakes have been raised and the characters have made decisions that will have plenty of consequences. Jetta's voice in this one is incredible, and I really enjoyed the rebellion aspect.
I sincerely hope that there will be a third one!
I sincerely hope that there will be a third one!