rosetyper9's review against another edition
4.0
This is my least favorite book in Phedre's trilogy. I mean, I know Phedre is all about the pain but the way she treats Jocelyn and how she keeps running back to Melisande for more punishment. I want to tell to have some pride and smack her on the end.
Obviously, it all works out but there are moments when I really worried about these characters and the boys! Oh the boys -- well, I won't spoil it but it hurt my heart.
I love this series and will read it over and over for the rest of my life. This is the third re-read btw.
Obviously, it all works out but there are moments when I really worried about these characters and the boys! Oh the boys -- well, I won't spoil it but it hurt my heart.
I love this series and will read it over and over for the rest of my life. This is the third re-read btw.
mebius's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
It still has superb prose, worldbuilding keeps expanding, and various interesting characters. But the story is not as good as the first one, or better to say, the story is basically the same as the first one. With the same villainess but in different locations. And that's the main problem, because of that, it's too predictable.
And what made matters even worse.
Palpatine Melisande Returned escaped... again.
I hope in the next book we will see something new, and not the same pattern. And Phèdre at last will grow a spine and stop getting knees turned to water every time she sees Melisande. I'm not asking that she kill herself, but at least won't prevent Joscelin from doing that.
Spoiler
Melisande identity and location were obvious from the first mention of Benedicte's new bride/wife.And what made matters even worse.
Spoiler
SomehowI hope in the next book we will see something new, and not the same pattern. And Phèdre at last will grow a spine and stop getting knees turned to water every time she sees Melisande. I'm not asking that she kill herself, but at least won't prevent Joscelin from doing that.
Did not help that in the first half of the book we are often and lengthy reminded of events of the first book. I hope someday authors instead of doing this, just include a short summary of previous books with relevant facts.
luwae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? No
4.5
tardigrade_in_retrograde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
5.0
freya_amber's review against another edition
4.0
I reall enjoy the politics and world building. There's some great side characters.
The romance is irritating at times. Nothing convinces me they're actually good together. We see a lot of their arguing and very little of why they're together other than proximity and shared traumatic experiences.
Phèdre goes around getting people killed for a chunk of the book which I found hard to read about.
The romance is irritating at times. Nothing convinces me they're actually good together. We see a lot of their arguing and very little of why they're together other than proximity and shared traumatic experiences.
Phèdre goes around getting people killed for a chunk of the book which I found hard to read about.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite series. It was great to listen to this again.
artimas's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
akemichan's review against another edition
3.0
Il problema principale che ho con i seguiti, a volte, è che finisco per ripetere gli stessi medesimi stilemi/trope/scelte narrative del primo libro e, pur raccontandoti altro, di fatto ti raccontano la stessa storia.
Ecco, qui purtroppo ho avuto questa sensazione. C'è stata proprio una scena che mi ha fatto pensare "oh no, ancora!" In generale mi è parso che la trama non abbia fatto chissà quali passi avanti rispetto al primo libro e che la conclusione fosse esattamente la stessa.
Al netto di questo, però, il libro è molto buono, scorre ancora meglio del primo (non vorrei dire, ma mi è sembrato che ci fossero anche meno concetti ripetuti) e sono felice che l'autrice abbia avuto occasione di portarci in altri luoghi del suo mondo perché era quello che mi aspettavo e speravo dal primo. D'altronde è indubbio che il worldbuilding sia l'aspetto migliore.
Ecco, qui purtroppo ho avuto questa sensazione. C'è stata proprio una scena che mi ha fatto pensare "oh no, ancora!" In generale mi è parso che la trama non abbia fatto chissà quali passi avanti rispetto al primo libro e che la conclusione fosse esattamente la stessa.
Al netto di questo, però, il libro è molto buono, scorre ancora meglio del primo (non vorrei dire, ma mi è sembrato che ci fossero anche meno concetti ripetuti) e sono felice che l'autrice abbia avuto occasione di portarci in altri luoghi del suo mondo perché era quello che mi aspettavo e speravo dal primo. D'altronde è indubbio che il worldbuilding sia l'aspetto migliore.
profmcgough's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5