ria_mhrj's review against another edition
3.0
Princess at Sea was a strange book, having all the right elements but somehow was less than the sum of its parts. I liked Tess and her relationship with Contessa was a nice and unexpected aspect of the novel that I enjoyed. I loved the initial drama of the kidnapping and the action taking place largely outside the comfort of the palace.
On to the inevitable "but" - Princess at Sea suffered from some very confusing plot twists and contrivances. In the first book, the world of the game and players was set up and it was an intriguing element, but in the sequel, I found some aspects of the game hard to rationalise. Crucially, the love triangle really didn't work for me - I wasn't cheering on either suitor and both men experiencing dramatic changes of heart in the book's closing act jarred. It was also a shame that the ending felt shoe-horned in, an abrupt conclusion to facilitate a "happy-ish" ending.
Princess at Sea kept my attention throughout, but I could not help but feel that the pieces of this puzzle should have added up to an awesome book, instead of a 3-starrer.
On to the inevitable "but" - Princess at Sea suffered from some very confusing plot twists and contrivances. In the first book, the world of the game and players was set up and it was an intriguing element, but in the sequel, I found some aspects of the game hard to rationalise. Crucially, the love triangle really didn't work for me - I wasn't cheering on either suitor and both men experiencing dramatic changes of heart in the book's closing act jarred. It was also a shame that the ending felt shoe-horned in, an abrupt conclusion to facilitate a "happy-ish" ending.
Princess at Sea kept my attention throughout, but I could not help but feel that the pieces of this puzzle should have added up to an awesome book, instead of a 3-starrer.
aeslis's review against another edition
2.0
Compared to Decoy Princess, this book is unfortunately inferior. While in Decoy Tess runs circles around the characters that are trying to best her, in this book she is continually run circles around. She tries to keep her head above water but eventually there isn't even the pretense that she has control of anything.
Her abilities change drastically in this volume, as well. Whereas before she used stealth and weapons, in Sea Tess's abilities with magic grow, but they seem to be to be haphazard at best. Her magic has no rhyme or reason, and she does things no one else can do all the time, because she's just THAT POWERFUL. But of course, she doesn't control her powers, her powers control her. She can now kill with a magic pulse through her hands (though she never does, so what's the point?), control the wind (which is a spontaneous decision at best), and a few other things that are even more arbitrary.
The writing is not on par with Decoy, either. From the beginning the author uses one of my pet peeves: epithets. "The dangerous man" instead of "Jeck," for example. And there is a good deal of the author reminding us that Tess is a player--oh, she's a player, by the way, did you know she's a player? And Jeck is a player too, a skilled player, a more experienced player than Tess, etc. etc. etc. I'm not a great fan of being over-reminded of things, especially when it doesn't seem to be for a particular reason.
For all that, I did appreciate the underlying plot, even if the way Tess moved through the plot frustrated me. I hope that if there's a third book (and the setup of the end of the book does promise many good things) that Tess gets her head on straight again.
Her abilities change drastically in this volume, as well. Whereas before she used stealth and weapons, in Sea Tess's abilities with magic grow, but they seem to be to be haphazard at best. Her magic has no rhyme or reason, and she does things no one else can do all the time, because she's just THAT POWERFUL. But of course, she doesn't control her powers, her powers control her. She can now kill with a magic pulse through her hands (though she never does, so what's the point?), control the wind (which is a spontaneous decision at best), and a few other things that are even more arbitrary.
The writing is not on par with Decoy, either. From the beginning the author uses one of my pet peeves: epithets. "The dangerous man" instead of "Jeck," for example. And there is a good deal of the author reminding us that Tess is a player--oh, she's a player, by the way, did you know she's a player? And Jeck is a player too, a skilled player, a more experienced player than Tess, etc. etc. etc. I'm not a great fan of being over-reminded of things, especially when it doesn't seem to be for a particular reason.
For all that, I did appreciate the underlying plot, even if the way Tess moved through the plot frustrated me. I hope that if there's a third book (and the setup of the end of the book does promise many good things) that Tess gets her head on straight again.
rachelreadwhat's review against another edition
2.0
I wouldn't have wasted my time reading this if I'd known the author was never going to finish the series.
gijanechosen's review against another edition
4.0
What to say? I very much enjoyed this book, although perhaps not quite as much as the first one. At a certain point I was sucked into the story enough that it was hard to put down. Despite being clever, Tess is sometimes dumb and emotional more then I expected. Also, the ending leaves you wanting a third book even while wrapping things up nicely.
marie123's review against another edition
3.0
The first time I read these books back in high school I loved them, but now five years later I didn't find them as amazing as I had hoped, to be honest.
I actually loved Contessa and Alex's story, which isn't the main plot but it was interesting.
And there is a rather large twist that happens here that I really did enjoy even if it seemed so harsh.
Tess ended up annoying me multiple times because of her flip outs.
I guess it's a good book, but probably not one I'll be rereading again any time soon,
I actually loved Contessa and Alex's story, which isn't the main plot but it was interesting.
And there is a rather large twist that happens here that I really did enjoy even if it seemed so harsh.
Tess ended up annoying me multiple times because of her flip outs.
Spoiler
I thought she was really horrible to Jeck at parts, and where she was flipping out about the wagons annoyed the living heck outta me.I guess it's a good book, but probably not one I'll be rereading again any time soon,
sonyakdr's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed these 2 books. I know Kim Harrison is busy with her series “The Hollows”, but the Princess series is too good not to continue the story.
jason_as's review against another edition
2.0
The context of the protagonist’s powers is cool but really contrived. Her slowly learning about them in the first one makes it sort of in the background and intrigues, but when it’s front and center in the second one I got annoyed easily at the stupidity. Also, characters change personalities to fit the plot in the sequel and there are some effed up messages about love.
hopesmash42's review against another edition
4.0
Initially I thought this book was not as good as the first one. It's not that there wasn't any action or plot, it just didn't have the same feel. The bought two and even the page capture are a little humdrum but I am glad I stuck it out through that because about halfway through it really picked up and took a surpassing turn of events. The ending was very good and sediment more satisfying than the first. once again you can't always judge a book by its (terrible) cover.
manxomemia's review against another edition
3.0
This duology has elements of a really great story, but also falls victim to convenient plot points and contrived dialogue. What it lacks in polish it does make up for in fun, so long as you can look past the occasional awkwardness of writing.
aimee70807's review against another edition
4.0
A good book, but depressing. It's not that our heroine was any less spunky; it's just that bad things kept piling on top of one another.