nayha_w's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
4.0
simp_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
OH MY GOD this should have been two books. Pacing is wack. Author tells you I her writing, she doesn't show you. Great story though.
valayne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
Loved! It takes a bit of effort to keep track of all the different characters, bloodlines, and history, but it’s so good. The story continues to unfold in such an entertaining way and I feel like things just keep getting crazier and more shocking.
Like the first book, the last 10% of this book is action packed and full of twists and cliff hangers! It did feel a little rushed towards the end but I still loved it. It just made me even more excited to read the next one!
Like the first book, the last 10% of this book is action packed and full of twists and cliff hangers! It did feel a little rushed towards the end but I still loved it. It just made me even more excited to read the next one!
mlottermoser's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Book 3 - Political intrigue, fantasy, smutty romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Sexual content
rachelriva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
_winterwriter's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, that ending? Holy gods.
The bad:
The entire time I was reading this book, I was convinced it was going to be a 4 star review. Armentrout has a tendency in this series to end chapters in the middle of conversations rather than important or natural ends to scenes, which is incredibly frustrating. I get it - as an author you want people unable to put the book down, reading 'just one more chapter' - but it made reading multiple-chapter-long conversations extremely exhausting.
I felt like most of this book was a lot of extra words to pad the page count. Because, you know, you're already three books in so you can afford to drag it out because you're already successful. Heavy worldbuilding is still happening three books in, but it came as frustratingly long conversations between Poppy and someone. She'd go off on a few paragraphs 'thinking' of questions and what the consequences would be, and then ask those questions and get really long answers of some things she might have already thought of. Repetitive and UNNECESSARY word count padding.
I contemplated a 3 star review at many points in this book. The writing was just... meh, compared to the previous two books. There were several instances of typos, wrong words, and just really poor conversation dynamics. It felt super forced and stiff, and once again adding conversations/responses/declarations when they were really unnecessary. Again, an attempt at word count padding. This book, while the story was perfectly executed, felt like it was rushed to get published and did not go through as many edits/reviews as it needed.
The good:
Obviously, I ended up giving a 5 star review. Partly for these things, but mostly for what I'll finish this review with.
We started out with a BANG. It picks up right where we left off (which after a short break between reading book 2 and 3, I did have to go back and reread the last chapters so I didn't forget what happened) and that was an EXPLOSIVE ending to book 2. That meant the start here was just as intense. A little confusing, but intense nonetheless.
The steam was once again amazing. Poppy and Casteel have some very inappropriate times to be heated, but that's also why we love it. Their relationship is by far the best part of this series (raise your hand if you've discovered a knife kink through reading this series). I will never not love their banter.
The story continues to get better as secrets are uncovered, plots become clearer, and the betrayals/discoveries/friendships are always good sparks. I can't say any of the plot points really came as massive 'surprises' or twists, but they were still executed quite brilliantly and made for an enjoyable read.
Here's where I decided that all of those bad things were background noise and this book deserved a 5 star review. THE LAST CHAPTER. I kept thinking, 'hmm, this book should have been over a few chapters ago... what sort of bang are you going to give us?', because by now I've come to expect a massive, mic-drop-intense ending to each book. AND HOLY GODS IT WAS EVERYTHING. Please don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished the book. I beg you. I just have to say it for those of you who have.
Anyway, 5 stars for that last chapter, and it carries such a heavy weight, it overpowered my negative feelings toward the rushed book.
The bad:
The entire time I was reading this book, I was convinced it was going to be a 4 star review. Armentrout has a tendency in this series to end chapters in the middle of conversations rather than important or natural ends to scenes, which is incredibly frustrating. I get it - as an author you want people unable to put the book down, reading 'just one more chapter' - but it made reading multiple-chapter-long conversations extremely exhausting.
I felt like most of this book was a lot of extra words to pad the page count. Because, you know, you're already three books in so you can afford to drag it out because you're already successful. Heavy worldbuilding is still happening three books in, but it came as frustratingly long conversations between Poppy and someone. She'd go off on a few paragraphs 'thinking' of questions and what the consequences would be, and then ask those questions and get really long answers of some things she might have already thought of. Repetitive and UNNECESSARY word count padding.
I contemplated a 3 star review at many points in this book. The writing was just... meh, compared to the previous two books. There were several instances of typos, wrong words, and just really poor conversation dynamics. It felt super forced and stiff, and once again adding conversations/responses/declarations when they were really unnecessary. Again, an attempt at word count padding. This book, while the story was perfectly executed, felt like it was rushed to get published and did not go through as many edits/reviews as it needed.
The good:
Obviously, I ended up giving a 5 star review. Partly for these things, but mostly for what I'll finish this review with.
We started out with a BANG. It picks up right where we left off (which after a short break between reading book 2 and 3, I did have to go back and reread the last chapters so I didn't forget what happened) and that was an EXPLOSIVE ending to book 2. That meant the start here was just as intense. A little confusing, but intense nonetheless.
The steam was once again amazing. Poppy and Casteel have some very inappropriate times to be heated, but that's also why we love it. Their relationship is by far the best part of this series (raise your hand if you've discovered a knife kink through reading this series). I will never not love their banter.
The story continues to get better as secrets are uncovered, plots become clearer, and the betrayals/discoveries/friendships are always good sparks. I can't say any of the plot points really came as massive 'surprises' or twists, but they were still executed quite brilliantly and made for an enjoyable read.
Here's where I decided that all of those bad things were background noise and this book deserved a 5 star review. THE LAST CHAPTER. I kept thinking, 'hmm, this book should have been over a few chapters ago... what sort of bang are you going to give us?', because by now I've come to expect a massive, mic-drop-intense ending to each book. AND HOLY GODS IT WAS EVERYTHING. Please don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished the book. I beg you. I just have to say it for those of you who have.
Spoiler
A message that Casteel would approve of was, perhaps, an understatement because we all know if he was there, he'd be ripping her clothes off and taking her in that blood soaked clearing. With everyone there to watch it.Anyway, 5 stars for that last chapter, and it carries such a heavy weight, it overpowered my negative feelings toward the rushed book.
kendallm21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I enjoyed this book about the same as the other books in the series, and even when I predict a plot twist there is always something I am slightly off about which is great! I don't really enjoy how a lot of the action and major plot points happen at the end of the story. I feel like a big chunk of this book was just put in there to fill pages and it didn't feel like much was happening for awhile; even so I enjoyed parts and especially the ending. Also so much spice that sometimes just felt unnecessary lol. So far this book was my least favorite of the series so I am hoping for more good things in the next!