menstruasian's review against another edition
5.0
Well... I'm absolutely dreading Book #6, purely for the reason that we will all finally get the answers we deserve, the way in which that will be done... I don't think I'll be ready, but also because another beautiful trilogy will be ending.
I'm really going to spend a month recovering from the ending. Look out for me on twitter expressing my emotions.
This book, along with all of Soman Chainani's other works, will undoubtedly make you smile, sometimes laugh, tear up or fully-fledged crying, moments of anger will arise, confusion and the palpitating beat of your heart will proliferate with every turn of the page.
I have grown with these characters since mid-Year 6 all the way to First Year university student, however, I reckon over the past three books, they have all remained 16ish as opposed to me 12-18. HAHAH. Nothing wrong with that of course. My point? This series is made for all ages, albeit being written for children, there's nothing there to stop adults from involving themselves into this world of fantasy.
These characters grow on you in more ways than you think, after re-reading the series I have realised how much my thoughts are similar to that of Agatha and Sophie - it's truly astounding, the effect each individual has on you.
I really hope more comes from this.
Amazing work Soman! I will forever support your writing.
A devoted reader.
An Ever.
But a closeted-badass Never.
I'm really going to spend a month recovering from the ending. Look out for me on twitter expressing my emotions.
This book, along with all of Soman Chainani's other works, will undoubtedly make you smile, sometimes laugh, tear up or fully-fledged crying, moments of anger will arise, confusion and the palpitating beat of your heart will proliferate with every turn of the page.
I have grown with these characters since mid-Year 6 all the way to First Year university student, however, I reckon over the past three books, they have all remained 16ish as opposed to me 12-18. HAHAH. Nothing wrong with that of course. My point? This series is made for all ages, albeit being written for children, there's nothing there to stop adults from involving themselves into this world of fantasy.
These characters grow on you in more ways than you think, after re-reading the series I have realised how much my thoughts are similar to that of Agatha and Sophie - it's truly astounding, the effect each individual has on you.
I really hope more comes from this.
Amazing work Soman! I will forever support your writing.
A devoted reader.
An Ever.
But a closeted-badass Never.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. The characters just jump off the page. Such a complicated, interesting story. All of the plot twists work so well. I can’t wait for the last installment.
rebel_fairy's review
5.0
I love this series. I love the richness of myths and legends. I cannot wait to read book six. Agatha is still my favourite character and Sophie is growing on me.
nyxaslan's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
This book was great, no doubt about that. It did the explaining job and gave us the insight needed to understand what was about to go down. So many twists that left me on the edge of my seat, so many facepalms too. However, it seemed to go into so much detail that it dragged a little bit, but I guess it was necessary. I was also kinda confused because this is a series you have to read in one shot or you won't remember. I love Tedros and Agatha in this one, but I personally believe Sophie and Agatha would make an amazing couple. Overall, this will be one hell of a finale and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
HE TOOK THE RING ONTO HIS FINGER, THE DOOR TO HIS HEART RIPPED OPEN, A LION AWAKENED, A LION REBORN, BEFORE TEDROS GNASHED HIS TEETH TO THE SKY AND UNLEASHED A ROAR THAT SHOOK HEAVEN AND EARTH.
This book was great, no doubt about that. It did the explaining job and gave us the insight needed to understand what was about to go down. So many twists that left me on the edge of my seat, so many facepalms too. However, it seemed to go into so much detail that it dragged a little bit, but I guess it was necessary. I was also kinda confused because this is a series you have to read in one shot or you won't remember. I love Tedros and Agatha in this one, but I personally believe Sophie and Agatha would make an amazing couple. Overall, this will be one hell of a finale and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
HE TOOK THE RING ONTO HIS FINGER, THE DOOR TO HIS HEART RIPPED OPEN, A LION AWAKENED, A LION REBORN, BEFORE TEDROS GNASHED HIS TEETH TO THE SKY AND UNLEASHED A ROAR THAT SHOOK HEAVEN AND EARTH.
saunteringvaguelydownward's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
yanners's review against another edition
1.0
If I’ve learnt anything from the past five books, it’s that Sophie sorely needs a vacation to clear her mind and sort out her life. Periodt.
The lack of trust issues this girl has is anything if disconcerting. If I got betrayed by my first love, both as a GIRL AND a BOY, got gaslighted by ex-first love to stab my freaking fiancé who is the most adorable thing ever AND got duped into loving a sheltered hunk who turns out is a freaking villain who wants to decapitate my friends, I’d develop some trust issues.
At least some teensy weensy bit. Enough to stop me from falling head over heels every time a bronzed, washboard abs guy smirks, grins, stares, winks, kiss or save from me fire, a fall from height, my jealous insecure friend, my bloodthirsty barbaric ex etc.
With Sophie, life is all sunshine and rainbows and who cares what intentions may lie beneath the surface because if a decently sculpted male species flexes his biceps at her she’ll conveniently forgo her convictions of being an independent, badass dean and start swooning till kingdom come.
Like gal, I pride myself on being a glass half full kind of person on some occasions. Sophie just finds a way to be perversely optimistic in the face of imminent death and perhaps a visit to the psychiatrist is in order.
But I still love her all the same. No matter how many blunders she makes blundering her way through love and how many misjudgments she makes trying to defeat the enemy on her own without consulting others, I’m still team Sophie all the way, and I still can’t wait for Agatha, Tedros, Nicola, William, Merlin, and everyone else who isn’t Sophie to die a painful death.
On second thought, death would be doing you a charity. I hope that every surface you touch will explode and lodge splinters into your skin, preferably under your fingernails. I hope boils break out of your skin everytime Agatha thinks about how Tedros is incompetent and neglecting her and everytime Tedros cries like a baby and have a breakdown—and heck, it happens almost every day so good luck with that lovebirds.
AND NICOLA.
You better scram far and wide from my boy Hort who is Sophie’s destined true love before I give you a good kick in the rump and shave your hair while you’re asleep.
To the rest who I can’t bother mentioning one by one:
BURN. BURN AT THE FIERY STAKE THAT IS MY HATRED FOR YOU GOODY-TWO-SHOES; TILL YOUR BONES ARE CINDERS AND YOUR LEGACY BUT FORGOTTEN I WILL PURSUE YOUR PITIFUL SOULS TILL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. I WILL HAUNT YOUR EVERY LIVING BREATH. NUMBER YOUR DAYS AND STOP HAVING EXISTENTIAL CRISES EVERY OTHER HOUR. MY WRATH WILL SET THE LAND AFLAME PUNKS.
1 star
The lack of trust issues this girl has is anything if disconcerting. If I got betrayed by my first love, both as a GIRL AND a BOY, got gaslighted by ex-first love to stab my freaking fiancé who is the most adorable thing ever AND got duped into loving a sheltered hunk who turns out is a freaking villain who wants to decapitate my friends, I’d develop some trust issues.
At least some teensy weensy bit. Enough to stop me from falling head over heels every time a bronzed, washboard abs guy smirks, grins, stares, winks, kiss or save from me fire, a fall from height, my jealous insecure friend, my bloodthirsty barbaric ex etc.
With Sophie, life is all sunshine and rainbows and who cares what intentions may lie beneath the surface because if a decently sculpted male species flexes his biceps at her she’ll conveniently forgo her convictions of being an independent, badass dean and start swooning till kingdom come.
Like gal, I pride myself on being a glass half full kind of person on some occasions. Sophie just finds a way to be perversely optimistic in the face of imminent death and perhaps a visit to the psychiatrist is in order.
But I still love her all the same. No matter how many blunders she makes blundering her way through love and how many misjudgments she makes trying to defeat the enemy on her own without consulting others, I’m still team Sophie all the way, and I still can’t wait for Agatha, Tedros, Nicola, William, Merlin, and everyone else who isn’t Sophie to die a painful death.
On second thought, death would be doing you a charity. I hope that every surface you touch will explode and lodge splinters into your skin, preferably under your fingernails. I hope boils break out of your skin everytime Agatha thinks about how Tedros is incompetent and neglecting her and everytime Tedros cries like a baby and have a breakdown—and heck, it happens almost every day so good luck with that lovebirds.
AND NICOLA.
You better scram far and wide from my boy Hort who is Sophie’s destined true love before I give you a good kick in the rump and shave your hair while you’re asleep.
To the rest who I can’t bother mentioning one by one:
BURN. BURN AT THE FIERY STAKE THAT IS MY HATRED FOR YOU GOODY-TWO-SHOES; TILL YOUR BONES ARE CINDERS AND YOUR LEGACY BUT FORGOTTEN I WILL PURSUE YOUR PITIFUL SOULS TILL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. I WILL HAUNT YOUR EVERY LIVING BREATH. NUMBER YOUR DAYS AND STOP HAVING EXISTENTIAL CRISES EVERY OTHER HOUR. MY WRATH WILL SET THE LAND AFLAME PUNKS.
1 star
jennifersiyuanzhou's review against another edition
2.0
i liked how the crysal ball worked. her cat is king?? love that. there were small not-plot related things that made this book enjoyable lol
I'm too lazy to write out my rants. and i ranted A LOT
from https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/138961688-trinity
"ngl this book only began getting interesting in the 400 pages mark which is…amazing for me! to basically read abt 400 pages of nothing! and overall it was 600 pages of characters being brain dead!! i stan! it literally ended the same way it began, someone betrothed to Sophie, and the “wrong” king on the throne. bruh so what you are telling me is if i skipped this whole ass novel, i wouldn’t have missed a thing? because that’s what this feels like.
unpopular opinion, i like what Rhian is standing for. not all the death and shit but the uniting of the fractions, good and evil coming together and forgetting their differences and following a pen that could tell anyone’s story , not some mythical pen choosing whoever it wants. i don’t understand the problem with this. yes he is abusing that power for his political gain but if it was done right , this idea is actually very good. if a leader choose to tell anyone’s story and not just people who attended the school for good and evil, it would give everyone a chance at glory.
tbh this whole book is the kids from the school gatekeeping the storian and saying tedros is the one true king, when tedros is nothing but drying paint on a wall. he has less personality than a stale booger on the ground. he whines more than my cat does and at least my cat usually has a good reason, ted never does.
also i love how they are so surprised by Rhian turning out to be a “bad guy”, as if some random person showing up during your journey and devoting themselves with pure love to tedros isn’t one of the most concerning acts of all time. tedros is literally a flee on a cow’s ass. it was suspicious from the beginning, they are just dumbasses."
and from https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48582748-hoodiegirlnonono
"Rhian is a good king, heck he is much better than Tedros. He's passionate, he has ambition and plans, and he knows what to do in order to GAIN sympathy from the whole Woods. Those are everything Tedros lacks in his months of reigning, but NO! Rhian just has to DIE? And gets replaced by a cartoonish villain aka Japeth? Huh?
Tedros . . . he went from a misogynistic and dumb jock to a less misogynistic and dumb jock, and I guess that's enough character development. I had so much hope for this book and I was intrigued by Rhian but this is just pages of disappointment. The only bearable character here is Agatha. Don't even get me started on Sophie, especially at the end of the book where she returns to Rhian because she BELIEVES she's the only one who can fix it. Agatha, Sophie, and Tedros need to learn how to communicate healthily."
YES WHY CANT THESE CHARACTERS COMMUNICATE? WE"VE BOOK WORKING ON THIS SINCE BOOK ONE. WE MADE SIGNIFIGANT PROGRESS IN BOOK 1. EVERYONE BOOK WE JUST RESET AGH
I'm too lazy to write out my rants. and i ranted A LOT
from https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/138961688-trinity
"ngl this book only began getting interesting in the 400 pages mark which is…amazing for me! to basically read abt 400 pages of nothing! and overall it was 600 pages of characters being brain dead!! i stan! it literally ended the same way it began, someone betrothed to Sophie, and the “wrong” king on the throne. bruh so what you are telling me is if i skipped this whole ass novel, i wouldn’t have missed a thing? because that’s what this feels like.
unpopular opinion, i like what Rhian is standing for. not all the death and shit but the uniting of the fractions, good and evil coming together and forgetting their differences and following a pen that could tell anyone’s story , not some mythical pen choosing whoever it wants. i don’t understand the problem with this. yes he is abusing that power for his political gain but if it was done right , this idea is actually very good. if a leader choose to tell anyone’s story and not just people who attended the school for good and evil, it would give everyone a chance at glory.
tbh this whole book is the kids from the school gatekeeping the storian and saying tedros is the one true king, when tedros is nothing but drying paint on a wall. he has less personality than a stale booger on the ground. he whines more than my cat does and at least my cat usually has a good reason, ted never does.
also i love how they are so surprised by Rhian turning out to be a “bad guy”, as if some random person showing up during your journey and devoting themselves with pure love to tedros isn’t one of the most concerning acts of all time. tedros is literally a flee on a cow’s ass. it was suspicious from the beginning, they are just dumbasses."
and from https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/48582748-hoodiegirlnonono
"Rhian is a good king, heck he is much better than Tedros. He's passionate, he has ambition and plans, and he knows what to do in order to GAIN sympathy from the whole Woods. Those are everything Tedros lacks in his months of reigning, but NO! Rhian just has to DIE? And gets replaced by a cartoonish villain aka Japeth? Huh?
Tedros . . . he went from a misogynistic and dumb jock to a less misogynistic and dumb jock, and I guess that's enough character development. I had so much hope for this book and I was intrigued by Rhian but this is just pages of disappointment. The only bearable character here is Agatha. Don't even get me started on Sophie, especially at the end of the book where she returns to Rhian because she BELIEVES she's the only one who can fix it. Agatha, Sophie, and Tedros need to learn how to communicate healthily."
YES WHY CANT THESE CHARACTERS COMMUNICATE? WE"VE BOOK WORKING ON THIS SINCE BOOK ONE. WE MADE SIGNIFIGANT PROGRESS IN BOOK 1. EVERYONE BOOK WE JUST RESET AGH
craigelizabeth2023's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
starry2013's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
disneygirl08's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25