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savage_book_review's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As with book one, this is everything you'd expect from a standard romantasy book, so if you're looking for groundbreaking, probably best to go elsewhere. But for a continuation of an easy reading, reliable, engaging story, this checks all the boxes. It does get off to a bit of a slow start, but this improves as you settle in, aided by the writer's clear style - she uses each scene to illustrate the development of relationships between her characters, rather than to draw focus to action-packed moments, so while it's not a pacy book, by the end you feel can feel the characters' feelings with them, even if you don't like them that much.
I say that last specifically about Rua. Apologies for the obvious comparison, but she comes across to me very much like Nesta in ACOTAR; grumpy, moan-y and with no idea how to see past her own woes. But, where Nesta has been given a beautiful redemption arc, the depth for Rua is missing. It's odd, because while everything flows well and it doesn't come as a surprise, her self-discovery feels like a simple plot contrivance rather than actual development. I believe she could be a much stronger character with further time and energy put into her, but as it is the story definitely works, just not as well as it could. On the other hand, I feel like Renwick's character is fully fleshed out and I love the little twists he brings to the tale.
I am beginning to see Okrith and the Courts more as the series progresses, and the worldbuilding and description in this book make the Northern Court camp in particular a lot easier to picture. But overall I would say that, while certain settings are drawn out to the level of detail they deserve, it is still quite hard to immerse myself fully into the land and imagine myself within the story.
I did enjoy and am happy to continue the series, but don't think it'll be for a while as my library service doesn't carry the rest... ☹️
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aseel_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
pauluszanna's review against another edition
- 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
Rua is travelling to the North with its new king, Renwick, to ensure that there is no drama or rebellion towards the newly re-established High Mountain Court.
I really liked Rua's and Renwick's chemistry, both stubborn, strong on the outside but broken and yearning for love deep inside. It was a well-established enemies-to-lovers trope until
Apart from that spoiler between the two of them, it was an intriguing and exciting storyline that I enjoyed getting lost in.
However, the third book is about Bri, the bodyguard to both Remi and Rua, and I'm hesitant as to how interested I'm in that plot. Maybe I will pick it up at some point.
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Blood
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Classism