regitzexenia's review against another edition
4.0
If you missed vampires in the first one, whoa do you get a lot in this one.
kirstyreadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
So I read and LOVED The Beautiful last year which meant that The Damned was one of my most anticipated books of the year.
Content warnings: violence, fighting, murder, racism
With the way The Beautiful left us on such a cliffhanger I was desperate to get into this one, and I’m so glad it did not disappoint.
I loved that Renee included a lot more Korean mythology in The Damned. I’ve read all of her published novels at this point and I was super happy to see more of her culture in this novel. It felt the most personal of all her novels so far and I’m excited to read more of this series and to see more of that.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.com/2020/07/11/the-damned-by-renee-ahdieh-blog-tour-review/
Content warnings: violence, fighting, murder, racism
With the way The Beautiful left us on such a cliffhanger I was desperate to get into this one, and I’m so glad it did not disappoint.
I loved that Renee included a lot more Korean mythology in The Damned. I’ve read all of her published novels at this point and I was super happy to see more of her culture in this novel. It felt the most personal of all her novels so far and I’m excited to read more of this series and to see more of that.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.com/2020/07/11/the-damned-by-renee-ahdieh-blog-tour-review/
melancholyxcx44's review against another edition
4.0
Following the tragic turn of events in the final chapters I really think this was a good follow up
It may not have been as daring as the first book but I really liked how well things tied up in. Preparation for the righteous.... Bastien oh my sweet summer child I hope things work out well for you and Celine.... Good read thoroughly enjoyed it ✅
It may not have been as daring as the first book but I really liked how well things tied up in. Preparation for the righteous.... Bastien oh my sweet summer child I hope things work out well for you and Celine.... Good read thoroughly enjoyed it ✅
books_over_everything's review against another edition
5.0
Initial Thoughts
I was SO excited to read this book. I really enjoyed The Beautiful and when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this one early, I was like YES, PLEASE!
Some Things I Liked
Different POV. I just loved that Bastien was the first person POV in this book and I really loved how that matched the title. Celine was “the beautiful” and the first person POV in the first book, and Bastien is now “damned” so he’s the main POV in this book. I also liked that we had chapters that followed other characters throughout the story.
BAHHH the love story. Ok, BAHHH is not exactly an articulate way to describe something. But, it’s me basically word vomiting all over this post because I loved it so much. Celine and Bastien are just so perfect and so stubborn and they made for such a great romance read.
Poor Michael. Yes, I list this in things I liked. Michael is ok but, Bastien > Michael all day every day. I hope Michael finds a nice lady in the next book, not Celine. Celine is spoken for. But, I do feel bad for him.
ODETTE – yes, all caps for Odette and how much I loved her as a character. She deserves a series all to herself. She’s so tragic and self-loathing and I love her for it. Where’s her person? Renée Ahdieh, please give Odette a love story!
Series Value
If there is not another book in this series, I do not know what I will do. The ending was so ridiculously open-ended, there can’t not be more. However, I really like the poetry of the names as just “The Beautiful” and “The Damned” – what would Renée Ahdieh even call the next book?
Final Thoughts
I liked The Beautiful but I loved The Damned. The twists, the POVs, Bastien as the primary narrator. The pages literally oozed with drama and I can’t wait for more. Although more is unconfirmed, I will continue to wish for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh – if you liked the dramatic writing style and the rich descriptions, try Renée’s other series.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – if you liked the supernatural elements of The Beautiful and the various types of beings described, definitely give The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness a read.
I was SO excited to read this book. I really enjoyed The Beautiful and when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this one early, I was like YES, PLEASE!
Some Things I Liked
Different POV. I just loved that Bastien was the first person POV in this book and I really loved how that matched the title. Celine was “the beautiful” and the first person POV in the first book, and Bastien is now “damned” so he’s the main POV in this book. I also liked that we had chapters that followed other characters throughout the story.
BAHHH the love story. Ok, BAHHH is not exactly an articulate way to describe something. But, it’s me basically word vomiting all over this post because I loved it so much. Celine and Bastien are just so perfect and so stubborn and they made for such a great romance read.
Poor Michael. Yes, I list this in things I liked. Michael is ok but, Bastien > Michael all day every day. I hope Michael finds a nice lady in the next book, not Celine. Celine is spoken for. But, I do feel bad for him.
ODETTE – yes, all caps for Odette and how much I loved her as a character. She deserves a series all to herself. She’s so tragic and self-loathing and I love her for it. Where’s her person? Renée Ahdieh, please give Odette a love story!
Series Value
If there is not another book in this series, I do not know what I will do. The ending was so ridiculously open-ended, there can’t not be more. However, I really like the poetry of the names as just “The Beautiful” and “The Damned” – what would Renée Ahdieh even call the next book?
Final Thoughts
I liked The Beautiful but I loved The Damned. The twists, the POVs, Bastien as the primary narrator. The pages literally oozed with drama and I can’t wait for more. Although more is unconfirmed, I will continue to wish for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh – if you liked the dramatic writing style and the rich descriptions, try Renée’s other series.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – if you liked the supernatural elements of The Beautiful and the various types of beings described, definitely give The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness a read.
reclusivereader's review against another edition
2.0
So my biggest take-away is : you mean to tell me this isn't a duology? Siiiiiigh.
Appropos of said realization was the fact that I could not understand how this sequel fit in that two-book wrap up. I felt we took such a dramatic turn from the lack of worldbuilding in book one to overdosing on it, but not in a good or helpful way, in book two that the whole pacing and feel of this world was just.. off. Not to mention, did we have this many POVs in book one? That threw me off, too. Particularly because I wasn't having fun with any of them..
Most of these issues are clearly my own fault for not understanding this was a series, not a duology, but I'm still not satisfied. I genuinely feel like nothing about this fit. We either have lots of nothing or lots of everything and no middle ground. But then there is also a whole host of secondary characters with their own set of problems (and, if you're Odette in one of the early chapters, a whole monologue of speaking aloud to.. no one) we're supposed to apparently care about -- which I feel is unrealistic given their page time -- and then.. the villain? That whole element/plot/evil plan? I don't even know where to begin.
I'll probably read the final (please tell me this is only a trilogy and nothing more..) because hashtag completionist but wow what a disappointment. I mean, it's not like I had been a huge fan of THE BEAUTIFUL, I only rated it a three for the potential, but I guess I expected better or at least something on par with that. Not.. this. Guess middle book syndrome strikes again.
1.5 stars
----
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Appropos of said realization was the fact that I could not understand how this sequel fit in that two-book wrap up. I felt we took such a dramatic turn from the lack of worldbuilding in book one to overdosing on it, but not in a good or helpful way, in book two that the whole pacing and feel of this world was just.. off. Not to mention, did we have this many POVs in book one? That threw me off, too. Particularly because I wasn't having fun with any of them..
Most of these issues are clearly my own fault for not understanding this was a series, not a duology, but I'm still not satisfied. I genuinely feel like nothing about this fit. We either have lots of nothing or lots of everything and no middle ground. But then there is also a whole host of secondary characters with their own set of problems (and, if you're Odette in one of the early chapters, a whole monologue of speaking aloud to.. no one) we're supposed to apparently care about -- which I feel is unrealistic given their page time -- and then.. the villain? That whole element/plot/evil plan? I don't even know where to begin.
I'll probably read the final (please tell me this is only a trilogy and nothing more..) because hashtag completionist but wow what a disappointment. I mean, it's not like I had been a huge fan of THE BEAUTIFUL, I only rated it a three for the potential, but I guess I expected better or at least something on par with that. Not.. this. Guess middle book syndrome strikes again.
1.5 stars
----
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
emueller5's review against another edition
3.0
I was highly disappointed by the sequel to this book. Sure the world was expanded upon, and we got more history as to why things are the way they are, but it felt like it was all spoon-fed information. They also killed off the best character at the very end. furthermore, the book was SO BORING, THERE WAS NO SUSPENSE AT ALL! After the wildness of the first book, I thought this book would have more spice, but there wasn't even any salt and pepper used to give it a little flavor. A disappointment to be sure.
bookish_n_brilliant's review against another edition
2.0
Following the events of The Beautiful, Celine and Sebastien continue their story in a changed city. They find that the price for loving each other is costly. And I’m a city at on the brink of war between the supernatural powers who rule, they must decide if the cost is worth the result.
I was excited to read this after the first book, but it was kind of a let down for me. The story takes a weird turn towards the end with Celine and her background that I was unsure about it fitting with the rest of the story. Yes we get vampires vs werewolves and a love triangle, but I was not so much hooked by this book like I was the first one. Book 3 just came out in December and I feel like I’ll read it just because I can’t ever not finish something but it’s not at the top of my reading list.
@bookish_n_brilliant
I was excited to read this after the first book, but it was kind of a let down for me. The story takes a weird turn towards the end with Celine and her background that I was unsure about it fitting with the rest of the story. Yes we get vampires vs werewolves and a love triangle, but I was not so much hooked by this book like I was the first one. Book 3 just came out in December and I feel like I’ll read it just because I can’t ever not finish something but it’s not at the top of my reading list.
@bookish_n_brilliant
holly_mcc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
margoncalvse's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t even know what interested me in the first book enough to order this