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natashareadsbooks's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So, I am a mood reader. I read book one- This Savage Song- years ago, but only just got to this book, just now. Upon opening the pages, I was confused and had to go back and reread the last couple chapters of This Savage Song making sure I was still remembering the details correctly.
This book picks up where book 1 left off, after Kate and August went their seperate ways. Six months. They were apart six months, fighting the monsters. But the monsters are winning.
Now Kate is back. August will have to let her in, open up again. And the monsters are waiting, including a new one that doesn't feed in flesh or blood. Doesn't feed in souls, but on chaos and violence.
Can August and Kate win the war that is tearing what is left of their city apart?
I loved book one, and this was no different. I loved August and his hope to be more human than monster. And loved Kate and her resilience. And loved the story. Our Dark Duet is the conclusion of a dystopian world made between man and monster, and music, violence and hope.
4⭐ out of 5⭐.
1🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - YA, kissing, tension, fade to black
Tropes:
→ YA
→ dystopian
→ paranormal romance
4⭐ out of 5⭐.
1🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - YA, kissing, tension, fade to black
Tropes:
→ YA
→ dystopian
→ paranormal romance
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
laurajeangrace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Gun violence and Death of parent
heli1403's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and War
blank_space_forever's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and War
vvayl's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
lisa_m's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I'm glad I read this book. I wasn't convinced after the first one in the series but I did enjoy reading it. I'm still not the biggest fan but I can appreciate it.
My main issue was that I pretty much hated everyone. I did like the friendship between August and Kate and my favourite character was definitely Ilsa. But I realised that I wasn't really attached to anyone or anything in this story because I wasn't sad even though many sad and horrible things happened.
I did really enjoy the philosophical aspect and the thoughts about humanity and what it means to be good or bad and if there even is a clear distinction. I also thought the concept of a war where one side cannot kill any humans on the other side very intriguing.
All in all I would say great plot, great world building and I totally get why people like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was incredibly violent and I was kind of mentally checked out.
My main issue was that I pretty much hated everyone. I did like the friendship between August and Kate and my favourite character was definitely Ilsa. But I realised that I wasn't really attached to anyone or anything in this story because I wasn't sad even though many sad and horrible things happened.
I did really enjoy the philosophical aspect and the thoughts about humanity and what it means to be good or bad and if there even is a clear distinction. I also thought the concept of a war where one side cannot kill any humans on the other side very intriguing.
All in all I would say great plot, great world building and I totally get why people like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was incredibly violent and I was kind of mentally checked out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness and Kidnapping
ana24gs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This book has left me empty, and although the ending was hopeful, it just hurt a lot that the book ended that way.
I consider that this book was so much better than the first one, but first the cons that I encounter while reading. At the beginning of the book we were introduced to many characters and it was very tedious to learn their names and find out what their role in the book was so that later they were not relevant (or not very relevant). Not only that, but something happens to Kate, something important, and I feel like I didn't see much of it, they exploited it at the beginning, and then little by little it was seen less. But the rest was fine.
Now I want to talk about the characters and I can only say that I LOVE them, from Kate's new friends to Sloan, the characters were very good. I still believe that Victoria has written better characters, but these characters definitely have a place in my heart. I found Kate's entire arc most interesting, and I admire her for the level of strength and perseverance that she had throughout the book. August, I love you, he is my favorite character in the whole series, he changed a lot and in this book he became much more serious, I also admire him for knowing the situations he is in and for his strength, both physically and mentally. Sloan, you're so damn weird, but I was really scared of you so good for you. Special mention to Riley, it didn't cost me anything to love you with the few moments you had in this book, you seemed beautiful to me.
The plot of the book is also very entertaining, although it took a while to get to it I think it was worth it, but the plot related to Kate seemed much more interesting because it was about internal monsters that you cannot control.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
That ending, wow, how painful, I knew that Kate would die (some people describe this book as a reinterpretation of ROMEO AND JULIET, I already knew what I was getting into) but it still hurt a lot when it happened, mostly because she died in the arms of my beautiful August.
Continuing with Kate, I feel that they could exploit much more the monster that she had inside her, Victoria did well in the first part but I wanted much more, I wanted to see more how that monster spoke to her and induced her to be extremely violent. I also would have liked to see a lot more of the friends she made in Prosperity, I really liked her relationship a lot, especially the one she had with Riley, it could have been super strong but unfortunately what happened happened.
When Ilsa died it was so sad, she turned into stardust, and my August saw it, leave my poor boy alone.
I don't have much to say about August I love him and all, but everything that had to happen to his character happened. He became colder and forgot the dreams he had of being a good human, but after all, he discovers that people are complicated and gray and he is ready to navigate the world.
I really thought it was a good book and it kept me completely interested from moment one. Loved it.
I consider that this book was so much better than the first one, but first the cons that I encounter while reading. At the beginning of the book we were introduced to many characters and it was very tedious to learn their names and find out what their role in the book was so that later they were not relevant (or not very relevant). Not only that, but something happens to Kate, something important, and I feel like I didn't see much of it, they exploited it at the beginning, and then little by little it was seen less. But the rest was fine.
Now I want to talk about the characters and I can only say that I LOVE them, from Kate's new friends to Sloan, the characters were very good. I still believe that Victoria has written better characters, but these characters definitely have a place in my heart. I found Kate's entire arc most interesting, and I admire her for the level of strength and perseverance that she had throughout the book. August, I love you, he is my favorite character in the whole series, he changed a lot and in this book he became much more serious, I also admire him for knowing the situations he is in and for his strength, both physically and mentally. Sloan, you're so damn weird, but I was really scared of you so good for you. Special mention to Riley, it didn't cost me anything to love you with the few moments you had in this book, you seemed beautiful to me.
The plot of the book is also very entertaining, although it took a while to get to it I think it was worth it, but the plot related to Kate seemed much more interesting because it was about internal monsters that you cannot control.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
That ending, wow, how painful, I knew that Kate would die (some people describe this book as a reinterpretation of ROMEO AND JULIET, I already knew what I was getting into) but it still hurt a lot when it happened, mostly because she died in the arms of my beautiful August.
Continuing with Kate, I feel that they could exploit much more the monster that she had inside her, Victoria did well in the first part but I wanted much more, I wanted to see more how that monster spoke to her and induced her to be extremely violent. I also would have liked to see a lot more of the friends she made in Prosperity, I really liked her relationship a lot, especially the one she had with Riley, it could have been super strong but unfortunately what happened happened.
When Ilsa died it was so sad, she turned into stardust, and my August saw it, leave my poor boy alone.
I don't have much to say about August I love him and all, but everything that had to happen to his character happened. He became colder and forgot the dreams he had of being a good human, but after all, he discovers that people are complicated and gray and he is ready to navigate the world.
I really thought it was a good book and it kept me completely interested from moment one. Loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and War