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onefineelephant's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
8/10. This book/series really continues to surprise me. It is one of those rare books where at no point am I sure where the plot is going (in a good way) but I am so enthralled the whole time. For reasons other than the book, I was having a hard time getting through the book but every time I opened it and actually started reading, I never wanted to stop. I am gonna be honest, I missed Harper and Rhen but I loved seeing things from Grey's POV. I also wasn't sure how I would feel about Lia Mara, but I ended up enjoying her perspective as well. I somewhat predicted/hoped for what ended up happening at the end of the book with Grey and Lia Mara about Karis Luran (no spoilers) but the very ending with Rhen almost blindsided me fr (again, no spoilers). I am very interested to see what in the world is going to happen in the next book because I genuinely have no idea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Vomit
ameydireads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"Do not let your kindness make you vulnerable.”
This story is mainly told through Grey and Lia Mara’s point of view. Lia Mara is a new addition to the story and she is the first-born daughter of Karis Luran, but definitely not ruthless like her mother. I am very glad that there was no dreaded love triangle.
I hate how Rhen’s character is completely butchered in this book. It’s like they really needed a hero-turned-villain to add some sensation and what would be more controversial than picking Rhen. It makes no sense, especially because he does his best to be a better person and to care for his kingdom and the people around him. He might have been a little entitled before, but the curse really softened him up. Even Grey could see this! So what happened to the Grey who would lay down his life for Rhen? He might not be bound by an oath anymore, but that doesn’t erase the many seasons during the curse where they only had each other. I don't understand the motivation behind some of the choices these characters make and how so many people could give up on Rhen. He deserves better!
Rhen mentions in the past that people don’t trust him enough to make good decisions. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GREY DOES! If only he told Rhen the truth as soon as he found out. Grey decides to stay away from Ironrose instead, as if that would solve all problems. Rhen is scarred for life by magic and now there’s this magesmith around who is actually the true heir?! Of course Rhen has to go to lengths to protect his kingdom from another magesmith of whom he knows nothing about.
And the ending… are you serious?!Lilith was never dead?! No wonder Rhen took drastic measures.
I‘ve wondered many times if I could have enjoyed this story if the plot took a different direction and I think that was indeed a possibility. What if–hear me out–Lilith indeed escapes and Grey didn’t know the truth, stays at Ironrose and searches for this true heir alongside Rhen. After he finds out it’s him that they’re looking for, Rhen gets the chance to see the good side of magic, they go on a quest to unlock Grey’s true potential and then he takes down Lilith in an epic magical battle. Basically, any plot where Rhen is not vilified is acceptable!
This story is mainly told through Grey and Lia Mara’s point of view. Lia Mara is a new addition to the story and she is the first-born daughter of Karis Luran, but definitely not ruthless like her mother. I am very glad that there was no dreaded love triangle.
I hate how Rhen’s character is completely butchered in this book. It’s like they really needed a hero-turned-villain to add some sensation and what would be more controversial than picking Rhen. It makes no sense, especially because he does his best to be a better person and to care for his kingdom and the people around him. He might have been a little entitled before, but the curse really softened him up. Even Grey could see this! So what happened to the Grey who would lay down his life for Rhen? He might not be bound by an oath anymore, but that doesn’t erase the many seasons during the curse where they only had each other. I don't understand the motivation behind some of the choices these characters make and how so many people could give up on Rhen. He deserves better!
Rhen mentions in the past that people don’t trust him enough to make good decisions. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GREY DOES! If only he told Rhen the truth as soon as he found out. Grey decides to stay away from Ironrose instead, as if that would solve all problems. Rhen is scarred for life by magic and now there’s this magesmith around who is actually the true heir?! Of course Rhen has to go to lengths to protect his kingdom from another magesmith of whom he knows nothing about.
And the ending… are you serious?!
I‘ve wondered many times if I could have enjoyed this story if the plot took a different direction and I think that was indeed a possibility. What if–hear me out–Lilith indeed escapes and Grey didn’t know the truth, stays at Ironrose and searches for this true heir alongside Rhen. After he finds out it’s him that they’re looking for, Rhen gets the chance to see the good side of magic, they go on a quest to unlock Grey’s true potential and then he takes down Lilith in an epic magical battle. Basically, any plot where Rhen is not vilified is acceptable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, and Blood
purplehulk713's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
I liked this book better than the first one, which is unusual because the first book had more magic, and I never really liked Grey in my first encounters with him because I thought he was too stubborn in his loyalty. But that was something that was played upon in this novel—both how and why he acts in that way—which I thought was far more interesting than his initial portrayal, especially since we get to hear his voice as a primary narrator in this book. I loved Lia Mara, and basically every other new important character that was introduced in this installment—Tycho and Iisak are great. Tycho is cute and endearing, and Iisak is funny, dry, and mysterious. But Lia Mara is so so determined yet so insecure (and her toxic relationship with her mother Karis Luran brings out a lot of strong Amity Blight vibes) and from the first chapters that we meet her and hear her views of her mother and sister, Nolla Verin, it’s clearly evident how passionate she is but also so vulnerable and apprehensive. Her role in the climax is epic! She and Grey are excellent foils for each other. I was so impressed by Brigid Kemmerer’s world-building, especially as the characters crossed into Syhl Shallow and they explained things like their matrilineal line of succession, but also the poignancy of the issues she’s depicting with these characters like the best way to achieve peace between two countries, or even mutual respect and civility within one’s own country. Brigid Kemmerer is herself a magesmith for how deftly she is both able to portray these issues as well develop realistic characters to grapple and grow with them. The only reason I rated this book below five stars was that it didn’t have as much magic as I craved, though I cannot remember enjoying a book that discussed diplomacy so much this much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
qrschulte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think I liked this one more than the last one. And again, I called the big reveals.
Things I liked:
- GREY!!!
- Iisak. More of him please
- Jake‘s redemption.
- The romance actually made sense and had some chemistry and a bit of steam.
Things I didn’t like:
- The Lia Mara narrator made the girls sound waaaay younger than they were supposed to be. She also was a bit melodramatic, either with a laugh in her voice or like a swoon teen, which was a little much for my tastes.
- The torture
- The 180 degree flip of characterizations of Harper and Rhen, which I guess is only slightly explained. Especially after Rhen’s character growth in the last book. And Harper being okay with Rhen’s behavior after giving her brother (warranted) shit in the first book? Makes no sense.
Things I liked:
- GREY!!!
- Iisak. More of him please
- Jake‘s redemption.
- The romance actually made sense and had some chemistry and a bit of steam.
Things I didn’t like:
- The Lia Mara narrator made the girls sound waaaay younger than they were supposed to be. She also was a bit melodramatic, either with a laugh in her voice or like a swoon teen, which was a little much for my tastes.
- The torture
- The 180 degree flip of characterizations of Harper and Rhen, which I guess is only slightly explained. Especially after Rhen’s character growth in the last book. And Harper being okay with Rhen’s behavior after giving her brother (warranted) shit in the first book? Makes no sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
3.0
This book flirts a little too closely to Game of Thrones territory for me at times, with brutal consequences for kindness or naïveté.
In developing Grey’s character, I feel like Harper’s character dulled greatly.I find it really hard to believe that she would want to stay with Rhen when she is aware of his brutal actions against his subjects, despite not knowing that Lilith is still alive and doing something to manipulate his actions. Her family suffered trauma caused by her father’s actions and saw her brother turned into a puppet forced to threaten and possibly commit violent acts against people. It doesn’t make sense that she would stand by Rhen’s side as he- from her point of view- tries to rally his people by allowing some to be brutalized or murdered because he’s afraid of magic.
Lia Mara is the kind of protagonist I can’t help but like- she’s kind, clever and pragmatic despite her upbringing. Her mother makes too perfect a villain. It’s borderline offensive how one dimensional she is.
Despite it all, I did enjoy this and it was worth the couple hours I spent reading it and I care just enough to read the next one also.
In developing Grey’s character, I feel like Harper’s character dulled greatly.
Lia Mara is the kind of protagonist I can’t help but like- she’s kind, clever and pragmatic despite her upbringing. Her mother makes too perfect a villain. It’s borderline offensive how one dimensional she is.
Despite it all, I did enjoy this and it was worth the couple hours I spent reading it and I care just enough to read the next one also.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
littletiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
roget's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Slavery
Miscarriage doesn't happen, but it almost does, and the scene might be disturbing to some. Pedophilia is alluded to briefly in a few places as a vague threat to a side character, in a way that you understand what the narrative is talking about, but it is not explored or detailed at length, and the relevant character is protected from physical actions of that nature. There is a graphic scene in which two characters are chained and whipped, and one of them is an adolescent.