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emilia_thereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and War
Minor: Animal death
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
journeythroughthechapters's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Thoughts
I don't have too many thoughts on this. It took me a while to read and I think it's because the staff was very slow. I think the second half picked up the pace but man that first bit was a slog to get through.
The end though has left me wanting more. I'm nervous to finish this series because I haven't heard the best things but I'm a completionist. And like I said the end has me highly intrigued.
Things I liked
- the characters: like the first book I love most of the characters. When I read Rhen through in this book I got Tamlin vibes. Depending on who you are you might love or hate that. I'm glad we got to see more of Grey and while his development is slow I'm enjoying his growth.
- the intrigue/writing: there are twists and turns that are unexpected. I am curious about the ending so in that regards the writing is very good.
Things I didn't love
- the pace: I found the start pretty boring if I'm being honest. And I like travelling in books but in this there was too much of the same thing. It's hard to explain. But they would travel then something happens. They would travel again and something happens. It was too same same for me.
- Rhen: like I said Tamlin vibes. If you don't know basically lovely in book one book two a complete 180. Sorry but not a fan.
Even though I gave this a 4 it was still a bit average for me.
Representation
Disability, Gay, POC
Trigger Warning
Animal Death, Violence, PTSD, Gore, Blood, Torture, Animal Cruelty
I don't have too many thoughts on this. It took me a while to read and I think it's because the staff was very slow. I think the second half picked up the pace but man that first bit was a slog to get through.
The end though has left me wanting more. I'm nervous to finish this series because I haven't heard the best things but I'm a completionist. And like I said the end has me highly intrigued.
Things I liked
- the characters: like the first book I love most of the characters. When I read Rhen through in this book I got Tamlin vibes. Depending on who you are you might love or hate that. I'm glad we got to see more of Grey and while his development is slow I'm enjoying his growth.
- the intrigue/writing: there are twists and turns that are unexpected. I am curious about the ending so in that regards the writing is very good.
Things I didn't love
- the pace: I found the start pretty boring if I'm being honest. And I like travelling in books but in this there was too much of the same thing. It's hard to explain. But they would travel then something happens. They would travel again and something happens. It was too same same for me.
- Rhen: like I said Tamlin vibes. If you don't know basically lovely in book one book two a complete 180. Sorry but not a fan.
Even though I gave this a 4 it was still a bit average for me.
Representation
Disability, Gay, POC
Trigger Warning
Animal Death, Violence, PTSD, Gore, Blood, Torture, Animal Cruelty
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Violence, and Blood
eve_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ The switch to Grey and Lia Mara's perspectives was abrupt. After the intense ending of A Curse so Dark and Lonely, I wanted more insight as to how Rhen and Harper were doing. I wasn't as interested or invested in the other characters until about 100 pages in, and after that I actually liked the narrative better than in the first book.
⁕ A decent chunk of this story occurs when Grey and Lia Mara are traveling. A lot of character and relationship development occurs during these scenes, but it might be rough if you're a more plot-driven reader.
⁕ Rhen's character arc is beyond extreme and frustrating. Again, we don't see things from his perspective in this one, so there's no insight to the stuff that's happening offstage. But I was totally confused by his actions until I finished the third and final book in the series.
⁕ The switch to Grey and Lia Mara's perspectives was abrupt. After the intense ending of A Curse so Dark and Lonely, I wanted more insight as to how Rhen and Harper were doing. I wasn't as interested or invested in the other characters until about 100 pages in, and after that I actually liked the narrative better than in the first book.
⁕ A decent chunk of this story occurs when Grey and Lia Mara are traveling. A lot of character and relationship development occurs during these scenes, but it might be rough if you're a more plot-driven reader.
⁕ Rhen's character arc is beyond extreme and frustrating. Again, we don't see things from his perspective in this one, so there's no insight to the stuff that's happening offstage. But I was totally confused by his actions until I finished the third and final book in the series.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content