20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Bullying, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
sabrina0_venus's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Violence
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
sirkeili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spoiler
Even Taryn's betrayal threw me off, though I should've expected it considering she isn't afraid to throw her sister in the line of fire if it benefits her outcome even the slightest bit. I do hope she gets her comeuppance, though, she is too proud and too eager to appear the superior sibling.With how it ended, I am interested to see how Jude gets out of this predicament, and what game of chess Cardan is playing now, because obviously he has become the King on the board protecting his Queen.
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, War, Classism, Gaslighting, Blood, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Violence
mellysay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was… incredible. I loved it. It’s a good sequel and I loved everything about it. I was hooked and read it in like 2 days. A friend of mine said: “the first 150 pages will be so boring but after that the story will take pace” she did not lie. and I was so determined to get past those first 150 pages. I don’t know, if you’ve watched game of thrones or other alike series / movies you will be familiar with the boring parts. Where it is only people talking strategy, how to keep the crown, how to make the people at peace. You know? Nothing happened really. No relationship building, no plot that thickened, just some pages of Jude running around the castle and playing high king. But after 150 pages the book was 5 ⭐️! Therefore I give it a simple 4,5 ⭐️.
Can we talk about how good Holly Black is at writing? Omg I enjoyed every bit of her well written text Language. I almost cried a little. Holly Black is truly the Fearie Queen. Somebody give her a price and some money for the amazing world she built for us!
Spoiler
Now can we talk about the story!?
I freaking loved Cardan. I grew very fond of him thanks to all the backstory about him. To how he was so kind to Jude at the end. I liked him because of everything. I truly believed that poor Jude Duarte found peace and some kind of love and comfort when she married Cardan. I really thought he was honest, because he liked Jude so much. I mean two whole books and finally they confessed how they felt about each other. But no! Cardan built a island and laughed at her while he banished her from Fearieland. Of course. Our Jude will never know happiness.
And lets talk about Jude. How can she just trust Taryn again after all she’s done? Taryn just came into her room and was like “yo, start talking to me because I want you on my wedding” and dumb Jude was like “yes of course so silly of me, I was in a silly goofy mood 😜 “ I wanted to scream at her. ALSO what the frick is wrong with Locke? I hate him so much smh 🤦 anyways. Poor Jude she has been through IT. How much will Black put here main character through before it is enough? I feel so much for Jude because she can never rest. If she isn’t I life threatening danger, then she is taking poison and is close to dying because of that. So dumb. Take a break woman. But I love Jude too much ❤️❤️ Strong independent woman💪💪💪 I hope she doesn’t grow found of the human world in the next book because she needs to find her way back to fearieland and kill the high king. I felt like sometimes things happened too fast. Like oh she just spent a month under water and oh? She just married the high king 👑
Overall a very good book. And as you can see I am very passionate about it. I see that as a good sign.
I love this book and will forever cherish it❤️
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
jessicaludden's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
v1rgo's review against another edition
3.25
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
tays_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Minor: Abandonment, Vomit, and War
durrareadsstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As I am an impatient person, I have to complain about the pacing of the book, or at least the first half. I understand that slow pace can be ideal for character development or scene setting or world-building, and I appreciate that but I honestly don't care what Nicasia is wearing right now 😫😫 Thankfully, though, things got a lot more interesting in the second half and I loved reading that part so much.
As for the characters, at least now I got two favourable characters instead of one, and I guess The Bomb and The Roach are cool. Okay fine, they're super cool. They better have their happy ending or else I'm coming for you Holly.
Spoiler
I can't believe Taryn is that twisted. I mean, aren't twins supposed to be like, bonded forever and therefore they love each other an insane amount that no one else can comprehend? Out of all the characters, I didn't expect to hate Taryn most of all. And she's freakin stupid? Like why the hell would you marry the F-boy that is Locke?? He's awful and just WHY IS HE STILL BREATHING?? But I did enjoy how Jude threatened him.Maybe you thought I was too busy to take my revenge? Well, Locke, I want you to understand that for you, I will make time."
I loved the banter in this book, there were a lot of time I went like dayummmm. You know? Hmm plotwise, I thought it was cool. There were some that were like just very messed up like I had to just put it aside and "did I just read that?" and had to sort of process stuff. But I get it, faeries are awful and they're twisted and they're crazy. I just hope Holly got this info from folklore and she didn't think of it herself cause I'd be pretty worried about her.
I have very high hopes for the last book, and you better give me romance cause IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A FANTASY ROMANCE. Okay, yeah, that's probably it.
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
eligru's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Animal death, Violence, and Medical content