Scan barcode
kitkat8267's review against another edition
3.0
So I finally sat down and forced myself to read this thinking that it was due back to my library soon. And boy was I glad that I was able to get it from my library quickly, because I would be disappointed to have spent money on it after how much I loved the first book. The first book I loved for the freshness it had spun on the BATB retelling. But like a lot of people for this book, I found it SO hard to get into! The first 60 or so pages were hard because it is all over the place. We start out with Harper's perspective, which makes you think that like the previous book, it will be told by her perspective. After all, we were all under the impression she was the main character from the last book. There wasn't anything at the end of the first book to hint that she wouldn't be the main character. (Kind of like how at the end of Caraval, the epilogue leaves off with Tella to let you know the next book would be about her). Instead we are following Grey the Bae! (which I love because I love Grey) and... Lia Mara? I honestly forget her name that is how forgettable she is, her personality is that she's the outsider of her kingdom, and she's the Harper downgrade for Grey to fall in love with. That's it. That's her character. And that was disappointing.
As far as plot, it picks up with Grey trying to hide the fact he is Rhen's brother and the rightful heir to the throne and he agrees to run off with Lia Mara to her kingdom, along with Harper's brother and boyfriend. Which, THAT, was honestly the best part having Jake's commentary on everything was hilarious. They do eventually come across a creature that I assume is like an Ilk, that is literally the dad of the group. He feeds them and provides advice to Grey and Lia Mara about being royalty, he was another thing I enjoyed. Once they get to the last third of the book, the gang gets up to Lia Mara's kingdom after everyone convinces Grey he should be the King over Rhen, cause Rhen is downgrade Tamlin. And as part of the plan, the kingdom asks that he marries Lia Mara's cruel little sister Nolla Verin. I remember her name because she is awesome! She is the trope cute/beautiful girl that is inappropriately violent, but also likable. And just when their bitch mother asks the two kids to kill Lia Mara as a proof of loyallty, everyone is like nope! Nolla Verin refuses and Lia Mara kills her mother and ends up being queen. Sister love is awesome! And so the book leaves off with them threatening Rhen for peace, cause he still has to be a dick about it, when it turns out Lillith is still alive and blackmailing him! Which was an awesome twist. All in all, it wasn't "horrible" it just wasn't as investing as the first one with the main characters. Especially with the female love interest. I'm sure it is suffering middle book syndrome, but I am going to be back for the next one.
As far as plot, it picks up with Grey trying to hide the fact he is Rhen's brother and the rightful heir to the throne and he agrees to run off with Lia Mara to her kingdom, along with Harper's brother and boyfriend. Which, THAT, was honestly the best part having Jake's commentary on everything was hilarious. They do eventually come across a creature that I assume is like an Ilk, that is literally the dad of the group. He feeds them and provides advice to Grey and Lia Mara about being royalty, he was another thing I enjoyed. Once they get to the last third of the book, the gang gets up to Lia Mara's kingdom after everyone convinces Grey he should be the King over Rhen, cause Rhen is downgrade Tamlin. And as part of the plan, the kingdom asks that he marries Lia Mara's cruel little sister Nolla Verin. I remember her name because she is awesome! She is the trope cute/beautiful girl that is inappropriately violent, but also likable. And just when their bitch mother asks the two kids to kill Lia Mara as a proof of loyallty, everyone is like nope! Nolla Verin refuses and Lia Mara kills her mother and ends up being queen. Sister love is awesome! And so the book leaves off with them threatening Rhen for peace, cause he still has to be a dick about it, when it turns out Lillith is still alive and blackmailing him! Which was an awesome twist. All in all, it wasn't "horrible" it just wasn't as investing as the first one with the main characters. Especially with the female love interest. I'm sure it is suffering middle book syndrome, but I am going to be back for the next one.
lennie_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mischiefmanaged_98's review against another edition
2.0
Un peccato, perché il primo non era male.
Ma questo è proprio illeggibile, neanche l’ho finito.
Ma questo è proprio illeggibile, neanche l’ho finito.
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
This is different from first book while I liked more Grey of course, there wasn't enough of of Harper( they should be a endgame) but this just comfrmed that I don't care about Rhen at all.
But I will read 3th book.
But I will read 3th book.
welcometomyescape's review against another edition
4.0
At first, I was hesitant about the new character/POV, but about a third of the way in, she really grew on me. I still LOVE Grey and his character growth and the world. I loved watching that world expand and meeting new friends. I wasn’t ready to let go of Harper’s POV, but I really like where the story is going!
robotnik's review against another edition
1.0
If I had a nickel for every time I read a fairy tale retelling that I absolutely adored only to decide to read the sequel this year and end up absolutely hating it, I would have two nickels.
Which isn't a lot, but it's strange that it happened twice.
(PS, A Curse So Dark and Lonely should have been a stand alone and this book does nothing but tarnish it, thanks).
Which isn't a lot, but it's strange that it happened twice.
(PS, A Curse So Dark and Lonely should have been a stand alone and this book does nothing but tarnish it, thanks).
sierrav's review against another edition
4.0
i was going into this book thinking i was getting more of harper and rhen, when it was not i was kind of iffy at first but i grew to looove the new characters!!! grey has been my fav since the first book so i’m soooo happy this book was about him
this is an amazing series!
this is an amazing series!
amyapple's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps it’s because it’s the middle book but this lacked the substance the 1st one had and was a lot slower moving.
I enjoyed meeting the new characters but there just wasn’t enough depth and exploration into them.
Predictable storyline, zero twist elements made this a far more mundane read compared to the first book. This one could have been a novella if we took out the a bunch of repetitive self loathing from Lia Mara.
I enjoyed meeting the new characters but there just wasn’t enough depth and exploration into them.
Predictable storyline, zero twist elements made this a far more mundane read compared to the first book. This one could have been a novella if we took out the a bunch of repetitive self loathing from Lia Mara.
heartscontent's review against another edition
5.0
You can find this review of A Heart so Fierce and Broken on my blog, Heart's Content!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
There's one thing that always gets me by the throat in any book: unpredictability. And I don't just mean utterly unfathomable answers to a mystery, no; but absolutely fathomable answers that just don't arrive at us because of the author's ability to weave the story without room for a single thread coming loose or giving way.
A Heart so Fierce and Broken was so much more painful for the simple reason that unlike in A Curse so Dark and Lonely, you don't see an end to this. Some solution that could possibly solve this conundrum that has fallen upon the protagonists. I could never see anything that was to happen until it already has and what I expect either doesn't happen or happens much later by which time I would've ruled it out from happening. This was a fantastic pro for me while reading.
A Heart so Fierce and Broken is much like A Curse so Dark and Lonely in pace. It's steady throughout without any slowing down or speeding up and typically this could be difficult for some people because steady can sometimes be confused for slow as well. However, there's a certain benefit from steadiness that one realizes only while reading; which is the time to allow the plot, the characters and their stories and all the emotion to percolate slowly into you until finally you're interlocked with the characters in a very real way.
I have always always loved Grey a lot, especially in the first book where technically we're supposed to feel only for Rhen. I always wondered why Brigid worked in this strange way to get us to feel for Grey in this manner. Then of course, I read this book and everything started to make sense. God, I swear, I loved this book, the way that it built, the romance, the friendships, the pain, betrayal and especially the morally grey honour that was neither fault-able nor forgivable. AHHHH.
Everything was perfect, you guys. Just perfect at the end, and then of course, the end. That ending. I was not ready for it. Guys, you won't be either. Dammit.
Prepare yourselves. Five stars!! This book outdid the first in very many ways. Loved it.
A very special mention to the little dedication that Brigid Kemmerer left for us readers. <3 <3
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
There's one thing that always gets me by the throat in any book: unpredictability. And I don't just mean utterly unfathomable answers to a mystery, no; but absolutely fathomable answers that just don't arrive at us because of the author's ability to weave the story without room for a single thread coming loose or giving way.
A Heart so Fierce and Broken was so much more painful for the simple reason that unlike in A Curse so Dark and Lonely, you don't see an end to this. Some solution that could possibly solve this conundrum that has fallen upon the protagonists. I could never see anything that was to happen until it already has and what I expect either doesn't happen or happens much later by which time I would've ruled it out from happening. This was a fantastic pro for me while reading.
A Heart so Fierce and Broken is much like A Curse so Dark and Lonely in pace. It's steady throughout without any slowing down or speeding up and typically this could be difficult for some people because steady can sometimes be confused for slow as well. However, there's a certain benefit from steadiness that one realizes only while reading; which is the time to allow the plot, the characters and their stories and all the emotion to percolate slowly into you until finally you're interlocked with the characters in a very real way.
I have always always loved Grey a lot, especially in the first book where technically we're supposed to feel only for Rhen. I always wondered why Brigid worked in this strange way to get us to feel for Grey in this manner. Then of course, I read this book and everything started to make sense. God, I swear, I loved this book, the way that it built, the romance, the friendships, the pain, betrayal and especially the morally grey honour that was neither fault-able nor forgivable. AHHHH.
Everything was perfect, you guys. Just perfect at the end, and then of course, the end. That ending. I was not ready for it. Guys, you won't be either. Dammit.
Prepare yourselves. Five stars!! This book outdid the first in very many ways. Loved it.
A very special mention to the little dedication that Brigid Kemmerer left for us readers. <3 <3