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pitoufas_bookish_corner's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Out of all the books in this series following the first installment, this was the one I was most excited about. Sadly, I did not enjoy it as I expected I would.
Ilryth was first presented as a mysterious and ruthless siren who'd given Victoria the chance at a "new life" for the duration of five years, then came to collect her when "it was time" Unnecessarily causing the passing of her whole crew. Then he flipped a 180 and became a soft — downright boring — supportive — albeit stubborn — "loving" partner, which partly — if not completely — fell flat, due to how rushed their relationship felt compared to the story's pacing.
Victoria chose to erase her marriage memories. I understood her wish to let go of pain and conserve joyful moments for last. But by doing so, everything that constituted her identity after severing bonds with her husband had ceased to exist — at least, for a while — As she regained them all later on, which imo, made the event all the more pointless. Why erase them in the first place? It didn't seem like she'd gained any semblance of personal growth or self-empowerment. Accepting her fate during and after her marriage, not really trying to find alternatives to her predicament.
The intimacy scenes between the two felt more like fillers to compensate for the lack of depth in their relationship. The development of their feelings for one another was unconvincing. Ilryth immediately offered himself as a sacrifice after Victoria had fulfilled her duty— knowing it took them months to prepare her and for her to cut ties with the mortal realm — which did not make sense. And neither did this quote: "We only existed as we were because we couldn't exist." 🤷🏻♀️
And what was the purpose of Kevin's appearance if a reunion with his children was not going to be delivered? His character literally served no purpose to the story, and should have emerged two books ago, where he belonged. The ending was all over the place, and the writing quality seemed to have decreased in this book, which was very disappointing.
Ilryth was first presented as a mysterious and ruthless siren who'd given Victoria the chance at a "new life" for the duration of five years, then came to collect her when "it was time" Unnecessarily causing the passing of her whole crew. Then he flipped a 180 and became a soft — downright boring — supportive — albeit stubborn — "loving" partner, which partly — if not completely — fell flat, due to how rushed their relationship felt compared to the story's pacing.
Victoria chose to erase her marriage memories. I understood her wish to let go of pain and conserve joyful moments for last. But by doing so, everything that constituted her identity after severing bonds with her husband had ceased to exist — at least, for a while — As she regained them all later on, which imo, made the event all the more pointless. Why erase them in the first place? It didn't seem like she'd gained any semblance of personal growth or self-empowerment. Accepting her fate during and after her marriage, not really trying to find alternatives to her predicament.
The intimacy scenes between the two felt more like fillers to compensate for the lack of depth in their relationship. The development of their feelings for one another was unconvincing. Ilryth immediately offered himself as a sacrifice after Victoria had fulfilled her duty— knowing it took them months to prepare her and for her to cut ties with the mortal realm — which did not make sense. And neither did this quote: "We only existed as we were because we couldn't exist." 🤷🏻♀️
And what was the purpose of Kevin's appearance if a reunion with his children was not going to be delivered? His character literally served no purpose to the story, and should have emerged two books ago, where he belonged. The ending was all over the place, and the writing quality seemed to have decreased in this book, which was very disappointing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
laylareadsthings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I don’t think I’ve ever left a review for a book that made me feel as torn as this one. There’s beautiful prose here and an incredible healing journey, but I do not think I can say anything about this book left me feeling happy or fulfilled. This is a book comfortable existing in traumatic moments and sadness without ever really moving past it. For the entirety of the book, I think you need to be in a clear enough mental headspace to be able to sit with those feelings as a constant. Yes, things are resolved… but this is not a book where that’s done through amends, or the proper people paying the price for their evil. This is a book about understanding how your personal sacrifices oftentimes mean nothing to anyone but you, and being ok with that. This book is largely character driven (the plot does not pick up until almost 70% of the way in). I adore the Married to Magic series and I think I’ll reflect on this book for years, but now I need a good cry and to stare at the ceiling for a few hours.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts