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dragonwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
3.5
After defying Sophia and waking Princess Charlotte, Camellia, Amber, and Remy are on the run to avoid her wrath. Sophia is quick to take advantage of their departure, declare her mother and sister dead, and schedule her coronation in seven days, effectively securing the throne. The Belles and Remy meet up with Edel in the Spice Isles and try to plan how to put the still-living Charlotte on the throne. While they plot and plan, they learn new things about the Belles, including new abilities and new allies, but Edel suspects that Amber has been corrupted by her time in Sophia’s court. As the coronation gets closer, Sophia closes in, picking off Camellia’s allies one by one, while making stricter and harsher beauty laws. Desperate to save her sisters and her home, Camellia makes a reckless gamble and moves to face off with the mad Queen of Orleans.
Sophia made an excellent villain, and the narrator did a wonderful job of portraying her cruel simpering. Camellia really suffers in this book, losing her sisters one by one until she’s all alone and only has to rely on herself, but I like how she faces Sophia alone at the end. The little dragons were an adorable addition to the group, and I loved them! But Edel annoyed the crap out of me! I was more or less happy when she was captured and I didn’t have to put up with her anymore. Amber’s further betrayal seemed a little strange to me, but her ambition was always strong and powerful, so it does play to her character. And I KNEW that August would get a redemption, though I’m glad Camellia didn’t fully forgive him and had her happy ending with Remy. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but since book 3 is about Edel, I’m skipping it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Slavery
coymeld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism