shelby7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
eafiu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
valeria_vivian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
decembermagpie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rebhlee's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the premise of the first book, as the magic system was so original and fresh without being too bizarre. The idea that tea could be literally infused with supernaturally enhanced properties depending on the ingredients is just so smart. I was unconvinced by the romance (which is always a hard sell to me anyway), but I appreciated that the author balanced the book with significant platonic relationships as well. I felt immersed in the palace politics and felt invested in the competition.
This second book was a mire though :| It was quite slow… the action felt stakes-less for the majority of the book. By the times things picked up, the reveal in the story did not deliver the payout I was hoping for. I noticed after trying to read several YA novels this past year that an off-putting commonality between them is that there is often a LOT of internal exposition. Soooo much telling rather than showing, which kills any sense of curiosity on my part, and makes the characters feel like a cardboard cutout… something that resembles a human, but only from a single vantage.
I’d been dragging my heels trying to finish this book for so long that it was a cloud over my head. Then, the ending was so unmemorable that it took a few days for that cloud to dissipate. I literally kept thinking “Darn, I still have to finish that book,” only to remember “Wait… I already did!”
If this series had stayed a little more low-key and at the level of political machinations and the complexity of human relationships as it did with the first book, it wouldn’t have lost me as much. I think I’m accepting that YA isn’t for me… guess I’m just a boring adult ;D
This second book was a mire though :| It was quite slow… the action felt stakes-less for the majority of the book. By the times things picked up, the reveal in the story did not deliver the payout I was hoping for. I noticed after trying to read several YA novels this past year that an off-putting commonality between them is that there is often a LOT of internal exposition. Soooo much telling rather than showing, which kills any sense of curiosity on my part, and makes the characters feel like a cardboard cutout… something that resembles a human, but only from a single vantage.
I’d been dragging my heels trying to finish this book for so long that it was a cloud over my head. Then, the ending was so unmemorable that it took a few days for that cloud to dissipate. I literally kept thinking “Darn, I still have to finish that book,” only to remember “Wait… I already did!”
If this series had stayed a little more low-key and at the level of political machinations and the complexity of human relationships as it did with the first book, it wouldn’t have lost me as much. I think I’m accepting that YA isn’t for me… guess I’m just a boring adult ;D
pepper_mind's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
miiino's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ratcousin's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.0
I feel like I just need to give this whole doulogy another chance