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burtini's review against another edition
2.0
This book picks up straight where these Hollow Vows ended, with Abriella reacting to finding out she’s now fae and Sebastian deceived her to get the underlie crown.
Abriella, who, if you recall, spent the entirety of These Hollow Vows scheming, lying and manipulating Sebastian while using his love and trust against him to protect her sister, is now incensed with the betrayal she has for Sebastian for, err, manipulating and lying to her to protect his mother. Thank GOD for Misha for pointing out she doesn’t have a right to act the victim because Brie reeks of hypocrisy. Did Sebastian do wrong? Of course. But let’s not forget Abriella literally made love to Sebastian and then snuck out to steal from him something he showed her in good faith, with the belief it would kill someone important to him. She slept with a man who said he had never experienced such intimacy with, while knowing she was going to break his heart, because she selfishly wanted to feel that moment before she broke it. She literally has no right for have any moral outrage or to act like she ever treated Sebastian with any love when it was all self gain. She bonded with Sebastian so that he could protect her (aka use him - again), she wooed him to take her away to the coastal castle so she could steal, she literally liaised, plotted and flirted with his enemy and then gaslighted him about it. And now she’s mad he lied to her and won’t even hear him out when he gave her countless chances when it was reversed. So help me she’s insufferable and self pitying, this is the hero of the book that everyone falls in love with and thinks is so special?!
Sebastian has the potential to be a complex character with a conflicting narrative of split loyalty, he’s a good ‘man’ with a lot of love, and yet he has stood back when bad things have happened. This never feels properly addressed, he’s a wasted, token character, a prop, the author made Sebastian the Prince Charming of book 1 and now just seems to have gone off him and isn’t invested. Rather than getting some gradual decline, some character deconstruction, we get whiplash when it comes to Sebastian and we’re just told ‘no, don’t like him anymore’ - then why try so hard in book 1??
Then there’s Finn, the cliche ‘dark prince’ against the golden prince - while Abriella’s love struggles to get over Sebastian being far, lying to her and, in part, having blood on his hands. When it comes to Finn, the fae bit never seemed to bother her, and don’t start me on the lies and, y’know, personally killing a bunch of innocent people. It just feels like the ending to this duology was written down before anything else with not enough energy spent on how to get there. Characters don’t develop, they are rewritten/reinvented. You don’t travel to the conclusion, you teleport, and you get the whiplash that comes with it.
The review feels so negative but if romance and a love triangle is the heart of your book, you just need the characters to feel alive - not wish versions of SJM (and a plot that follows a predictable SJM path). I want characters that exist beyond their infatuation for each other so they don’t feel shallow, I want a heroine who I want to be happy and who has character growth, I want world building and political conflict (I mean the framework is there) and some sort of emotional build up that doesn’t treat love( both in regard of the characters and us as readers) as simple and like it has an on and off switch. I just wanted more. And talking of things I wanted more of - Jas and Misha I’m looking at you!
Sadly this just wasn’t for me. If you haven’t read SJM, maybe you can look at these books differently, but alas this doesn’t bring anything new to the world of fae. Thank you NetGalley for the review though.
Abriella, who, if you recall, spent the entirety of These Hollow Vows scheming, lying and manipulating Sebastian while using his love and trust against him to protect her sister, is now incensed with the betrayal she has for Sebastian for, err, manipulating and lying to her to protect his mother. Thank GOD for Misha for pointing out she doesn’t have a right to act the victim because Brie reeks of hypocrisy. Did Sebastian do wrong? Of course. But let’s not forget Abriella literally made love to Sebastian and then snuck out to steal from him something he showed her in good faith, with the belief it would kill someone important to him. She slept with a man who said he had never experienced such intimacy with, while knowing she was going to break his heart, because she selfishly wanted to feel that moment before she broke it. She literally has no right for have any moral outrage or to act like she ever treated Sebastian with any love when it was all self gain. She bonded with Sebastian so that he could protect her (aka use him - again), she wooed him to take her away to the coastal castle so she could steal, she literally liaised, plotted and flirted with his enemy and then gaslighted him about it. And now she’s mad he lied to her and won’t even hear him out when he gave her countless chances when it was reversed. So help me she’s insufferable and self pitying, this is the hero of the book that everyone falls in love with and thinks is so special?!
Sebastian has the potential to be a complex character with a conflicting narrative of split loyalty, he’s a good ‘man’ with a lot of love, and yet he has stood back when bad things have happened. This never feels properly addressed, he’s a wasted, token character, a prop, the author made Sebastian the Prince Charming of book 1 and now just seems to have gone off him and isn’t invested. Rather than getting some gradual decline, some character deconstruction, we get whiplash when it comes to Sebastian and we’re just told ‘no, don’t like him anymore’ - then why try so hard in book 1??
Then there’s Finn, the cliche ‘dark prince’ against the golden prince - while Abriella’s love struggles to get over Sebastian being far, lying to her and, in part, having blood on his hands. When it comes to Finn, the fae bit never seemed to bother her, and don’t start me on the lies and, y’know, personally killing a bunch of innocent people. It just feels like the ending to this duology was written down before anything else with not enough energy spent on how to get there. Characters don’t develop, they are rewritten/reinvented. You don’t travel to the conclusion, you teleport, and you get the whiplash that comes with it.
The review feels so negative but if romance and a love triangle is the heart of your book, you just need the characters to feel alive - not wish versions of SJM (and a plot that follows a predictable SJM path). I want characters that exist beyond their infatuation for each other so they don’t feel shallow, I want a heroine who I want to be happy and who has character growth, I want world building and political conflict (I mean the framework is there) and some sort of emotional build up that doesn’t treat love( both in regard of the characters and us as readers) as simple and like it has an on and off switch. I just wanted more. And talking of things I wanted more of - Jas and Misha I’m looking at you!
Sadly this just wasn’t for me. If you haven’t read SJM, maybe you can look at these books differently, but alas this doesn’t bring anything new to the world of fae. Thank you NetGalley for the review though.
scsingley's review against another edition
4.0
A good conclusion.
I woyld say nit as good as the first book but it does tie a nice bow to finish the story. There were a couple things I would have liked different.
I woyld say nit as good as the first book but it does tie a nice bow to finish the story. There were a couple things I would have liked different.
widdrims's review
3.0
Same as the first book, it's an easy read that you don't have to put a lot of thought into. And I really recommend not putting a lot of thought into it, otherwise you'll find yourself getting frustrated with it..
There's some plot holes, a lot of just very convenient last minute solutions, the ending feels kind of rushed and the writing itself is honestly nothing to rave about.
But, if you have an itch for a quick and easy fantasy romance that you can polish off in a few days, this one might be good for you.
Honestly, I mostly only picked it up because I hate leaving a series unfinished.
EDIT: The one thing that I have to give this series serious kudos for is that it avoided the unplanned/surprise pregnancy trope. There were so many moments where I thought that it would happen but it never did!
There's some plot holes, a lot of just very convenient last minute solutions, the ending feels kind of rushed and the writing itself is honestly nothing to rave about.
But, if you have an itch for a quick and easy fantasy romance that you can polish off in a few days, this one might be good for you.
Honestly, I mostly only picked it up because I hate leaving a series unfinished.
EDIT: The one thing that I have to give this series serious kudos for is that it avoided the unplanned/surprise pregnancy trope. There were so many moments where I thought that it would happen but it never did!
katja_o's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ariadnesthread's review against another edition
4.5
I need more books in this world! This series is absolutely a new favorite.
beezlebee's review
4.0
*Thanks to Edelweiss for providing the eARC*
Better than I could've expected!
Lets start off with how much I loved the character development in this book! As the book progresses, Abriella becomes more sure of herself and her role in this new world. I loved reading about her learning to be kind to herself and to accept the ugly parts of herself because they are a cumulation of who she is. Another character I was surprised with was Sebastian. I hated him throughout the story, Finn and Brie mentioned he was like a child and he sure acted like it, that being said I can understand and sympathize with his pain of an unrequited love. The growth that he showed and the choices he made at the end completely redeemed him in my opinion.
Which leads me to my next point which is that ending! I don't think it could have ended any other way, and have given the characters the justice they deserved, well done Lexi!
All that said, it was slow at times, and I feel like it could have done without some of the scenes just to help move the plot along. I was starting to feel anxious when there was only a few chapters left and the book hadn't really gotten to solving the problem. Usually when that happens the endings are usually rushed, but I didn't feel that with this book.
All in all it was a great book and I really enjoyed it! 4.5
Better than I could've expected!
Lets start off with how much I loved the character development in this book! As the book progresses, Abriella becomes more sure of herself and her role in this new world. I loved reading about her learning to be kind to herself and to accept the ugly parts of herself because they are a cumulation of who she is. Another character I was surprised with was Sebastian. I hated him throughout the story, Finn and Brie mentioned he was like a child and he sure acted like it, that being said I can understand and sympathize with his pain of an unrequited love. The growth that he showed and the choices he made at the end completely redeemed him in my opinion.
Which leads me to my next point which is that ending! I don't think it could have ended any other way, and have given the characters the justice they deserved, well done Lexi!
All that said, it was slow at times, and I feel like it could have done without some of the scenes just to help move the plot along. I was starting to feel anxious when there was only a few chapters left and the book hadn't really gotten to solving the problem. Usually when that happens the endings are usually rushed, but I didn't feel that with this book.
All in all it was a great book and I really enjoyed it! 4.5
bbunn's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up. Felt some pacing issues with this one for sure, I wish it had been a trilogy, but still good.
makim's review against another edition
1.0
So slow. Doesn’t really move. A lot of words for a whole lot of nothing.
bookhoardernic's review
4.0
An excellent end to the duology. Hopefully Lexi Ryan will write more stories around these characters. Lots of fun, a little bit of spice, and a lot of banter and playfulness.
hannah_elaina's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5