taylorbradshaw's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.0
ten times better than the first book
amor_j_daino_600390's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
heidivhalford's review against another edition
4.0
If you hated the first book, don’t worry, it gets better.
The first book was the prequel for this. I didn’t love The Betrothed but it needed to set the stage for this book. This book has all the missing pieces that I was longing for in the first book. My main complaint is that there wasn’t enough. I loved this book and will definitely need to read it again, though I think I could have used some more relationship building to strengthen the connection to the chemistry that was being created between all of the characters. (Of course I would have loved the romantic relationship a little more juicy with more interactions between the main characters. I feel like it was lacking a little in comparison to what Cass used in her Selection Series.) I did still feel like I connected to characters and they were definitely lovable. I am not sure if I would read the first book again, maybe just as a refresher, but I would definitely read this book again. I loved the ending, but also I felt like it was missing something a little extra, maybe an epilogue after the sort-of-epilogue or some type of hint that there is more to the story.
Quick synopsis: I love Kiera Cass. I was worried after I didn’t love the first book in this series, but was hopeful for this book. It was good, but it was not the Selection-Series-level good. Not disappointed and would definitely read again.
The first book was the prequel for this. I didn’t love The Betrothed but it needed to set the stage for this book. This book has all the missing pieces that I was longing for in the first book. My main complaint is that there wasn’t enough. I loved this book and will definitely need to read it again, though I think I could have used some more relationship building to strengthen the connection to the chemistry that was being created between all of the characters. (Of course I would have loved the romantic relationship a little more juicy with more interactions between the main characters. I feel like it was lacking a little in comparison to what Cass used in her Selection Series.) I did still feel like I connected to characters and they were definitely lovable. I am not sure if I would read the first book again, maybe just as a refresher, but I would definitely read this book again. I loved the ending, but also I felt like it was missing something a little extra, maybe an epilogue after the sort-of-epilogue or some type of hint that there is more to the story.
Quick synopsis: I love Kiera Cass. I was worried after I didn’t love the first book in this series, but was hopeful for this book. It was good, but it was not the Selection-Series-level good. Not disappointed and would definitely read again.
ark99's review against another edition
2.0
~I received an arc from netgalley~
So I did not like the first book at all, just thought it was very bland BUT the ending of the last book did leave me wanting to know what happened honestly.
This was a lot better than the first, but not really enough to redeem the entire duology. I did enjoy Hollis by herself and also with ~new love interest~ their banter was nice, but all in all, I feel like there wasn't enough build up to things that happen in this book. Like,, stuff just happens a little too clean. There weren't enough struggles in these tasks the characters are trying to accomplish. Of course as a real person, you'd want everything in your life to happen without struggles, BUT in a book if that happens, it feels too fake because almost everything has struggles. Yes, there were some struggles in this book, but not enough compared to all the things in this that just fell right into place. The ending was also very predictable which isn't bad necessarily but I feel like it needed some kind of punch of an ending considering everything else just fell flat, and it did not deliver.
So I did not like the first book at all, just thought it was very bland BUT the ending of the last book did leave me wanting to know what happened honestly.
This was a lot better than the first, but not really enough to redeem the entire duology. I did enjoy Hollis by herself and also with ~new love interest~ their banter was nice, but all in all, I feel like there wasn't enough build up to things that happen in this book. Like,, stuff just happens a little too clean. There weren't enough struggles in these tasks the characters are trying to accomplish. Of course as a real person, you'd want everything in your life to happen without struggles, BUT in a book if that happens, it feels too fake because almost everything has struggles. Yes, there were some struggles in this book, but not enough compared to all the things in this that just fell right into place. The ending was also very predictable which isn't bad necessarily but I feel like it needed some kind of punch of an ending considering everything else just fell flat, and it did not deliver.
ceodell25's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
sjandersen's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kmbooky's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh this book is amazing. I just can't get over how it turns out. Still reeling an hour after finishing it. Hoping there is a third book for this series.
kathrynhenson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5