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sharonsm_28's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing read. I really loved this one more than the first book. The story was just more in this book. The writing style was very well-written and the characters were amazing.
In the first book, we are given an introduction to the characters. In this book, we see who they really are as characters. They are more developed and more relatable in my opinion. My favourite characters are Cleo and Magnus.
I hope we get to see more of Magnus and Cleo in the next book. It would be very nice to see what happens in their relationship. Can't wait for Gathering Darkness. Going to start it right now. Overall, a fantastic read.
In the first book, we are given an introduction to the characters. In this book, we see who they really are as characters. They are more developed and more relatable in my opinion. My favourite characters are Cleo and Magnus.
I hope we get to see more of Magnus and Cleo in the next book. It would be very nice to see what happens in their relationship. Can't wait for Gathering Darkness. Going to start it right now. Overall, a fantastic read.
natiesreads99's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars! better than the first one
This was such a step up from the first book, I am completely hooked and if you want a high-fantasy read this would be one of my recommendations.
The writing is great. It's not hard to understand yet it's not "easy" either. You fly through the pages and I found this to be such a quick read. The author did a great job of making this feel like a short book, making you want to crave the next one.
The characters. There are so many different characters in this series/book but you don't feel lost while reading one chapter to the other. You know who everyone is and how everything ties together and even if you're lost the author does a great job of reminding you, which is essential for a book with so many main characters. I really loved the characters in this book because you got to see so much more than what was on the surface. Especially from Magnus, Cleo, Lucia and Jones. In book one these characters were the main characters but they didn't feel like it since the author had to introduce each and every one of them which took time. With this book however you got more of their personality, their beliefs, how they think, what their motives are and to tie all that together in a 400 page book is wonderfully done.
The magic. The magic however I want to see more of. This book is a high fantasy book dealing with a lot of politics and involved in the politics is magic but I'm lacking the sense of it. This book's center was the four elements but yet I craved more information and more paragraphs about it. It was the center but yet not, I really hope we get more of it in the future. I think it's because the elements is such a hushed power, passed off as fairy tales and in the future we will hopefully receive more.
Nonetheless I really loved this book, it was wonderfully written, the plot was rich and I can't wait to see where this series goes.
This was such a step up from the first book, I am completely hooked and if you want a high-fantasy read this would be one of my recommendations.
The writing is great. It's not hard to understand yet it's not "easy" either. You fly through the pages and I found this to be such a quick read. The author did a great job of making this feel like a short book, making you want to crave the next one.
The characters. There are so many different characters in this series/book but you don't feel lost while reading one chapter to the other. You know who everyone is and how everything ties together and even if you're lost the author does a great job of reminding you, which is essential for a book with so many main characters. I really loved the characters in this book because you got to see so much more than what was on the surface. Especially from Magnus, Cleo, Lucia and Jones. In book one these characters were the main characters but they didn't feel like it since the author had to introduce each and every one of them which took time. With this book however you got more of their personality, their beliefs, how they think, what their motives are and to tie all that together in a 400 page book is wonderfully done.
The magic. The magic however I want to see more of. This book is a high fantasy book dealing with a lot of politics and involved in the politics is magic but I'm lacking the sense of it. This book's center was the four elements but yet I craved more information and more paragraphs about it. It was the center but yet not, I really hope we get more of it in the future. I think it's because the elements is such a hushed power, passed off as fairy tales and in the future we will hopefully receive more.
Nonetheless I really loved this book, it was wonderfully written, the plot was rich and I can't wait to see where this series goes.
elliearchive's review against another edition
5.0
rebellion uuh.
love this book as well. jonas & cleo together awwh*-* my otp<3
whatcan i say? i really like this series OKAY? OKAY
love this book as well. jonas & cleo together awwh*-* my otp<3
whatcan i say? i really like this series OKAY? OKAY
emleemay's review against another edition
2.0
2 1/2 stars.
I'm honestly not sure if this rating is generous or harsh. I'll let you be the judge.
On the one hand, I couldn't stop myself from coming back to this series after reading [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704]. Rhodes is an extremely compelling writer. Every scene is crafted in such a way that you're on the edge of your seat, hanging on the author's every word. It's a case of excellent dramatic timing - dragging the scene out with a perfect amount of tension before dropping a dramatic revelation or conclusion on the reader.
And the character dynamics are all exciting. Lots of passions and hatred flowing around, including forbidden relationships, dark secrets, etc. You would think all the aforementioned would add up to a great book, right?
Except I simply can't ignore the fact that this is one of the most derivative series I've ever read.
Literally every major plot point has been borrowed from other fantasy series. I know you can generally expect familiar elements from the genre - royal politics, competing for the throne/power, citizen rebellions - but this goes way beyond that. And the book gets most of its material from - no surprise - [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg]'s A Song of Ice and Fire.
I can ignore basic setting aspects like the North being all ice and the South being warmer and the general theme of competing for the throne. But King Gaius is like a mash-up of Tywin Lannister and Stannis Baratheon.
He takes over Auranos, kills their king, and captures PrincessSansa Cleo, intending to force her to marry his son and future king. However his son - Magnus - has something other than platonic feelings for his sister. Meanwhile, King Gaius is secretly advised by a strange, mystical woman called Lady Melisandre Melenia.
Separate from all of this, rebels are coming together to try and overthrow King Gaius and take back their country.
I feel like I already know what happens. There is a little part of me that enjoys reading Rhodes' fast-paced, drama-filled plagiarism, but there's a much bigger part that's telling me to go find something better and more original.
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I'm honestly not sure if this rating is generous or harsh. I'll let you be the judge.
On the one hand, I couldn't stop myself from coming back to this series after reading [b:Falling Kingdoms|12954620|Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)|Morgan Rhodes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337026387s/12954620.jpg|18111704]. Rhodes is an extremely compelling writer. Every scene is crafted in such a way that you're on the edge of your seat, hanging on the author's every word. It's a case of excellent dramatic timing - dragging the scene out with a perfect amount of tension before dropping a dramatic revelation or conclusion on the reader.
And the character dynamics are all exciting. Lots of passions and hatred flowing around, including forbidden relationships, dark secrets, etc. You would think all the aforementioned would add up to a great book, right?
Except I simply can't ignore the fact that this is one of the most derivative series I've ever read.
Literally every major plot point has been borrowed from other fantasy series. I know you can generally expect familiar elements from the genre - royal politics, competing for the throne/power, citizen rebellions - but this goes way beyond that. And the book gets most of its material from - no surprise - [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg]'s A Song of Ice and Fire.
I can ignore basic setting aspects like the North being all ice and the South being warmer and the general theme of competing for the throne. But King Gaius is like a mash-up of Tywin Lannister and Stannis Baratheon.
He takes over Auranos, kills their king, and captures Princess
Separate from all of this, rebels are coming together to try and overthrow King Gaius and take back their country.
I feel like I already know what happens. There is a little part of me that enjoys reading Rhodes' fast-paced, drama-filled plagiarism, but there's a much bigger part that's telling me to go find something better and more original.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Pinterest
readerrayna's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely followed through on the story line as it continued into the book. We got to see what it was like for Cleo after her kingdom had been conquered, her father murdered, and her sister dead. (A lot of blows for Cleo.) We got to see Magnus and how he’s dealing with his father’s plans, as well as his own grief for Lucia and later on his mother. Lucia was asleep for a large portion of this book, and we also got to see how her elementia was starting to control her. And we got to see Jonas lead the rebels in one defeat after another.
It was a sequel with loss and heartbreak, with very little triumphs, but for the setting it was in I saw why everything happened the way it did.
To check out my full review, visit my blog post here.
It was a sequel with loss and heartbreak, with very little triumphs, but for the setting it was in I saw why everything happened the way it did.
To check out my full review, visit my blog post here.
twixbatata's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0