roseybot's review
5.0
EFEA WILL RISE. Hunger Games, Rome and expansion. This was great!!
Second reading: I had forgotten how annoying Jes was at the beginning of this book. Because by the end she's a towering pillar of kick ass and righteousness (in a good way).
I'm excited! Now I've reread I can finish out the series!
Second reading: I had forgotten how annoying Jes was at the beginning of this book. Because by the end she's a towering pillar of kick ass and righteousness (in a good way).
I'm excited! Now I've reread I can finish out the series!
erinarkin20's review
4.0
Poisoned Blade is book two of the Court of Fives series by Kate Elliott and I admit, I was super excited when I got my hands on a copy of this at ALA this year. When I finished book one, I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen with Jes and Kal. If you haven’t read Court of Fives, you might want to hold on reading this review. While I will do my best not to spoil anything with Poisoned Blade, I can’t promise the same for the first book.
Poisoned Blade picks up immediately after the end of Court of Fives. If you recall, Jes won the race and now Kal is required to head to the war. In usual Jes fashion, the first thing she does after running the Fives is to sneak into the palace to find Kal and explain. The key to this is that there never was a good choice for Jes as she was being forced to choose between the boy she loves and her family that she loves. Of course, Kal makes some good points but I’m not sure I would have chosen any differently than Jes did and as someone who is royalty, he doesn’t necessarily understand where Jes is coming from. All of that said, I admit to being worried that this entire book would be without Kal…please know that this is not the case.
As the story moves forward, the Fives become Jes’ way of keeping her family safe. She knows that she has to stay at the top for crowd favor but she is up against some really skilled competitors she won’t always win against so she spends a lot of time working the crowd so she will stand out and gain their favor. Eventually, it is decided that Jes and some of her fellow competitors will join Gargaron for a tour of the countryside and this is when the action really begins to pick up.
While touring, their party is attacked and Jes becomes more than a Fives runner. She is able to take the skills she has from the Fives and use them not only to survive, but to fight to protect the people she cares about. Diving right into danger, Jes uses her brain to survive and eventually meets up with a larger force and while the politics and intrigue still continue, I loved that this part of the story involved more than just the Fives tournaments.
Jes’ priority is, and always will be, keeping her mother and family safe. The Fives allow her to send money to them but she has a very small network of people she can trust and Ro-emnu is one that she eventually puts a lot of trust in by asking him to protect her family. I found Ro to be an interesting character and I’m curious to see where Elliott goes with him in the next book.
I have to say here, from a character perspective, I thought Elliott did a wonderful job of not only continuing to build out Jes and show her growth, but she also showed the different sides of those supporting characters. Kal becomes more than just a prince running the Fives and Monoe was unexpected for me (sorry…not saying what happens).
As for Jes’ family, her relationship with her sisters is an interesting one and while they all seem to harbor some jealousy for each other, they still love each other. The difference I will call out here is that Bettany (Jes’ twin) carries a lot of bitterness and ultimately does something I would most likely hold against her for a while. Amaya is still a bit annoying but I found her to be more tolerable in this book as I began to understand her better. I’m not really sure how I feel about Jes’ father. Clearly he is right in the middle of something he has no control over but I’m pretty sure I would be giving him a much harder time than Jes is around the decisions he has made.
This book still drives home the differences in class and there are points of the story where Jes is still faced with people who disrespect her because of who her mother is. What I loved about it was it gave other characters the opportunity to jump in and show that not everyone thought the way certain individuals did and it gave me a bit of hope. The relationship between Jes and Kal definitely evolves and I thought it was done well. The new (and not so new) characters added to the story in a way that helped to move it forward.
If you are looking for a fantasy that includes a smart character, a bit of romance, political intrigue, and a lot of danger, definitely consider checking out this book. I do believe I liked this one a bit more than book one because of where things are with the story. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where Elliott takes the characters and the rest of the story!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Poisoned Blade picks up immediately after the end of Court of Fives. If you recall, Jes won the race and now Kal is required to head to the war. In usual Jes fashion, the first thing she does after running the Fives is to sneak into the palace to find Kal and explain. The key to this is that there never was a good choice for Jes as she was being forced to choose between the boy she loves and her family that she loves. Of course, Kal makes some good points but I’m not sure I would have chosen any differently than Jes did and as someone who is royalty, he doesn’t necessarily understand where Jes is coming from. All of that said, I admit to being worried that this entire book would be without Kal…please know that this is not the case.
As the story moves forward, the Fives become Jes’ way of keeping her family safe. She knows that she has to stay at the top for crowd favor but she is up against some really skilled competitors she won’t always win against so she spends a lot of time working the crowd so she will stand out and gain their favor. Eventually, it is decided that Jes and some of her fellow competitors will join Gargaron for a tour of the countryside and this is when the action really begins to pick up.
While touring, their party is attacked and Jes becomes more than a Fives runner. She is able to take the skills she has from the Fives and use them not only to survive, but to fight to protect the people she cares about. Diving right into danger, Jes uses her brain to survive and eventually meets up with a larger force and while the politics and intrigue still continue, I loved that this part of the story involved more than just the Fives tournaments.
Jes’ priority is, and always will be, keeping her mother and family safe. The Fives allow her to send money to them but she has a very small network of people she can trust and Ro-emnu is one that she eventually puts a lot of trust in by asking him to protect her family. I found Ro to be an interesting character and I’m curious to see where Elliott goes with him in the next book.
I have to say here, from a character perspective, I thought Elliott did a wonderful job of not only continuing to build out Jes and show her growth, but she also showed the different sides of those supporting characters. Kal becomes more than just a prince running the Fives and Monoe was unexpected for me (sorry…not saying what happens).
As for Jes’ family, her relationship with her sisters is an interesting one and while they all seem to harbor some jealousy for each other, they still love each other. The difference I will call out here is that Bettany (Jes’ twin) carries a lot of bitterness and ultimately does something I would most likely hold against her for a while. Amaya is still a bit annoying but I found her to be more tolerable in this book as I began to understand her better. I’m not really sure how I feel about Jes’ father. Clearly he is right in the middle of something he has no control over but I’m pretty sure I would be giving him a much harder time than Jes is around the decisions he has made.
This book still drives home the differences in class and there are points of the story where Jes is still faced with people who disrespect her because of who her mother is. What I loved about it was it gave other characters the opportunity to jump in and show that not everyone thought the way certain individuals did and it gave me a bit of hope. The relationship between Jes and Kal definitely evolves and I thought it was done well. The new (and not so new) characters added to the story in a way that helped to move it forward.
If you are looking for a fantasy that includes a smart character, a bit of romance, political intrigue, and a lot of danger, definitely consider checking out this book. I do believe I liked this one a bit more than book one because of where things are with the story. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing where Elliott takes the characters and the rest of the story!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
emmiem89's review
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
feelingferal's review
5.0
Gah! I am still reeling from this book. Not as much of a cliffhanger as the last one, thank goodness. I don't think I could take that! But it definitely left me wanting to know more while still resolving some major plot points and giving a measure of closure.
I felt like the pacing was better with this book than in the last one. In the last one, I found myself bored in certain parts but this book held my interest throughout.
I appreciate Jessamy as the MC POV even if I want to shake her from time to time. Or perhaps especially because I want to shake her. I look forward to seeing how she continues to be shaped by the events of this book.
I was hoping for further insight into the discoveries of the buried ruins from the first book but this one didn't explore that as much. However you do get more insight into the sparks.
There are plenty of emotional gut punches throughout. Some of them I expected. Some of them were a huge surprise.
A fun read! I am definitely looking forward to the next installation!!
I felt like the pacing was better with this book than in the last one. In the last one, I found myself bored in certain parts but this book held my interest throughout.
I appreciate Jessamy as the MC POV even if I want to shake her from time to time. Or perhaps especially because I want to shake her. I look forward to seeing how she continues to be shaped by the events of this book.
I was hoping for further insight into the discoveries of the buried ruins from the first book but this one didn't explore that as much. However you do get more insight into the sparks.
There are plenty of emotional gut punches throughout. Some of them I expected. Some of them were a huge surprise.
A fun read! I am definitely looking forward to the next installation!!
katleap's review
5.0
4.5 stars
I received an e-ARC copy of Poisoned Blade from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a roller coaster. I started it and couldn’t put it down.
Jes has been moved up to the rank Challenger on the five’s court. She has saved her family from death. She has sent the boy she loves to war. But now Jes finds herself a part of the complicated politics of her country. As half patron and half commoner she finds herself in a unique position, balanced between civil war and safety. When Jes gets the opportunity to travel around the country to improve her five’s skills, she stumbles upon the war. Suddenly Jes isn't just trying to move up as a Challenger, and she isn't just trying to protect her family. Jes must decide who she is fighting for, and where she stands.
So I adore the characters of this book. Jes’s is our heroine and she is smart. Her talent for the five’s court lets her strategize quickly and gets her out tricky situations. Kal is distant for a good portion of the book but he is still present and when he makes it back on in person, he has grown up. Amaya and Bettany both play pivotal roles. One of my favorites are Jes’s parents. They have had such an influence on her. Her father is such a presence in her training and loyalty and strategy. Her mother in her striving to do the right thing and protect others. I’ve developed an appreciation for General Esladas’ character, now that his love for his family is starting to come through and Jes has decided that he’s a good man who is just as trapped as she is.
The setting was just as lush as the first book and we got to see even more. Traveling outside the city and through the desert. A lot of time passes in this book and I really like how Elliot moves through it. The important events are chronicled and we don’t have to deal with the day to day not important stuff.
This book is more than just about a star athlete and her game, it’s political and war-filled. But the focus is not on Jes running the fives. There is a lot of politics and scheming and planning and betrayal. Jes has to watch her back at all turns. Plus all the backstabbing and conflicts within the royal family are complicated enough to make my head spin, but it makes for a much more compelling story.
I was happy the romance very much to backseat to plot. The distance and time between Jes and Kal gave them both time to grow up.
The second half of the book explodes and it was nerve ruining for me the whole time. I cannot wait for the next book.
I received an e-ARC copy of Poisoned Blade from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a roller coaster. I started it and couldn’t put it down.
Jes has been moved up to the rank Challenger on the five’s court. She has saved her family from death. She has sent the boy she loves to war. But now Jes finds herself a part of the complicated politics of her country. As half patron and half commoner she finds herself in a unique position, balanced between civil war and safety. When Jes gets the opportunity to travel around the country to improve her five’s skills, she stumbles upon the war. Suddenly Jes isn't just trying to move up as a Challenger, and she isn't just trying to protect her family. Jes must decide who she is fighting for, and where she stands.
So I adore the characters of this book. Jes’s is our heroine and she is smart. Her talent for the five’s court lets her strategize quickly and gets her out tricky situations. Kal is distant for a good portion of the book but he is still present and when he makes it back on in person, he has grown up. Amaya and Bettany both play pivotal roles. One of my favorites are Jes’s parents. They have had such an influence on her. Her father is such a presence in her training and loyalty and strategy. Her mother in her striving to do the right thing and protect others. I’ve developed an appreciation for General Esladas’ character, now that his love for his family is starting to come through and Jes has decided that he’s a good man who is just as trapped as she is.
The setting was just as lush as the first book and we got to see even more. Traveling outside the city and through the desert. A lot of time passes in this book and I really like how Elliot moves through it. The important events are chronicled and we don’t have to deal with the day to day not important stuff.
This book is more than just about a star athlete and her game, it’s political and war-filled. But the focus is not on Jes running the fives. There is a lot of politics and scheming and planning and betrayal. Jes has to watch her back at all turns. Plus all the backstabbing and conflicts within the royal family are complicated enough to make my head spin, but it makes for a much more compelling story.
I was happy the romance very much to backseat to plot. The distance and time between Jes and Kal gave them both time to grow up.
The second half of the book explodes and it was nerve ruining for me the whole time. I cannot wait for the next book.
frogggirl2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
An intrigue-filled, high stakes fantasy series that continue to ramp up the drama. Very curious to see where this will go next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Incest
katelynv234's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eslismyjam's review
3.0
Much less strong than the first installment. This one lacked a clear goal. There is still the conflict in Jess and in society between the Patrons and the Commoners, but it felt a bit tedious. I would like to read the conclusion to this trilogy, despite not loving this installment. It definitely suffers from middle book syndrome.
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Better than the first book but I'm not fond of the main character.
nat_a_lie23's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
It was terrible. It put me in a reading slump for the longest time.