looddle's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bigdreamsandwildthings's review against another edition
2.0
“Nektas’s words suddenly came back to me then. He is how you wish him to be.
And I knew right then, as I stood there trembling, who he was to me. He wasn’t Nyktos. He never had been. He was Ash, and I…
I was in love with him.”
It’s just…it’s enough now. No more JLA for me.
Sera has accepted that she will fulfill her duty and kill Kolis, no matter what she has to do. No one trusts her in Nyktos's court, and he is incapable of love - the only thing that could save her, in the end. But after some failed attempts at escape and more than a few trysts with the Primal of Death, Sera will have to face that her feelings go deep, deeper than she wants them to; she wants to be Consort in more than name only, and she will have to come to terms with both that and the Embers inside of her in order to save what is most precious to her.
I have...many issues with these books. I absolutely loved book one; I felt like this series was going to do something different, or at least different enough that it could keep me hooked. But no - JLA only writes one way, and I should've known. All of this is my opinion only, obviously, and if you love the books, no hate at all. I just can't do it anymore.
Sera is a better character than Poppy, I will give her that. She has more of a backbone, she has more experience to her, and she isn't as annoying. Nyktos also is less "big bad alpha" (at least some of the time) and has more nuance. I can acknowledge both of those things, and also that the supporting cast is interesting and some of them (the draken especially) did get my attention back in the world when it would wander.
However, the plot is just more of the same. There's a prophecy, some action sometimes, some reveals, but none of it ever actually feels impactful because there is SO MUCH GODDAMN FILLER the rest of the time.
The number of times that we are just existing in the palace and talking amongst ourselves is truly absurd. There are SO MANY other ways to world build than to have our MC asking questions and another character answering with lengthy, overly detailed explanations. I completely zone out during these and then when the action happens feel like I'm missing something because I can't absorb the info dumps when they come.
And the sex scenes. By god. There are many here, but they're ALL THE SAME. I don't care about spice this much. I like it, yes. I can appreciate well-written smut. This ain't it. There is no way a dick gets this girl this excited this often. I'm sorry, but just. No. Enough. If the info-dumping wasn't so intense, if the plot moved faster than a fucking snail in winter, if if if...then maybe the smut would be impactful. But wow, it's just not. I have to positively drag my ass through these books for all of these reasons, and I'm done.
Okay, phew. Enough now.
Again, if you like this series, I'm so happy for you. I will not be returning to JLA, ever. This is it for me.
And I knew right then, as I stood there trembling, who he was to me. He wasn’t Nyktos. He never had been. He was Ash, and I…
I was in love with him.”
It’s just…it’s enough now. No more JLA for me.
Sera has accepted that she will fulfill her duty and kill Kolis, no matter what she has to do. No one trusts her in Nyktos's court, and he is incapable of love - the only thing that could save her, in the end. But after some failed attempts at escape and more than a few trysts with the Primal of Death, Sera will have to face that her feelings go deep, deeper than she wants them to; she wants to be Consort in more than name only, and she will have to come to terms with both that and the Embers inside of her in order to save what is most precious to her.
I have...many issues with these books. I absolutely loved book one; I felt like this series was going to do something different, or at least different enough that it could keep me hooked. But no - JLA only writes one way, and I should've known. All of this is my opinion only, obviously, and if you love the books, no hate at all. I just can't do it anymore.
Sera is a better character than Poppy, I will give her that. She has more of a backbone, she has more experience to her, and she isn't as annoying. Nyktos also is less "big bad alpha" (at least some of the time) and has more nuance. I can acknowledge both of those things, and also that the supporting cast is interesting and some of them (the draken especially) did get my attention back in the world when it would wander.
However, the plot is just more of the same. There's a prophecy, some action sometimes, some reveals, but none of it ever actually feels impactful because there is SO MUCH GODDAMN FILLER the rest of the time.
The number of times that we are just existing in the palace and talking amongst ourselves is truly absurd. There are SO MANY other ways to world build than to have our MC asking questions and another character answering with lengthy, overly detailed explanations. I completely zone out during these and then when the action happens feel like I'm missing something because I can't absorb the info dumps when they come.
And the sex scenes. By god. There are many here, but they're ALL THE SAME. I don't care about spice this much. I like it, yes. I can appreciate well-written smut. This ain't it. There is no way a dick gets this girl this excited this often. I'm sorry, but just. No. Enough. If the info-dumping wasn't so intense, if the plot moved faster than a fucking snail in winter, if if if...then maybe the smut would be impactful. But wow, it's just not. I have to positively drag my ass through these books for all of these reasons, and I'm done.
Okay, phew. Enough now.
Again, if you like this series, I'm so happy for you. I will not be returning to JLA, ever. This is it for me.
vivete's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
whatsammyreads's review against another edition
5.0
somebody sedate me until the next book is released
megatron1560's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Honestly the writing feels forced, dialogue is clunky and trying too hard to be witty, the “touch her and you die” vibes have no context, Sera’s character feels like she morphed into Poppy which is disappointing and overall I’m just not super happy with this book.
The conflict between the main characters also feels just…. Off and like she’s out of ideas? Based on this book I probably won’t be reading the next.
The conflict between the main characters also feels just…. Off and like she’s out of ideas? Based on this book I probably won’t be reading the next.
helenehoha's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
livliviv'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
churliefurlie's review against another edition
5.0
This series is even better than the Blood & Ash one. That’s not to say I did not enjoy them. But this one has been incredible so far.
Absolutely fuming the next book is not until the end of this year. Truly. The cliffhanger!!
Step aside Casteel. Ash is ✨chefs kiss✨
Absolutely fuming the next book is not until the end of this year. Truly. The cliffhanger!!
Step aside Casteel. Ash is ✨chefs kiss✨