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wordsofclover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Valerie Darkmoor is back with her vampire partner Reid, and her friends as she attempts to control her blood magic which is more powerful than ever, and everyone's lives are now on the line as villain anarchist Westcott gets closer to the estate they have fled to. But as Valerie discovers a new, darker part of her magic that could have the answers to what she needs, she ends up treading the line between light and dark in a dangerous way.
I really loved the first two books in this series as an introduction to the world, and the magic plus vampires as well as the delicious progression of Valerie and Reid's relationship. Things fell apart for me a little bit in book 3 as I felt it really suffered from pacing issues and I genuinely didn't know if the author knew what she wanted to do with the story and the characters. Things improved a little bit with this final book but not enough for it to be more than a 3-stars. I think there was so much potential here but there's a lot of question marks that still remain for me about a lot in the world - I think the politics in the world, and the worldbuilding in general is pretty poor in this series and I would have loved to have explained more.
I struggled a little bit in this book remembering everything that had happened in the previous books, and all the characters. It's been a year since I read the other books so I would have appreciate d if not a recap, but an addition to the writing to help the reader remember who different characters were and their relationship and past experiences with Valerie instead of this assumption that the reader remembers everything that happened, and will feel connected to all these side characters.
There was a lot thrown into this story that really didn't need to be in the book either - Connor is literally a non-character. There is no point to him and I feel like other than book one and a bit of two, he didn't need to be in anything else. The relationship and connection Valerie has with Cam is there to simply try and make readers feel like there is a love triangle when there's not and while yes, the three-way dream was hot, what was the literal point of it? In saying all of this, I will be reading Cam and Anya's spin-off as I love an arranged married to love story.
I also refuse to believe that Valerie - whose family is so closely connected to the Carrington Royal Family - had no idea that Reid was engaged to a Russian vampire princess. Like surely, this is something you would know about your royal family?
I also thought the introduction of the shadow magic/self/realm really interesting but a very strange thing to throw into the very last book rather than explore it for the entire series. I also find it weird seeing as it is a very powerful and dangerous magic that no-one would know anything about it - it was very weird to think of this whole shadow world with schools and children and food. How does it all work?? Again I think this type of magic is so big it would have benefitted from being explored in several books rather than squashed into the last one.
I love the sexy glamour and danger in this world of The Marionettes and it's a shame that the story fell a little for me with each book instead of getting better but I'm still happy to have read it and still a series I would recommend to people who like shows like True Blood or The Vampire Diaries.
I really loved the first two books in this series as an introduction to the world, and the magic plus vampires as well as the delicious progression of Valerie and Reid's relationship. Things fell apart for me a little bit in book 3 as I felt it really suffered from pacing issues and I genuinely didn't know if the author knew what she wanted to do with the story and the characters. Things improved a little bit with this final book but not enough for it to be more than a 3-stars. I think there was so much potential here but there's a lot of question marks that still remain for me about a lot in the world - I think the politics in the world, and the worldbuilding in general is pretty poor in this series and I would have loved to have explained more.
I struggled a little bit in this book remembering everything that had happened in the previous books, and all the characters. It's been a year since I read the other books so I would have appreciate d if not a recap, but an addition to the writing to help the reader remember who different characters were and their relationship and past experiences with Valerie instead of this assumption that the reader remembers everything that happened, and will feel connected to all these side characters.
There was a lot thrown into this story that really didn't need to be in the book either - Connor is literally a non-character. There is no point to him and I feel like other than book one and a bit of two, he didn't need to be in anything else. The relationship and connection Valerie has with Cam is there to simply try and make readers feel like there is a love triangle when there's not and while yes, the three-way dream was hot, what was the literal point of it? In saying all of this, I will be reading Cam and Anya's spin-off as I love an arranged married to love story.
I also refuse to believe that Valerie - whose family is so closely connected to the Carrington Royal Family - had no idea that Reid was engaged to a Russian vampire princess. Like surely, this is something you would know about your royal family?
I also thought the introduction of the shadow magic/self/realm really interesting but a very strange thing to throw into the very last book rather than explore it for the entire series. I also find it weird seeing as it is a very powerful and dangerous magic that no-one would know anything about it - it was very weird to think of this whole shadow world with schools and children and food. How does it all work?? Again I think this type of magic is so big it would have benefitted from being explored in several books rather than squashed into the last one.
I love the sexy glamour and danger in this world of The Marionettes and it's a shame that the story fell a little for me with each book instead of getting better but I'm still happy to have read it and still a series I would recommend to people who like shows like True Blood or The Vampire Diaries.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
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