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snoopydoo77's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one, it was packed full with action, suspense, friend and relationships.
Justin and Mae travel with Lucian to one of the less fortunate neighborhoods we get to see more of those not living in RUNA and it is not pretty. Especially for women. It reminded me of the Middle East in our world a little.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/887489/the-immortal-crown-age-of-x-2-by-richelle-mead
Justin and Mae travel with Lucian to one of the less fortunate neighborhoods we get to see more of those not living in RUNA and it is not pretty. Especially for women. It reminded me of the Middle East in our world a little.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/887489/the-immortal-crown-age-of-x-2-by-richelle-mead
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Second in the Age of X sci-fi alternate history series for YA and revolving around Justin March and Mae Koskinen.
My Take
That first book, Gameboard of the Gods, 1, was perfectly titled as the series is all about gods who lost their powers and adherents centuries ago and are now scheming to regain that power.
The Immortal Crown seems to be split between Justin and Mae, but I think Mae has a slight edge. There's not a lot of tension in most of the story until about halfway through and even that is only in a few scenes. Well, few compared to the majority of the story.
This will make anyone who believes in the equality of the sexes gag. It's bad enough when the orientation explains how women are perceived, treated in Arcadia, but when we actually get there and see how they're treated. All I can say is "thank you, feminists!" Such men in so many cultures blame their lack of control on a woman's beauty or movement or…horrors…exposing part of their body, eek! Seems to me it's the man who's the weak element in this. If they are so weak that they can't restrain themselves, well…
The actual slavery these women are reduced to. Then there's those jerk males — they do NOT deserve the title of men! — their reasons for forcing the women to use primitive means to cook and clean!!! WTF? I think the real problem is that males like this are bullies. They're too immature to take responsibility for their own emotions. For having the strength of will *eye roll* to police their emotions. Gimme a break, are they toddlers? I am not even going to touch on the huge difference in lifestyles between the religious and the average Arcadian.
Poor Daphne. She keeps expecting people to recognize her, lol. Only what she deserves. There's all that college-taught fluff that speaks of facts, being dispassionate, presenting both sides, you know, ethical reporting. A concept most of us don't believe in. And Daphne is holding up her lack of ethics quite well.
Tessa is on a steep learning curve in this initial visit to the RUNA. It's bad enough that she's treated as a second-class citizen, but she also learns how many people want to make use of her proximity to people in power.
Interesting that Mandarin is the universal language in the RUNA while English is the EA's universal choice.
Excuse me, but since when are guests required to help cook the meals and clean? Harriet ticked me off with that comment of hers about how much work it is to feed so many extra people. Well, maybe she should have a chat with her husband about not inviting furriners to stay if it's a problem. Oh, wait, she'd probably be beaten…
Okay, yeah, that's one of those stupid tropes I hate. The one where a character can't be bothered to learn to use all the skills available to them. And then Justin gets to fly! How cool would that be? One thing that Mead does well in this story is the slow development of Justin's awareness of how he feels about Mae. It's subtle, made even more so by the heavy-handed interactions between Mae and Justing. Sure the reasons for backing off were practical, but a touch more finesse would have been nice. Justin and Mae are also individually whiny about their particular problems.
That whole B-&-E at Holy Lake? Wow, that was so easy.
What I was not expecting was that twist at the end.
The Story
It’s Mama Orane who warns Justin and Mae about the other electi, and when Tessa is attacked, Justin goes into protect mode.
Clarissa has a brilliant idea for Tessa’s media analysis project while Mae, Val, and Dagsson have their own brilliant ideas for Tess. With luck they’ll get some action, and maybe some exotic travel.
Then Justin learns about Lucian’s delegation to their greatest enemy. A trip that, while a tour of a disgusting culture, may allow Mae to rescue a loved one. And Lucian must walk away from this trip with something important.
The Characters
Mae "Finn" Koskinen is one of the elect and a Praetorian Guard assigned as Dr. March's bodyguard. She had been promised to the Morrigan in Gameboard of the Gods. Valeria Jardin and Linus Dagsson are two of her best friends in the Praetorian Guard. Claudia is Mae's sister and Ava's mother. Amata is Ava's new stepmother. General Gan is Mae's boss.
Dr. Justin March is an investigator, a servitor, for the Sect and Cult Investigation (SCI), a sub department of Internal Security. Magnus and Horatio are ravens, representatives of the god who wants Justin's allegiance: Odin the All-Father. Cynthia is his sister. Quentin is Cynthia's eight-year-old son.
Teresa "Tessa" Cruz is the daughter of a man in Panama Justin owes. She's in the RUNA under Justin's guardianship pursuing an education at her third school, the Institute for Creative Minds and Experiential Thinking.
Institute for Creative Minds and Experiential Thinking
Clarissa is one of the instructors with an idea. Darius Sandberg was part of the action in Gameboard of the Gods and is now a student here as well with a favor to ask of Tessa. Daphne Lang is the freelance journalist who wants Tessa as her intern. Daphne sells most of her work to North Prime, a sensationalist television station.
The delegation
Senator Lucian Darling is an old friend of Justin's and his roommate from college. He's also a candidate for leader of the RUNA and needs a "win". Atticus Marley is in charge of the trip and is "the closest the RUNA had to an ambassador in Arcadia". Phil Ramirez is technology and trade; George Yi is a military analyst spying on illicit doings while pretending to be a professor of comparative cultures. Olivia is the costumer.
SCI
Cornelia Kimora is head of SCI and Justin's boss. Director Francis Kyle is Cornelia's boss.
The Citizens' Party
Dr. Nico Cassidy is a wellness counselor for Senator Darling's political party, the Citizens' Party. Magnus Mercado is the chair. Acacia is one of the organizers for the Young Citizens' Council (YCC), a youth group for the party. Adora Zimmer is CEO of Garnet Industries, and she has a background similar to Tessa's.
Arcadia…
…is composed of the southeastern part of the former United States and is the RUNA's enemy. Divinia is its capital city; in pre-Cain days, it was known as Montgomery. It's a religious government which worships Nehitimar and believes in polygamy with wives and concubines. Women are something of a rarity there, and it doesn't prevent the more powerful from collecting a harem. It refers to the Cain virus as Nehitimar's justice.
Carl Carter, director of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and special assistant to the president, will be the host for the delegation. The Venerable Jeremiah is the local priest. Walter is Carter's oldest son. Jasper is the second-oldest son and an absolute shit. Matthias is one of the presidential secretaries. Hannah is the concubine who had the cheek to break the strap on her shoe. The slut. Harriet is the head wife.
The Grand Disciple is the head of Arcadia's church and an elect. Deacon Timothy Hansen is His Piousness' assistant; his loved concubine, Elaina, must be shared with His Piousness. Enoch Campbell is the president. Cowlitz is a tech defector from the RUNA.
Gideon is one of the dissatisfied. Pittsfield is the pimp. The girls Mae rescues include Ava, Monica, Cecile, Clara, and Pittsfield's servant, Dawn.
Mama Orane is the medium in Nassau who has three people who speak through her: Josephine, Reynard, and El Diable; she's also an elect. Antonio Song is a devotee of Mithras who attacked Tessa. Mr. and Mrs. Lin
are the parents of a sixteen-year-old girl, Helene, whose compulsory birth control failed. Leo Chan is a friend of Justin's who works at a contraceptive factory. Drusilla Kavi is a disabled Praetorian from Gameboard of the Gods. I suspect this is supposed to be a scary scene, except I can't remember the details.
RUNA stands for the Republic of United North America, a territory that encompasses Canada and the rest of the United States; it polices carefully for religious groups that might be getting too excited. Gemmans is the term used to refer to the citizens of the RUNA. Patricians are Gemmans whose ancestors did not participate in the "RUNA's early forced genetic mixing program" and faced health issues; plebeians are people whose ancestors did participate and their mixed ancestry shows.
The Praetorian Guard are the elite of the elite enhanced with arm implants that stimulate "natural endorphins to increase speed and strength". Rufus Callaway is a retired military man who knows what's important on a security detail.
An elect has the potential to be a powerful servant for the gods. Geraki, a.k.a., Demetrius Devereaux, is a prophet of a religious group who serves Odin and has managed to elude the RUNA. Danique is an expert in Egyptian religion. Donna is a follower of Tezcatlipoca.
EA is Eastern Alliance, Europe.
An ego is a "small device that handled both telecommunications and daily activities for Gemmans". A smartphone. Cain is a virus that can be inherited which causes skin and hair damage, infertility, and asthma.
Being Cloistered is similar to wearing a burkha but with lots more layers and more binding of a woman's ability to move. Arcadians refer to the RUNA as the Lost Lands.
The Cover
The cover is dreamy, completely not what this story is like. In a pensive mood while wearing a black tank top, Mae’s blonde hair is floating about her head while a wreath of fairy lights and gossamer ribbons appears to encircle her head. The background blends from a city skyline at the base into a tangle of dream up around Mae’s head.
The title is what the gods seem to be striving for, The Immortal Crown.
My Take
That first book, Gameboard of the Gods, 1, was perfectly titled as the series is all about gods who lost their powers and adherents centuries ago and are now scheming to regain that power.
The Immortal Crown seems to be split between Justin and Mae, but I think Mae has a slight edge. There's not a lot of tension in most of the story until about halfway through and even that is only in a few scenes. Well, few compared to the majority of the story.
This will make anyone who believes in the equality of the sexes gag. It's bad enough when the orientation explains how women are perceived, treated in Arcadia, but when we actually get there and see how they're treated. All I can say is "thank you, feminists!" Such men in so many cultures blame their lack of control on a woman's beauty or movement or…horrors…exposing part of their body, eek! Seems to me it's the man who's the weak element in this. If they are so weak that they can't restrain themselves, well…
"I guess it takes quite a barrier to protect these people from the evil powers of lust."
The actual slavery these women are reduced to. Then there's those jerk males — they do NOT deserve the title of men! — their reasons for forcing the women to use primitive means to cook and clean!!! WTF? I think the real problem is that males like this are bullies. They're too immature to take responsibility for their own emotions. For having the strength of will *eye roll* to police their emotions. Gimme a break, are they toddlers? I am not even going to touch on the huge difference in lifestyles between the religious and the average Arcadian.
Poor Daphne. She keeps expecting people to recognize her, lol. Only what she deserves. There's all that college-taught fluff that speaks of facts, being dispassionate, presenting both sides, you know, ethical reporting. A concept most of us don't believe in. And Daphne is holding up her lack of ethics quite well.
Tessa is on a steep learning curve in this initial visit to the RUNA. It's bad enough that she's treated as a second-class citizen, but she also learns how many people want to make use of her proximity to people in power.
Interesting that Mandarin is the universal language in the RUNA while English is the EA's universal choice.
Excuse me, but since when are guests required to help cook the meals and clean? Harriet ticked me off with that comment of hers about how much work it is to feed so many extra people. Well, maybe she should have a chat with her husband about not inviting furriners to stay if it's a problem. Oh, wait, she'd probably be beaten…
Okay, yeah, that's one of those stupid tropes I hate. The one where a character can't be bothered to learn to use all the skills available to them. And then Justin gets to fly! How cool would that be? One thing that Mead does well in this story is the slow development of Justin's awareness of how he feels about Mae. It's subtle, made even more so by the heavy-handed interactions between Mae and Justing. Sure the reasons for backing off were practical, but a touch more finesse would have been nice. Justin and Mae are also individually whiny about their particular problems.
That whole B-&-E at Holy Lake? Wow, that was so easy.
What I was not expecting was that twist at the end.
The Story
It’s Mama Orane who warns Justin and Mae about the other electi, and when Tessa is attacked, Justin goes into protect mode.
Clarissa has a brilliant idea for Tessa’s media analysis project while Mae, Val, and Dagsson have their own brilliant ideas for Tess. With luck they’ll get some action, and maybe some exotic travel.
Then Justin learns about Lucian’s delegation to their greatest enemy. A trip that, while a tour of a disgusting culture, may allow Mae to rescue a loved one. And Lucian must walk away from this trip with something important.
The Characters
Mae "Finn" Koskinen is one of the elect and a Praetorian Guard assigned as Dr. March's bodyguard. She had been promised to the Morrigan in Gameboard of the Gods. Valeria Jardin and Linus Dagsson are two of her best friends in the Praetorian Guard. Claudia is Mae's sister and Ava's mother. Amata is Ava's new stepmother. General Gan is Mae's boss.
Dr. Justin March is an investigator, a servitor, for the Sect and Cult Investigation (SCI), a sub department of Internal Security. Magnus and Horatio are ravens, representatives of the god who wants Justin's allegiance: Odin the All-Father. Cynthia is his sister. Quentin is Cynthia's eight-year-old son.
Teresa "Tessa" Cruz is the daughter of a man in Panama Justin owes. She's in the RUNA under Justin's guardianship pursuing an education at her third school, the Institute for Creative Minds and Experiential Thinking.
Institute for Creative Minds and Experiential Thinking
Clarissa is one of the instructors with an idea. Darius Sandberg was part of the action in Gameboard of the Gods and is now a student here as well with a favor to ask of Tessa. Daphne Lang is the freelance journalist who wants Tessa as her intern. Daphne sells most of her work to North Prime, a sensationalist television station.
The delegation
Senator Lucian Darling is an old friend of Justin's and his roommate from college. He's also a candidate for leader of the RUNA and needs a "win". Atticus Marley is in charge of the trip and is "the closest the RUNA had to an ambassador in Arcadia". Phil Ramirez is technology and trade; George Yi is a military analyst spying on illicit doings while pretending to be a professor of comparative cultures. Olivia is the costumer.
SCI
Cornelia Kimora is head of SCI and Justin's boss. Director Francis Kyle is Cornelia's boss.
The Citizens' Party
Dr. Nico Cassidy is a wellness counselor for Senator Darling's political party, the Citizens' Party. Magnus Mercado is the chair. Acacia is one of the organizers for the Young Citizens' Council (YCC), a youth group for the party. Adora Zimmer is CEO of Garnet Industries, and she has a background similar to Tessa's.
Arcadia…
…is composed of the southeastern part of the former United States and is the RUNA's enemy. Divinia is its capital city; in pre-Cain days, it was known as Montgomery. It's a religious government which worships Nehitimar and believes in polygamy with wives and concubines. Women are something of a rarity there, and it doesn't prevent the more powerful from collecting a harem. It refers to the Cain virus as Nehitimar's justice.
Carl Carter, director of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and special assistant to the president, will be the host for the delegation. The Venerable Jeremiah is the local priest. Walter is Carter's oldest son. Jasper is the second-oldest son and an absolute shit. Matthias is one of the presidential secretaries. Hannah is the concubine who had the cheek to break the strap on her shoe. The slut. Harriet is the head wife.
The Grand Disciple is the head of Arcadia's church and an elect. Deacon Timothy Hansen is His Piousness' assistant; his loved concubine, Elaina, must be shared with His Piousness. Enoch Campbell is the president. Cowlitz is a tech defector from the RUNA.
Gideon is one of the dissatisfied. Pittsfield is the pimp. The girls Mae rescues include Ava, Monica, Cecile, Clara, and Pittsfield's servant, Dawn.
Mama Orane is the medium in Nassau who has three people who speak through her: Josephine, Reynard, and El Diable; she's also an elect. Antonio Song is a devotee of Mithras who attacked Tessa. Mr. and Mrs. Lin
are the parents of a sixteen-year-old girl, Helene, whose compulsory birth control failed. Leo Chan is a friend of Justin's who works at a contraceptive factory. Drusilla Kavi is a disabled Praetorian from Gameboard of the Gods. I suspect this is supposed to be a scary scene, except I can't remember the details.
RUNA stands for the Republic of United North America, a territory that encompasses Canada and the rest of the United States; it polices carefully for religious groups that might be getting too excited. Gemmans is the term used to refer to the citizens of the RUNA. Patricians are Gemmans whose ancestors did not participate in the "RUNA's early forced genetic mixing program" and faced health issues; plebeians are people whose ancestors did participate and their mixed ancestry shows.
The Praetorian Guard are the elite of the elite enhanced with arm implants that stimulate "natural endorphins to increase speed and strength". Rufus Callaway is a retired military man who knows what's important on a security detail.
An elect has the potential to be a powerful servant for the gods. Geraki, a.k.a., Demetrius Devereaux, is a prophet of a religious group who serves Odin and has managed to elude the RUNA. Danique is an expert in Egyptian religion. Donna is a follower of Tezcatlipoca.
EA is Eastern Alliance, Europe.
An ego is a "small device that handled both telecommunications and daily activities for Gemmans". A smartphone. Cain is a virus that can be inherited which causes skin and hair damage, infertility, and asthma.
Being Cloistered is similar to wearing a burkha but with lots more layers and more binding of a woman's ability to move. Arcadians refer to the RUNA as the Lost Lands.
The Cover
The cover is dreamy, completely not what this story is like. In a pensive mood while wearing a black tank top, Mae’s blonde hair is floating about her head while a wreath of fairy lights and gossamer ribbons appears to encircle her head. The background blends from a city skyline at the base into a tangle of dream up around Mae’s head.
The title is what the gods seem to be striving for, The Immortal Crown.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Action, Multi Cultural, Mythologies, Power Struggles, Zealots and Addictions and Fantastic Characters.
More action, more revelations and more powers and more game play than I've seen a book for a while. I was a bit lost. I hadn't read the first book so it took me a while to connect to this world. After about 30 % it all started to form together and I loved it the gods the power struggles the back room games. Illegal religions being taken down was a interesting plot line. Justin with his issues and Mae with her strength made a nice pair or characters to read, and there is more building between them. Flawed realistic characters always win with me.
A very well done book but I would recommend reading book one first.
More action, more revelations and more powers and more game play than I've seen a book for a while. I was a bit lost. I hadn't read the first book so it took me a while to connect to this world. After about 30 % it all started to form together and I loved it the gods the power struggles the back room games. Illegal religions being taken down was a interesting plot line. Justin with his issues and Mae with her strength made a nice pair or characters to read, and there is more building between them. Flawed realistic characters always win with me.
A very well done book but I would recommend reading book one first.
cutenanya's review against another edition
5.0
I like this series way more than Vampire Academy, though I must say the story and characterization could be polished further. Still, I think Richelle Mead has matured as an author and I would love to see how the story progresses and what awaits the future of Justin and Mae.
What I like about this book: A solid central story to focus on and a cliffhanger that will make you salivate at the thought of the next book.
The things I think could be improved:
a) More concrete materials in world building:
Although Mead certainly has an interesting world building in mind, I feel she is too vague on a lot of front and vagueness discounts the world building process. I feel I get snapshots of the world building here and there but the structure that is supposed to link up these snapshots is just not strong enough. It will be better if she revealed more details before rapidly expanding her world so soon.
b) Characterization: I think the author is clever enough to introduce more new characters but still manage to develop the central pair as well as Tessa. Unfortunately, I feel she has become too ambitious, so much so she has little time for other interesting characters in the first book. I think Lucian could be a multi dimensional character but he came across 2D in this book. I also would love to hear more from the ravens as the internal dialogues are rather fascinating to me.
Still, I think the author has handled the multiple plotlines brilliantly and this is really a 4.5 but I'll make it a 5 because of the originality in the story!
What I like about this book: A solid central story to focus on and a cliffhanger that will make you salivate at the thought of the next book.
The things I think could be improved:
a) More concrete materials in world building:
Although Mead certainly has an interesting world building in mind, I feel she is too vague on a lot of front and vagueness discounts the world building process. I feel I get snapshots of the world building here and there but the structure that is supposed to link up these snapshots is just not strong enough. It will be better if she revealed more details before rapidly expanding her world so soon.
b) Characterization: I think the author is clever enough to introduce more new characters but still manage to develop the central pair as well as Tessa. Unfortunately, I feel she has become too ambitious, so much so she has little time for other interesting characters in the first book. I think Lucian could be a multi dimensional character but he came across 2D in this book. I also would love to hear more from the ravens as the internal dialogues are rather fascinating to me.
Still, I think the author has handled the multiple plotlines brilliantly and this is really a 4.5 but I'll make it a 5 because of the originality in the story!
mistydawnwaters's review against another edition
5.0
Mead is an evil genius. Didn't see the final twist coming.
magikspells's review against another edition
5.0
OMG.
This book, boy did I love it.
I was really hesitant about this series last year, and honestly I was only a little excited to start this book. But now that it's done, I feel like I'm chomping at the bit for more.
This book explores the world of RUNA and Arcadia (aka the southeastern US under a harsh stereotypical microscope *insert eye roll here* see my complaining below) by broadening what we know about the people that inhabit it and what the beliefs are. It turns out, there's a lot more players in this Game of the Gods then we had envisioned in the first book. Of course Justin and Mae are a huge focus of the book, rightfully so as they're both struggling with their own godly issues. But the shift also gives us Tessa's viewpoint which is very interesting in itself, particularly with how the media and government play into the godly games.
Justin and Mae for most of the book are on a trip to Arcadia with Lucian to attempt so peaceful relationship with the neighboring country. My main gripe about this book is my gripe about anything with a southern setting. Much of Arcadia is the land east of the Mississippi it seems, and the capital is former Montgomery, Alabama. I don't think I have to mention that Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederate states and much of stereotypes about the south are played out to harsh degrees. Women have literally no rights, like at all. They can't even directly look at men, they're traded as commodities, and beaten when they do anything out of line. Arcadia is also ruled by a theocratic government where religion is basically crammed down the throat of it's citizen. Also, in a shocking twist, the break off between Arcadia and RUNA came during the outbreak of the Cain virus. Arcadia refused to intermingle it's population and therefore the disease ran rampant. Not to mention, their technology is far less superior to what the RUNA have, except for those that can afford it.
So we've got a nice group of badly treated minorities, overzealous religion, inbreeding brought on by harsh racism, and technological deficiency that has created harsh socio-economic discrepancies in the population. If I didn't know any better, I would assume that this is supposed to be a metaphor of what the south would be like had they not surrendered at Appomattox at the end of the Civil War. Honestly, I really don't mean to complain, I just feel like Richelle sorta makes these jibes in all her stories from the inbreeding/backward vampires in Vampire Academy (and later Bloodlines) to her subtle comments made by Eugene later in the Dark Swan series, it starts to make me think there's like some latent aggression buried there. I've gotten on my soap box, but I see the need for Arcadia to be the straw man of the argument for RUNA. Obviously the RUNA isn't the perfect system, but a god fearing system like Arcadia clearly isn't the answer.
I digress. I think one of my favorite parts of the story is that it's not just Greek or Roman gods that serve as the godly players here. Sure, they show up in some respects, usually with their small cults, but it's others that are at the forefront. Obviously Norse is the dominant in this respect with Justin's connection toBut we also get a curve ball at the end with some Aztec diety as well [I'm leaving their specific names behind spoiler tags because I'll need to look back at this when the next book comes out, but I don't want to ruin any surprises for anyone.]
All in all, I'm ready for the next book already. Ugh, it's gonna be a loooonnnnggg wait!
This book, boy did I love it.
I was really hesitant about this series last year, and honestly I was only a little excited to start this book. But now that it's done, I feel like I'm chomping at the bit for more.
This book explores the world of RUNA and Arcadia (aka the southeastern US under a harsh stereotypical microscope *insert eye roll here* see my complaining below) by broadening what we know about the people that inhabit it and what the beliefs are. It turns out, there's a lot more players in this Game of the Gods then we had envisioned in the first book. Of course Justin and Mae are a huge focus of the book, rightfully so as they're both struggling with their own godly issues. But the shift also gives us Tessa's viewpoint which is very interesting in itself, particularly with how the media and government play into the godly games.
Justin and Mae for most of the book are on a trip to Arcadia with Lucian to attempt so peaceful relationship with the neighboring country. My main gripe about this book is my gripe about anything with a southern setting. Much of Arcadia is the land east of the Mississippi it seems, and the capital is former Montgomery, Alabama. I don't think I have to mention that Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederate states and much of stereotypes about the south are played out to harsh degrees. Women have literally no rights, like at all. They can't even directly look at men, they're traded as commodities, and beaten when they do anything out of line. Arcadia is also ruled by a theocratic government where religion is basically crammed down the throat of it's citizen. Also, in a shocking twist, the break off between Arcadia and RUNA came during the outbreak of the Cain virus. Arcadia refused to intermingle it's population and therefore the disease ran rampant. Not to mention, their technology is far less superior to what the RUNA have, except for those that can afford it.
So we've got a nice group of badly treated minorities, overzealous religion, inbreeding brought on by harsh racism, and technological deficiency that has created harsh socio-economic discrepancies in the population. If I didn't know any better, I would assume that this is supposed to be a metaphor of what the south would be like had they not surrendered at Appomattox at the end of the Civil War. Honestly, I really don't mean to complain, I just feel like Richelle sorta makes these jibes in all her stories from the inbreeding/backward vampires in Vampire Academy (and later Bloodlines) to her subtle comments made by Eugene later in the Dark Swan series, it starts to make me think there's like some latent aggression buried there. I've gotten on my soap box, but I see the need for Arcadia to be the straw man of the argument for RUNA. Obviously the RUNA isn't the perfect system, but a god fearing system like Arcadia clearly isn't the answer.
I digress. I think one of my favorite parts of the story is that it's not just Greek or Roman gods that serve as the godly players here. Sure, they show up in some respects, usually with their small cults, but it's others that are at the forefront. Obviously Norse is the dominant in this respect with Justin's connection to
Spoiler
Oden (I didn't remember if that was in the first book, so I put it behind a spoiler tag). But a few other players enter the mix here including Freyja and Loki with Mae, which honestly I'm stoked to see how this turns out after reading that ending.Spoiler
Tezcatlipoca (try saying that one three times fast).All in all, I'm ready for the next book already. Ugh, it's gonna be a loooonnnnggg wait!
halynah's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely unnecessary plotline with Tessa and Daphne prevented me from giving this book 5 stars. Also, it is always difficult to follow the romance of two unreasonable people, but still the plot was exciting enough to compensate for all those drawbacks. We'll see, how the third book turn out to be. Epilogue was promising, so - can't wait the next installment!
kateycakee's review against another edition
5.0
The ending of this book has made me so angry!!! I'm full of rage
beautifuldissonance's review against another edition
3.0
I did not enjoy this book as much as the last one. Part of the reason is that I'm so sick of romance plot lines, I just don't understand what there is to like about all the angst, secrets, and miscommunication that goes on. There was also a few cases of 'obvious plot line is obvious' going on, and some minor plot holes that I found frustrating. Still, not a bad book overall.