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wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
In addition, it is glacially slow. It took half of the book for anything to even really start happening and even then, I could easily summarize everything that happened. It's one thing if it's slow burn until they get together but they did that in book one. In book two, it's not so much pining/yearning but lusting for when they get to be together again. When they do get to reconnect their conversations are filled with obvious innuendos that are heavy-handed. Lio isn't the promised soft cinnamon roll character but an angsty horny mess. Cassia isn't the master manipulator she thinks she is either since she likes to gloat about her achievements when she deems it "safe" which seems to be randomly sprinkled as a telling and not showing of her political maneuverings.
Overall lots of telling and not showing. This might be for some big reveals later on but I cannot find it within myself to care. The gifts, gods, and magic system(s) were sparsely explained and the only part I was interested in. I read the blurbs for the next books and it seems like it's just as agonizingly slow-paced.
I will not be continuing on.
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dollscanreadtoo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Minor: Emotional abuse and Blood
midnacine's review against another edition
- 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
Maybe I'm just used to fast-paced books, but I felt like this dragged in some areas in comparison to the first one. There were a lot of major plot points that just weren't tied up by the end of the book, and at moments it was like I was watching a TV show's filler episode. I felt like many of the conversations that established relationships between characters we hadn't met yet could have been trimmed down a bit, but I understand and respect the fact that many of those conversations were also utilized to move the plot forward.
And I'm really sorry cuz this is definitely a me thing and no reflection on the author or the writing, but I cannot, in good conscious, give 5 stars to a book with
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, and War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Stalking
kkocik's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Blood
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual violence and Injury/Injury detail
words_and_dreams's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this and love the world and characters that the author has created. It is a fully realised rich world full of history and depth. The continuation of the love story was also beautiful and you really do want them to succeed. The depiction of friendship and it's different forms was also a joy to read.
The downside for me is that it was a little too long and feels like it needs another edit. I had the same thoughts with the first book. A few times I felt myself starting to skim read as it was pages and pages of either a character describing a history of something or lots of political talk. I appreciate the depth but sometimes it was too much. Also, the couple were apart for 48% of the book. I love the couple and want to read about them together. While I understand their separation was part of the trials the characters had to go through, it seemed to go on a little too long. None of this doesn't mean I did not enjoy the book however.
I love the world and writing and the love story is beautiful. I just feel it could have been streamlined a little.
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault