A review by bzliz
All of Our Demise by C.L. Herman, Amanda Foody

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The conclusion to this deadly tournament could not have clutched me in its grasp any harder. I know it would be easy to criticize certain character choices or plot points but I simply do not care that characters bounce from one alliance to the next like a ping pong ball (they are children faced with nothing but uncertain, impossible choices doing the best they can with the information they have in that exact moment) or just how convoluted the relationship between the spell makers, the government & the families ends up. I don’t even care about how convenient it is that the remaining champions- including a new addition, bound to the tournament against his will with hasty, experimental magick- end up with someone to pair off with.

The relationship between Alistair and Gavin is a fantastic development from enemies to lovers. Isobel and Reid also make sense to me, still enemies to lovers but in a more this relationship is definitely a little toxic considering we both took each other as prisoners at one point and we each have our own serious personal growth to do kind of way. Briony and Finley are the most predictable and boring but I think that has more to do with him being essentially a prop in her story than anything else. Briony’s final sacrifice made me tear up- she became a true hero rather than the heroic charade her family had been playing at.


There could not have been a better ending for this sequel and it certainly could not have been happier without completely betraying the horrors faced by everyone whose lives were impacted by the tournament curse. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings