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bookph1le's review against another edition
2.0
This one was okay. There are elements to this series that are starting to bother me more and more the further I get. For one, there's a lot of sexism running through it. For another, there are some elements that feel too close to being anti-gay for comfort. Yes, on multiple occasions characters have been quick to point out that it's okay to be gay in the empire, but that doesn't stop the team members from joking about one another's sexuality as a way to insult one another.
Also, Yara, really?
Also, Yara, really?
thisistaylort's review
adventurous
3.0
The best parts of Beneath the Surface was seeing the relationship development between Maldynado and Eviral, Sicarius and Amaranthe, and between Sespian and Sicarius.
As good as that was, I feel like I’m getting action fatigue from this series. Right now the only reason I’m tempted to keep going is to get back in Sicarious’ head, so I think I'm going to take a little breather before I continue with the series. Otherwise, I might just skim and I don't want that.
Full confession, I read light spoilers for the last two books because I needed to know that all the action does come to an end eventually. And to learn who dies because that almost-spoiler has been haunting me since book one.
As good as that was, I feel like I’m getting action fatigue from this series. Right now the only reason I’m tempted to keep going is to get back in Sicarious’ head, so I think I'm going to take a little breather before I continue with the series. Otherwise, I might just skim and I don't want that.
Full confession, I read light spoilers for the last two books because I needed to know that all the action does come to an end eventually. And to learn who dies because that almost-spoiler has been haunting me since book one.
lisaliest's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
loonytoons's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.5
nebulous40's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
exeidur's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely novella with more romance than I thought it would contain and plenty of action. Definitely good to read this one after part five in the series.
_persephone_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
lauralh05's review
4.0
I continue to love this series, and I love these little short stories that Lindsay takes the time to put out in between the full length books!
suflet's review
5.0
Very good
A very sweet and plotty novela. Quite important to the interpersonal plots revolving around Amaranthe, Sicarius and Sespian. Incidentally I like to read Shadows over Innocence after this series installment despite the chronology. I think it fits narratively with Sespian starting to come around on Sicarius and it leads into Forged in Blood which alternates with Sicarius's perspective.
A very sweet and plotty novela. Quite important to the interpersonal plots revolving around Amaranthe, Sicarius and Sespian. Incidentally I like to read Shadows over Innocence after this series installment despite the chronology. I think it fits narratively with Sespian starting to come around on Sicarius and it leads into Forged in Blood which alternates with Sicarius's perspective.
brokenrecord's review
4.0
4.5 stars. This was really good! I actually almost skipped it because I was eager to get to the first book with Sicarius POV, and normally the between-book short stories/novellas are fun but don't add a whole lot, but I'm glad I didn't skip it because… stuff really happens in this! Granted, it's actually much longer than the other between book short stories (it's basically novel-length itself, although shorter than any of the main installments)
I mean, first there's Yara and Maldynado finally hooking up, which isn't something I particularly care about, but it would've been super weird to jump from book 5 to 6 and have them suddenly be together. I mean, it was clearly building up in book 5, so it wouldn't be totally shocking, but still. I still love both characters, but the relationship set-up just isn't something I care for at all, so they still didn't do much for me together here. I did like Yara opening up to him a bit, though, and her insecurity about whether he'd still be interested in her after the chase was over. I mean, they're fine! I'm not completely opposed to them! They just don't give me swoony feelings like a certain other major pairing in this series.
I also almost skipped this installment because the summary made it look like it was all from Yara's POV, but then I saw that Amaranthe had a POV as well, and I was like, "Well, maybe there'll be one or two nice Sicarius/Amaranthe moments!" LITTLE DID I KNOW!!!
So this was really great, and unlike the other between-book short stories/novellas, actually kind of vital to the ongoing story and definitely not one that I would say is okay to miss. Unless all you care about is the main, overarching plot and none of the character/relationship development.
I mean, first there's Yara and Maldynado finally hooking up, which isn't something I particularly care about, but it would've been super weird to jump from book 5 to 6 and have them suddenly be together. I mean, it was clearly building up in book 5, so it wouldn't be totally shocking, but still. I still love both characters, but the relationship set-up just isn't something I care for at all, so they still didn't do much for me together here. I did like Yara opening up to him a bit, though, and her insecurity about whether he'd still be interested in her after the chase was over. I mean, they're fine! I'm not completely opposed to them! They just don't give me swoony feelings like a certain other major pairing in this series.
I also almost skipped this installment because the summary made it look like it was all from Yara's POV, but then I saw that Amaranthe had a POV as well, and I was like, "Well, maybe there'll be one or two nice Sicarius/Amaranthe moments!" LITTLE DID I KNOW!!!
Spoiler
THEIR SECOND KISS!!! And the first one of them embarking upon a real relationship!!! I would've been pissed if I'd jumped to book 6, only to find that I'd missed their second kiss!!! I love that she's like trying to gauge whether Sicarius would be interested in sex because he's never shown any indication to her before, and he just kisses her as an answer!!! But honestly, even more important that is FINALLY SESPIAN KNOWS ABOUT THEM. (And again, very weird for that to happen between books 5 and 6 and not in one of the main books!!! It would've been so weird to go to book 6 and suddenly have Sespian know about them!) I'm just glad it didn't take any longer than it did. I just couldn't take his crush on Amaranthe for much longer. And I loved the way Amaranthe realized she had to shut it down and glanced to Sicarius to make sure it was okay, and then explained, "We're a we." Just a really cute way of revealing it. And I was glad that, while Sespian was a bit disappointed, he was kind of expecting it and even admitted the signs were there. I was also glad to see Sespian start to see Sicarius in a bit of a different light. Not that he's totally thawed to him, but he's starting to reconsider his initial assumptions. And I loved seeing Amaranthe launch herself at Sicarius in front of everyone and him hugging her back. FINALLY everyone basically knows about them. I mean, mostly all of them did beforehand, but still!So this was really great, and unlike the other between-book short stories/novellas, actually kind of vital to the ongoing story and definitely not one that I would say is okay to miss. Unless all you care about is the main, overarching plot and none of the character/relationship development.