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candiecane333's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.5
Thought it dragged, the big secret was a little anticlimactic, the ending felt rushed & incomplete.
ginggercakes's review
3.0
A generous 3 STAR / just off the cusp of 2.5
TW: mentioned suicide attempt, death
I wasn’t as invested in the storyline as I wanted to be, after the first book I hoped that the flow of the story would jump into action but it was still pretty slow. I stuck with it because I wanted to know how everything came together in the end. The twists and turns didn’t thrill me as much as I hoped, and aforementioned characters reappearing didn’t wow me the way it could have. Even the magic seemed to take a back seat in this one, when I really thought were were going to get a lot more information from it. But since this story is in our MC’s POV we only know what she knows and that isn't much. One thing I couldn’t stand was some of the MC’s inner dialogue. Her obsession with herself, and her childish actions and thoughts were in such contrast to her alleged desire to be seen as an adult and to be taken seriously. I’d like to say it made her more human, more relatable, but it rubbed me the wrong way and made her seem so annoying.
Once again I was a little at odds with our main characters - especially after the first book: I wanted them to gain depth and grow emotionally and it still felt like they only had surface level emotions - until they didn’t. A little disappointing, especially since I thought they took some steps towards character growth in the first book only to be tossed away to maintain the blissfully ignorant and boring characters premise they had in the beginning. The relationship between the two MCs is palpable - there is some romantic tension, a little push and pull but there just isn't enough to make me want to cheer for them - they are consistently warm and cold with each other well into this second book. It was fine at the beginning, and even acceptable for the first book as a whole, but this far into the story it was so boring.
The story kicked it up a notch around 75% of the way through - too long to wait in my opinion. The pace picked up and although there was a lot of back and forth with our MC, things started to look like we were finally getting somewhere. The ending wasn’t as exciting as it could have been, I’d even call it a soft ending. I liked it enough that I didn’t DNF, but I wish we’d been offered more information and closure; story came to a close in such a simple manner. It took all the tension, suspense and emptions that author tried to build up and then just let it slip through its fingers. Yes everything was essentially figured out by the end - but it was a boring and cheap way to do it.
TW: mentioned suicide attempt, death
”Everything seems to turn out just fine for you, Joss. You’re a privileged princess, no matter who your father is. Some people don’t have as many choices or as many chances as you seem to get. You don’t know what it’s like to be someone like me.”
I wasn’t as invested in the storyline as I wanted to be, after the first book I hoped that the flow of the story would jump into action but it was still pretty slow. I stuck with it because I wanted to know how everything came together in the end. The twists and turns didn’t thrill me as much as I hoped, and aforementioned characters reappearing didn’t wow me the way it could have. Even the magic seemed to take a back seat in this one, when I really thought were were going to get a lot more information from it. But since this story is in our MC’s POV we only know what she knows and that isn't much. One thing I couldn’t stand was some of the MC’s inner dialogue. Her obsession with herself, and her childish actions and thoughts were in such contrast to her alleged desire to be seen as an adult and to be taken seriously. I’d like to say it made her more human, more relatable, but it rubbed me the wrong way and made her seem so annoying.
I hated doubting myself. It was so unlike me - and really wasn’t cute at all
Once again I was a little at odds with our main characters - especially after the first book: I wanted them to gain depth and grow emotionally and it still felt like they only had surface level emotions - until they didn’t. A little disappointing, especially since I thought they took some steps towards character growth in the first book only to be tossed away to maintain the blissfully ignorant and boring characters premise they had in the beginning. The relationship between the two MCs is palpable - there is some romantic tension, a little push and pull but there just isn't enough to make me want to cheer for them - they are consistently warm and cold with each other well into this second book. It was fine at the beginning, and even acceptable for the first book as a whole, but this far into the story it was so boring.
”Trust me on this, the truth rarely provides anything but pain, and it should be taken in very small doses for those with a low tolerance for it.”
The story kicked it up a notch around 75% of the way through - too long to wait in my opinion. The pace picked up and although there was a lot of back and forth with our MC, things started to look like we were finally getting somewhere. The ending wasn’t as exciting as it could have been, I’d even call it a soft ending. I liked it enough that I didn’t DNF, but I wish we’d been offered more information and closure; story came to a close in such a simple manner. It took all the tension, suspense and emptions that author tried to build up and then just let it slip through its fingers. Yes everything was essentially figured out by the end - but it was a boring and cheap way to do it.
dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
4.5
Book #106 read in 2023
This was such an anticipated read for me because the first book, Echoes and Empires, left us hanging. It was great to catch up with the characters and see the story progress through more action and secret reveals. I loved it!
Thank you to Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for the complimentary ebook.
This was such an anticipated read for me because the first book, Echoes and Empires, left us hanging. It was great to catch up with the characters and see the story progress through more action and secret reveals. I loved it!
Thank you to Penguin Group Young Readers and Netgalley for the complimentary ebook.
aye21's review
No me agrada el rumbo que la historia está tomando.
En primer lugar, la protagonista tiene un encuentro con una bruja malvada, que tranquilamente puede matarte y no sé que más, junto al interés amoroso. La protagonista no solo le falta el respeto a la bruja, tratándola como si estuviera por debajo de ella por ninguna maldita razón, sino que se pone a hablar con el interés amoroso como si la mina no estuviera al lado y fuera la empleadora de este. Surreal. Se supone que hay que temerle miedo a esta mujer, y no hablo de la protagonista, pero solo se siente una caricatura y es sumamente estúpido lo estúpida que es la protagonista (especialmente cuando en el otro libro ella se esforzó por no hacer enojar un brujo poderoso que podía ayudarla). La verdad, la protagonista tenía que haber recibido un castigo peor por parte de la bruja malvada.
Segundo, se supone que el interes amoroso no está feliz de descubrir que la protagonista es hija del brujo más malvado de todos, el cual mató a sus padres en un incendio. Y si, se enoja... Por dos segundos, y después actúa como si todo estuviera resuelto entre ellos. Una oportunidad pérdida de convertirlos en verdaderos villanos, teniéndola a ella defendiéndolo y él perdiendo los estribos porque lo que hizo fue verdaderamente imperdonable. Es una reacción sumamente anticlimatica para el interés amoroso lo bien que se tomó la noticia, solo le molestó que ella se lo dijera antes.
Luego, no me agrada esto de tener a la protagonista teniendo que esperar por el interés amoroso, siguiéndolo y no moviéndose por su cuenta a menos que este lo haga. Me molesta muchísimo. Para mí, esta secuela se debería tratar de ella decidiendo ir a buscar a su padre biológico con su hermano y encontrar las respuestas que necesita por su cuenta. Estaría genial que la historia se concentre en que la protagonista cree una relación con su medio hermano, especialmente porque en la primera historia leímos acerca de lo sola que ella se siente y como ella se lamentaba de no tener otra familia además de su padre adoptivo que murió hace un año.
Además está la cosa de que alguien tiene que enseñarle a la protagonista a manejar sus poderes. Creo que ella está buscando en el lugar incorrecto porque se lo pide al interés amoroso, que verdaderamente no banco.
Le peor de todo es que literalmente mi plan de que ella escape de esa ciudad y busque a su padre biológico con su medio hermano no es un plan tan rebuscado. La chica recibe plata de la reina para mantenerse. ¿Por qué no saca ese efectivo o se consigue un trabajo y hace algo por su historia? En vez de quedarse ahí sentadita y sin hacer, por ninguna maldita buena razón.
Sería más creíble si la autora hubiera dado una buena razón por la cual la protagonista necesita sí o sí al interés amoroso. Pero esa razón no existe y no pienso leer el angst innecesario entre estos dos idiotas.
Así que nada. No estoy para perder mi tiempo leyendo este libro que desde ya no me está gustando, especialmente ahora que tengo que estar estudiando para un final. Así que nada, creo que hasta aquí llegué.
En primer lugar, la protagonista tiene un encuentro con una bruja malvada, que tranquilamente puede matarte y no sé que más, junto al interés amoroso. La protagonista no solo le falta el respeto a la bruja, tratándola como si estuviera por debajo de ella por ninguna maldita razón, sino que se pone a hablar con el interés amoroso como si la mina no estuviera al lado y fuera la empleadora de este. Surreal. Se supone que hay que temerle miedo a esta mujer, y no hablo de la protagonista, pero solo se siente una caricatura y es sumamente estúpido lo estúpida que es la protagonista (especialmente cuando en el otro libro ella se esforzó por no hacer enojar un brujo poderoso que podía ayudarla). La verdad, la protagonista tenía que haber recibido un castigo peor por parte de la bruja malvada.
Segundo, se supone que el interes amoroso no está feliz de descubrir que la protagonista es hija del brujo más malvado de todos, el cual mató a sus padres en un incendio. Y si, se enoja... Por dos segundos, y después actúa como si todo estuviera resuelto entre ellos. Una oportunidad pérdida de convertirlos en verdaderos villanos, teniéndola a ella defendiéndolo y él perdiendo los estribos porque lo que hizo fue verdaderamente imperdonable. Es una reacción sumamente anticlimatica para el interés amoroso lo bien que se tomó la noticia, solo le molestó que ella se lo dijera antes.
Luego, no me agrada esto de tener a la protagonista teniendo que esperar por el interés amoroso, siguiéndolo y no moviéndose por su cuenta a menos que este lo haga. Me molesta muchísimo. Para mí, esta secuela se debería tratar de ella decidiendo ir a buscar a su padre biológico con su hermano y encontrar las respuestas que necesita por su cuenta. Estaría genial que la historia se concentre en que la protagonista cree una relación con su medio hermano, especialmente porque en la primera historia leímos acerca de lo sola que ella se siente y como ella se lamentaba de no tener otra familia además de su padre adoptivo que murió hace un año.
Además está la cosa de que alguien tiene que enseñarle a la protagonista a manejar sus poderes. Creo que ella está buscando en el lugar incorrecto porque se lo pide al interés amoroso, que verdaderamente no banco.
Le peor de todo es que literalmente mi plan de que ella escape de esa ciudad y busque a su padre biológico con su medio hermano no es un plan tan rebuscado. La chica recibe plata de la reina para mantenerse. ¿Por qué no saca ese efectivo o se consigue un trabajo y hace algo por su historia? En vez de quedarse ahí sentadita y sin hacer, por ninguna maldita buena razón.
Sería más creíble si la autora hubiera dado una buena razón por la cual la protagonista necesita sí o sí al interés amoroso. Pero esa razón no existe y no pienso leer el angst innecesario entre estos dos idiotas.
Así que nada. No estoy para perder mi tiempo leyendo este libro que desde ya no me está gustando, especialmente ahora que tengo que estar estudiando para un final. Así que nada, creo que hasta aquí llegué.
stephaniemcuervo's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jules_owlstorm27's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
This book was a perfect finale to Morgan Rhodes first book in the series. I was so incredibly wrapped up in the storylines that were so beautifully woven together that I am shocked and quite sad that I have to now say goodbye to these characters. I really adore how Josslyn confronts not only her own flaws but learns how to curb them into strengths. I am looking forward to reading more of Rhodes books and diving into another of her worlds!
booktalkwithrae's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I absolutely loved the first one so I was super excited to get the sequel. Although it did not live up to my expectations, and I didn’t find this one as good as the first one, I enjoyed it still.
The author did a great job reminding the readers of the important events from the first book without it being repetitive. The best part was being back back with Jocelyn and Jericho and all the side characters. The character growth seemed lacklustre in this instalment, but still enjoyable.
The romance was there and it was good, but lest angst then the last book. I would have wanted more “will they won’t they” moments. There was a point that they seemed like they were together, but they weren’t? I just wanted more.
My main gripe with this book was the plot points. There were scenes that seem unnatural, but was out there so a secret could be revealed or new information to be told in order to move the story along. It just felt forced and I natural.
This series isn’t for everyone. But I enjoyed it over all. I’m glad it was a duology because I felt like this book dragged a little (probably because there were so many random plot points.
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for an eARC of this book.
The author did a great job reminding the readers of the important events from the first book without it being repetitive. The best part was being back back with Jocelyn and Jericho and all the side characters. The character growth seemed lacklustre in this instalment, but still enjoyable.
The romance was there and it was good, but lest angst then the last book. I would have wanted more “will they won’t they” moments. There was a point that they seemed like they were together, but they weren’t? I just wanted more.
My main gripe with this book was the plot points. There were scenes that seem unnatural, but was out there so a secret could be revealed or new information to be told in order to move the story along. It just felt forced and I natural.
This series isn’t for everyone. But I enjoyed it over all. I’m glad it was a duology because I felt like this book dragged a little (probably because there were so many random plot points.
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for an eARC of this book.
nataliesboooks's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
starryeyed9's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5