Reviews

As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool

katinova's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mushytoads's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

el_fj's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Suffers a bit from second-book-in-a-trilogy-itis, where nothing particularly happens that couldn't have been greatly condensed to make the series a duology. Twists are more predictable even than the first book, and there's a bit more lore dumping in the dialogue than the first book. Nevertheless, I'm sticking around for the characters and the generally fast-paced story

kat7890erina's review against another edition

4.0

Another 3.5 stars from me.

The characters continue to be the driving force of the narrative, but some of them stagnate a little in this volume. The Age of Darkness is on the precipice and our protagonists are all in the thick of it. I'd like to see more of the impact beyond our little crew of heroes/antiheroes, as I felt a bit too honed in on their personal dramas when supposedly the whole world is at stake!

vperr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

booknerd334's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

foolishdahlia's review against another edition

4.0

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

spaced_out_ghost's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.5

leopardsummer8's review against another edition

5.0

"'I've been running for a long, long time,' Anton said, touching his thumb to Jude's brow. 'And you were the first thing that ever made me want to stay.' ... 'Your Grace called out to me...I found you...That means...I get to keep you'"(404).
Okay, to be fair, all of chapter 44 is, like, one of my favorite chapters of all time.

I still can't decide if I like this book more or less than the first. It's still an amazing book, but I think I liked book one better...except for the ending. The ending of book two is awesome.
The worldbuilding of this series is just incredible to me. I love the Greco-Roman vibes, especially with the map of what's definitely not the Mediterranean Sea. And the characters? I would give so much just to be a part of the little found family.
This series is so underrated it's not fair.

Also, I've read this book at least four times and I still forget that Illya's hair is brown...

fernanda28's review against another edition

3.0

I don't really like the direction this is taking.
Up until the end there wasn't much that mattered to the story, and the parts that were supposed to hit didn't as I realised I don't have any connection to the characters. There are some good concepts, the romance is there, the little heist thing in one pov, the could-be morally gray character, but there's something missing.
I can't pinpoint why I'm not enjoying this as much as I thought, but I will definitely read the last one to see the end of the story.