Scan barcode
justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
3.75
“Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.”
Oh my goodness... WOW. This book went in a completely different direction than I was expecting! We've moved past the Beauty and the Beast retelling and into something more political and dark. This book had so many moments that surprised me, I couldn't believe the actions of some characters, and I can't wait to see how the trilogy concludes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture
prashiie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
2.0
"Do not let your kindness make you vulnerable.”
This story is mainly told through Grey and Lia Mara’s point of view. Lia Mara is a new addition to the story and she is the first-born daughter of Karis Luran, but definitely not ruthless like her mother. I am very glad that there was no dreaded love triangle.
I hate how Rhen’s character is completely butchered in this book. It’s like they really needed a hero-turned-villain to add some sensation and what would be more controversial than picking Rhen. It makes no sense, especially because he does his best to be a better person and to care for his kingdom and the people around him. He might have been a little entitled before, but the curse really softened him up. Even Grey could see this! So what happened to the Grey who would lay down his life for Rhen? He might not be bound by an oath anymore, but that doesn’t erase the many seasons during the curse where they only had each other. I don't understand the motivation behind some of the choices these characters make and how so many people could give up on Rhen. He deserves better!
Rhen mentions in the past that people don’t trust him enough to make good decisions. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GREY DOES! If only he told Rhen the truth as soon as he found out. Grey decides to stay away from Ironrose instead, as if that would solve all problems. Rhen is scarred for life by magic and now there’s this magesmith around who is actually the true heir?! Of course Rhen has to go to lengths to protect his kingdom from another magesmith of whom he knows nothing about.
And the ending… are you serious?!Lilith was never dead?! No wonder Rhen took drastic measures.
I‘ve wondered many times if I could have enjoyed this story if the plot took a different direction and I think that was indeed a possibility. What if–hear me out–Lilith indeed escapes and Grey didn’t know the truth, stays at Ironrose and searches for this true heir alongside Rhen. After he finds out it’s him that they’re looking for, Rhen gets the chance to see the good side of magic, they go on a quest to unlock Grey’s true potential and then he takes down Lilith in an epic magical battle. Basically, any plot where Rhen is not vilified is acceptable!
This story is mainly told through Grey and Lia Mara’s point of view. Lia Mara is a new addition to the story and she is the first-born daughter of Karis Luran, but definitely not ruthless like her mother. I am very glad that there was no dreaded love triangle.
I hate how Rhen’s character is completely butchered in this book. It’s like they really needed a hero-turned-villain to add some sensation and what would be more controversial than picking Rhen. It makes no sense, especially because he does his best to be a better person and to care for his kingdom and the people around him. He might have been a little entitled before, but the curse really softened him up. Even Grey could see this! So what happened to the Grey who would lay down his life for Rhen? He might not be bound by an oath anymore, but that doesn’t erase the many seasons during the curse where they only had each other. I don't understand the motivation behind some of the choices these characters make and how so many people could give up on Rhen. He deserves better!
Rhen mentions in the past that people don’t trust him enough to make good decisions. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GREY DOES! If only he told Rhen the truth as soon as he found out. Grey decides to stay away from Ironrose instead, as if that would solve all problems. Rhen is scarred for life by magic and now there’s this magesmith around who is actually the true heir?! Of course Rhen has to go to lengths to protect his kingdom from another magesmith of whom he knows nothing about.
And the ending… are you serious?!
I‘ve wondered many times if I could have enjoyed this story if the plot took a different direction and I think that was indeed a possibility. What if–hear me out–Lilith indeed escapes and Grey didn’t know the truth, stays at Ironrose and searches for this true heir alongside Rhen. After he finds out it’s him that they’re looking for, Rhen gets the chance to see the good side of magic, they go on a quest to unlock Grey’s true potential and then he takes down Lilith in an epic magical battle. Basically, any plot where Rhen is not vilified is acceptable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Death, Violence, and Blood
instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Reading in Grey's POV threw me off a bit, but I loved being in his head. I was unsure whether I would like to read Lia Mara but I honestly really enjoy her too!
I'm unsure if I loved this one as much as the second but I think what knocked .25 stars was the Rhens ending chapter. What bullshit. 😒
I didn't expect that to happen but I'm very annoyed. 😒 I will still read book 3 though because I'm interested still.
I'm unsure if I loved this one as much as the second but I think what knocked .25 stars was the Rhens ending chapter. What bullshit. 😒
I didn't expect that to happen but I'm very annoyed. 😒 I will still read book 3 though because I'm interested still.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Death of parent, and Death
lucia_without_j's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
usjdjfnnffm2737's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Blood
ivegotyourpaperback's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Like the first book, this is dual POV. However this time we’re following different characters. This is a great way of expanding the story, and opening up the world. There’s only so much that can happen within the confines of the castle, so I thoroughly enjoyed the geographical exploration of Emberfall and its peoples.
We’re introduced to new characters, of which one is Lia Marra from neighbouring kingdom Syhl Shallow. This book does a good job of making you care about the new characters and not fall into the trap of resenting them because they’re not the originals. This is where the dual POV (one by a character from ACSDAL, and one by someone new) worked quite well. I also found myself rooting for Lia Marra over Rhen early on.
The ‘portal fantasy’ trope comes particularly in handy for this book, in the form of Noah, a modern day doctor who is able to recognise (and therefore alert the reader) Rhen’s PTSD. His resulting shitty behaviour is then addressed and understood more. At least briefly.
Then, I’m sorry to say, Rhen becomes a dick and Harper becomes boring. Luckily the book is mostly centred on the 2 POV characters, so this is pretty much a separate story to the first book, with nods to familiar characters.
A couple of the side characters (Nolla Verrin, Karis Luran) didn’t feel fleshed out. Karis Luran seemed to be evil just for evil’s sake. There didn’t really seem to be a justification for why she was such a bitch - she just was.
Finally I don’t quite get the logic behind the line of succession in Shyl Shallow: whoever kills the current ruler becomes the new ruler.
- So was Karis Luran happy to let Nolla Verrin kill her one day?
- Was Nolla Verrin supposed to wait until Karis Luran was on her deathbed? Or just whenever she felt she was ready to ascend to the throne?
- And if this is how rulers come to be, what is the point in Karis Luran naming Nolla Verrin as the heir? What use is a specific choice of heir at all in this monarchy?
Content warnings:
⚠️murder/execution
⚠️corporal punishment
⚠️torture
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Torture
qrschulte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think I liked this one more than the last one. And again, I called the big reveals.
Things I liked:
- GREY!!!
- Iisak. More of him please
- Jake‘s redemption.
- The romance actually made sense and had some chemistry and a bit of steam.
Things I didn’t like:
- The Lia Mara narrator made the girls sound waaaay younger than they were supposed to be. She also was a bit melodramatic, either with a laugh in her voice or like a swoon teen, which was a little much for my tastes.
- The torture
- The 180 degree flip of characterizations of Harper and Rhen, which I guess is only slightly explained. Especially after Rhen’s character growth in the last book. And Harper being okay with Rhen’s behavior after giving her brother (warranted) shit in the first book? Makes no sense.
Things I liked:
- GREY!!!
- Iisak. More of him please
- Jake‘s redemption.
- The romance actually made sense and had some chemistry and a bit of steam.
Things I didn’t like:
- The Lia Mara narrator made the girls sound waaaay younger than they were supposed to be. She also was a bit melodramatic, either with a laugh in her voice or like a swoon teen, which was a little much for my tastes.
- The torture
- The 180 degree flip of characterizations of Harper and Rhen, which I guess is only slightly explained. Especially after Rhen’s character growth in the last book. And Harper being okay with Rhen’s behavior after giving her brother (warranted) shit in the first book? Makes no sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Body shaming, Murder, Violence, War, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Torture
Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Medical content, Abandonment, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Chronic illness
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Torture, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content