Scan barcode
zoewaugh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
heyitstay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nicolebanuelos11's review against another edition
Story didn’t flow, and while I’ve read to give it time it just wasn’t enjoyable. Reading felt like a chore and that’s not for me. I knew it was a 50/50 chance of enjoying it or not based on reviews. Maybe another day I’ll try but for now I’m done.
milatonin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
5.0
kford424's review against another edition
Listen I'm gonna come back to it I'm just in the mood for lots of small books right now
kennalovessmut's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
(review contains spoilers)
This book was a whole ass journey, which I was scared to start tbh. After hearing so much about the difficulty of her world building and the sheer length of the book - it made me put off reading CC1. BUT BOY DO I WISH I PICKED IT UP EARLIER!!! I genuinely felt this could've been a really great standalone fantasy book, if SJM either 1) cut out the pointless side characters and world details (approx 200 pages Id say) and 2) had a longer Epilogue just to tie off loose strings (not create more!!!)
Genuinely, it ended so satisfying with a mirror to the beginning, and then the epilogue was like: "oh you think they are happy?? SIKE BITCH"
Things I LOVED:
- Danika and the pack of wolves 😭 now I saw a spoiler about this death but it still hurt my heart
- when Danika is Bryce's "anchor" and the whole "Light it Up" + "Through love, all is possible" themes
- Lehabah!!!!! Miss BB fire sprite providing that comedic relief (and sacrifice when we needed her 😭)
- syrinx. Do I need to say more about this magical cat dog? Love him.
- tbh the TENSIONNNNN between Bryce and Hunt. Y'all are mates, c'mon I just know it. WHY COULDNT YOU JUST BANG ONCE!!!
- The medwitch and scenes with her, then her actually being Queen Hypaxia (guessed this one but still satisfiying)
- THE FREAKING MAIL OTTERS IN LITTLE YELLOW JACKETS. STFU. THATS SO CUTE.
- The murder mystery plot, I thought it was unique for SJM and it had enough twists that I didn't fully guess the "ending"
Things that confused me/I wish we had more info on:
- uhm Starborn power and the Autumn king... I just feel like it's way more important than we think
- the general continent and a map with their location. Like the city map was good yes, but you KEEP MENTIONING OTHER PLACES AND I WANNA SEE VISUALLY WHERE THEY ARE
- Wtf is Sunball... Please I genuinely want to know more and how it's played
- hunts backstory!! You tell me he is a bastard child who doesn't know dear old dad BUT he's the only person who can wield lightning?????
- Bryce's whole personality. It made a lot more sense in the second half of the book, but I genuinely did not understand why Bryce was the way she was the whole first half.
- on that note, why did it take half the book for it to get good??
- The viper Queen and her whole power and district
Things I sobbed over:
- basically most of the ending and any cute friendship moments
- when hunt got his wings cut off and he's sold back to sandriel... Then Bryce trying to sacrifice herself for him !!
- Bryce's whole Drop with Danika
- hunt and Bryce reuniting after the summit
- ruhn and his relationship with Bryce
- the bone quarter at the end opening the mist to show her the beauty behind it and the pack of devils waving to her 😭
- juniper and Bryces friendship, especially when they discuss how she saved Bryce from jumping
- LEHABAHS DEATH PLEASEEEE why must SJM definitively kill off the best characters but then edge us on other character deaths ..
Overall, yes I think I do love this book but it's not a 5 ⭐ for me. If it was a standalone with a bit more editing, oh baby it would've done it for me. I'm a bit worried about continuing the series, again just with spoilers and opinions I've heard online... I will continue but I hope it holds up to the first!
This book was a whole ass journey, which I was scared to start tbh. After hearing so much about the difficulty of her world building and the sheer length of the book - it made me put off reading CC1. BUT BOY DO I WISH I PICKED IT UP EARLIER!!! I genuinely felt this could've been a really great standalone fantasy book, if SJM either 1) cut out the pointless side characters and world details (approx 200 pages Id say) and 2) had a longer Epilogue just to tie off loose strings (not create more!!!)
Genuinely, it ended so satisfying with a mirror to the beginning, and then the epilogue was like: "oh you think they are happy?? SIKE BITCH"
Things I LOVED:
- Danika and the pack of wolves 😭 now I saw a spoiler about this death but it still hurt my heart
- when Danika is Bryce's "anchor" and the whole "Light it Up" + "Through love, all is possible" themes
- Lehabah!!!!! Miss BB fire sprite providing that comedic relief (and sacrifice when we needed her 😭)
- syrinx. Do I need to say more about this magical cat dog? Love him.
- tbh the TENSIONNNNN between Bryce and Hunt. Y'all are mates, c'mon I just know it. WHY COULDNT YOU JUST BANG ONCE!!!
- The medwitch and scenes with her, then her actually being Queen Hypaxia (guessed this one but still satisfiying)
- THE FREAKING MAIL OTTERS IN LITTLE YELLOW JACKETS. STFU. THATS SO CUTE.
- The murder mystery plot, I thought it was unique for SJM and it had enough twists that I didn't fully guess the "ending"
Things that confused me/I wish we had more info on:
- uhm Starborn power and the Autumn king... I just feel like it's way more important than we think
- the general continent and a map with their location. Like the city map was good yes, but you KEEP MENTIONING OTHER PLACES AND I WANNA SEE VISUALLY WHERE THEY ARE
- Wtf is Sunball... Please I genuinely want to know more and how it's played
- hunts backstory!! You tell me he is a bastard child who doesn't know dear old dad BUT he's the only person who can wield lightning?????
- Bryce's whole personality. It made a lot more sense in the second half of the book, but I genuinely did not understand why Bryce was the way she was the whole first half.
- on that note, why did it take half the book for it to get good??
- The viper Queen and her whole power and district
Things I sobbed over:
- basically most of the ending and any cute friendship moments
- when hunt got his wings cut off and he's sold back to sandriel... Then Bryce trying to sacrifice herself for him !!
- Bryce's whole Drop with Danika
- hunt and Bryce reuniting after the summit
- ruhn and his relationship with Bryce
- the bone quarter at the end opening the mist to show her the beauty behind it and the pack of devils waving to her 😭
- juniper and Bryces friendship, especially when they discuss how she saved Bryce from jumping
- LEHABAHS DEATH PLEASEEEE why must SJM definitively kill off the best characters but then edge us on other character deaths ..
Overall, yes I think I do love this book but it's not a 5 ⭐ for me. If it was a standalone with a bit more editing, oh baby it would've done it for me. I'm a bit worried about continuing the series, again just with spoilers and opinions I've heard online... I will continue but I hope it holds up to the first!
luwestreads's review against another edition
5.0
OMG!
Just finished and literally cannot wait for more!!!
Please please please write the next book!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!
Just finished and literally cannot wait for more!!!
Please please please write the next book!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!
lexi8601's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-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