Reviews

Un Dueto Oscuro by V.E. Schwab

agravereader's review against another edition

4.0

I was planning on rating this 3.5-75 before I got to the end.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as it's first volume because it was so entrenched in militarized plot lines and so many side characters and way more plot than I care for in my books. What I enjoyed so much about Book 1 was August and Kate's bond and their story on a human level, set against the monstrous backdrop. Book 2, by contrast, was so focused on the monsters and violence, we lost out on the characters. That being said, what we DID get from the characters was incredible.


I find it INCREDIBLY realistic and satisfying that

Kate dies. For all her bravado and fool hardiness, it only makes sense that she get herself killed. And i say that with the utmost love. I wish we had had more of August's reaction following her death.. that's what I crave from Book, that raw human emotion, but alas.....

All in all, I am a Schwab fan girl through and through. 

rynstellation's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

3.75

a lot of interesting things like the monsters in prosperity were introduced just for the plot and left alone instead of expanded upon. like ok. though i still enjoyed my time reading, the world and characters made it an enjoyable experience

jfrostking's review against another edition

dark

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ahollman's review against another edition

4.0

not as good as the first one but still good, idk why v. e. schwab is so obsessed with shadow monsters but I’ll let it slide

ollieoxnfree's review against another edition

5.0

In the top three best narrators I have ever listened to. I feel I cannot review this book without spoilers.

seyahrue's review against another edition

5.0

I was finally able to finish Our Dark Duet and I am not okay, that ending broke me a little bit

I'll write a full review later when I can get my thoughts together

hellobookbird's review against another edition

5.0

I WAS NOT PREPARED.

[b: Our Dark Duet|32075662|Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity, #2)|Victoria Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476399662s/32075662.jpg|43242921] picks up several months after [b: This Savage Song|23299512|This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity, #1)|Victoria Schwab|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445529989s/23299512.jpg|42855493]. Kate is now in Prosperity, hunting monsters with a group of techies, fighting against her inner and outer demons. Back in Verity, August has taken up the mantle of his dead brother - reaping the souls of those who have committed violent acts - struggling against the person he wants to be versus the person he feels he has to become.

Because she knew a secret: there were two kinds of monsters, the kind that hunted the streets and the kind that lived in your head. She could fight the first, but the second was more dangerous. It was always, always, always a step ahead.

Things get real when the new monster comes to town.

Kate tracks it back home - back to Verity - where we're introduced to new characters (like the genderless Sunai, Soro, and Kate's shadow, Alice) and started off on one helluva wild ride. The stakes are higher than ever before and once the dominoes start tumbling one after another, they pick up speed until you are absolutely wrecked at the end.

And the end is such dark, glorious pain...perfect in every. single. way.

Spoiler

He didn't want it - didn't want anything except to give it back, to hold her the way she'd held him. But he couldn't. He didn't know how. He closed his eyes as the light of Kate's soul flowed through him, strong and bright.

"I don't know," he whispered. "I don't know if the souls stay with me. But I hope they do."

There was no answer.

August opened his eyes. "Kate?"

But the room was dark and quiet, and she was gone.

BEAUTIFULLY. GLORIOUSLY. WRECKED.
DAMN YOU, VICTORIA.

This is the first series I've read by Victoria Schwab. It most certainly won't be the last.

People were messy. They were defined not only by what they'd done, but by what they would have done, under different circumstances, molded as much by their regrets as their actions, choices they stood by and those they wished they could undo. Of course, there was no going back - time only moved forward - but people could change.
For worse.
And for better.

Recommended for absolutely everyone. Kick this to the top of your TBR pile because you won't regret it.

chaptertraveller's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.5

WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!!!!!!!!

I don’t know how I wasn’t more prepared for it but shit man I really wasn’t prepared. So so so good, the first time I’ve sped through two books in a row like this in a LONNGGGGGG time and _of course_ it was a VE Schwab book. This is my ninth by them and almost every singly one has been a slam dunk for me. Is it five stars? I don’t know - depends how I feel after a few days - but I’m so glad I finally decided to read this one after years of it sitting on my shelf.

enchanted_reading's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

eponineeurydice's review against another edition

4.0

The only way to properly express how I feel about V.E. Schwab and this book is to quote the masterpiece The Selection lol, and forgive me if my memory is failing me, it's been a minute.
Break my heart, Ms. Schwab. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break.
I just... V.E. Schwab is one of my all-time favorite authors and I adore her books and this duology was so good and so heart-wrenching.