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ebac622's review against another edition
5.0
This was an unexpected turn from the first novel in this trilogy but i grew to love it just as much!
blurrypetals's review against another edition
1.0
Y'all, what the fuck happened here?
I was disappointed at first that this book didn't follow Rhen and Harper, but at first I was okay with it. However, the more things went on, the more I wanted to tear my hair out.
Quickly, Kemmerer dismantles just about everything that made the first book so interesting and charming. Did you like Harper? Well, she's behaving completely out of character and we get one chapter from her POV. Lame. Did you like Grey? Be prepared for him to also act completely out of character as his delightful stoicism dies a quiet death now that he is Main Character Material. Ugh, great. Did you like Rhen? I know I did! Get ready for the world's loudest character assassination as Rhen performs the most baffling heel turn I've seen in a long time. In my review for the first book, I praised Kemmerer for doing "Sarah J. Maas, but better," but here, it's "Even More Sarah J. Maas, but worse." Surprise, Rhen is the villain now for some fucking reason.
Everything about this book takes so many of the things I loathe about Sarah J. Maas's writing and takes none of the few things I actually like. This is a sequel that takes away everything good about the first book, and I'm pretty fucking heartbroken about it. I had a really hard time with our new cast of characters, too. I liked the scraver, but he is the only new character I cared for. Lia Mara was insufferable. Her narrator's voice on the audiobook was also grating, not unlike Molly C. Quinn on the audiobooks for City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls.
I'm really torn on whether or not I'll continue, as things could still turn around, but for now I'm glad there's a few months before the final book comes out so I have some time to think it over. For now, I'm just glad I don't have to read any more of this book.
I was disappointed at first that this book didn't follow Rhen and Harper, but at first I was okay with it. However, the more things went on, the more I wanted to tear my hair out.
Quickly, Kemmerer dismantles just about everything that made the first book so interesting and charming. Did you like Harper? Well, she's behaving completely out of character and we get one chapter from her POV. Lame. Did you like Grey? Be prepared for him to also act completely out of character as his delightful stoicism dies a quiet death now that he is Main Character Material. Ugh, great. Did you like Rhen? I know I did! Get ready for the world's loudest character assassination as Rhen performs the most baffling heel turn I've seen in a long time. In my review for the first book, I praised Kemmerer for doing "Sarah J. Maas, but better," but here, it's "Even More Sarah J. Maas, but worse." Surprise, Rhen is the villain now for some fucking reason.
Everything about this book takes so many of the things I loathe about Sarah J. Maas's writing and takes none of the few things I actually like. This is a sequel that takes away everything good about the first book, and I'm pretty fucking heartbroken about it. I had a really hard time with our new cast of characters, too. I liked the scraver, but he is the only new character I cared for. Lia Mara was insufferable. Her narrator's voice on the audiobook was also grating, not unlike Molly C. Quinn on the audiobooks for City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls.
I'm really torn on whether or not I'll continue, as things could still turn around, but for now I'm glad there's a few months before the final book comes out so I have some time to think it over. For now, I'm just glad I don't have to read any more of this book.
hellobookbird's review against another edition
2.0
"Fear makes people act in ways we'd never expect."
The curse is finally broken, but rumors circulate that Prince Rhen is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
Grey may be the heir, but he doesn't want anyone to know his secret. On the run since he destroyed Lilith, he has no desire to challenge Rhen—until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother's violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
"Ah, yes, the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book."
Coming off the high of the first book, [b:A Curse So Dark and Lonely|43204703|A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1)|Brigid Kemmerer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574179523l/43204703._SY75_.jpg|50519947], I was shockingly underwhelmed with this one. Going from a 5-star first book to a 2-star second book doesn't sit well with me, but here we are.
Let's start with what I loved: the dedication of the book.
Look in the mirror. You’re a cursebreaker. You’re strong. You’re amazing. You are changing the world by just being in it.
The sisters. Lia Mara and Nolla Verin are two completely different people on opposite sides of the spectrum. But instead of breeding hatred, the sisters love each other instead. It's highly evident and can I just say this was super refreshing and I wanted more of it? We see opposites balancing the other in romantic relationships all the time...bring me more balanced siblings!
Jake. Rhen was Harper's sidekick in the first novel. Now Jake is Grey's. They actually suit each other really well and this bromance is totally a yes.
That was it.
Neither Grey, Harper, nor Rhen actually felt like...Grey, Harper or Rhen. I feel like this is some alternative universe that stole their names and completely changed their characters. Grey was no longer the somber and honor-bound guard I fell in love with. I understood his fears but I did not understand why he ran or why he insisted on keeping the secret that he was the heir once captured. He knows Rhen is strategic and smart. He knows Harper wants to preserve life, always, and to be just and fair. After going through so much together why is there suddenly no trust?!
Yes, let's just throw out everything that we tried to accomplish in book one and spit on the ashes, hmmm?
Speaking of Rhen...what bloodthirsty, idiotic asshole did Kemmerer replace him with? You can't tell me that Rhen wouldn't have figured out the secret anyway based on Grey's actions because it isn't like he spent centuries trapped with Grey and would know how he operates. If they had had a single freaking talk, none of this would have happened and they would have figured something out. But no. We have to spend the majority of the time hemming and hawwing that "this is for your own good." And I understand Rhen's throne and his people are everything to him but...
After spending all of book one not being the villain, why the HECK is he now the villain?????
Spoiler
Torturing Grey? And a child? Blaming PTSD? IN WHAT UNIVERSE???And HARPER. The little spitfire I knew would have reamed Rhen a good one and not allowed him to do some of the heinous things he did. I loved them together because they truly brought the best out of each other. Instead, she's just a prop on a prince's arm full of tears and apologies.
Regardless of the fact that she understood he was scared and under a lot of pressure, she would not have allowed him to become a monster.
And the END. I just...nope. I can't do it. After being a good sport and making my way to the finish only for THAT to happen...I'm scrubbing this book from memory and considering [b:A Curse So Dark and Lonely|43204703|A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1)|Brigid Kemmerer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574179523l/43204703._SY75_.jpg|50519947] as a standalone.
Saying it louder for those in the back: turn back all ye who enter here.
jbird7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mixmastermaeve's review against another edition
I feel through too many plot holes and couldn’t find my way out.
mdevlin923's review against another edition
3.0
The second installment in the Cursebreakers series...this time from the perspectives of Grey and Lia Mara.
While the plot and writing was superb, I was disappointed with some of the character development and some of the plot twists added.
While the plot and writing was superb, I was disappointed with some of the character development and some of the plot twists added.
cberandi's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
juliapatt2007's review against another edition
3.0
I really really really wanted to like this book! I LOVED A Curse So Dark and Lonely so I thought that I would like this one just as much. While I enjoyed getting to know Grey more as a character this book felt a little like a place holder for the next book in the series. I loved the female lead in this book she was very different from the female lead in A Curse so that was refreshing. Overall I still liked the book but I didn’t race through it like I did the first book. Looking forward to the third book and the tying together of these two stories! After re-reading this book in anticipation of the third and final book in the series I would agree with and echo my original review. I really didn’t like Rhen’s character development in this book. While I understand he is afraid I’m just very thrown by his progression into apparent cruelty.
meredithgracereads's review
adventurous
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? Yes
3.75