3.71 AVERAGE

suzjustsuz's profile picture

suzjustsuz's review

3.0

The story is interesting enough, but this one was a bit of a downgrade from the first. It's a trilogy and there are new people, new powers, new plots still being revealed. The introduction of the love triangle was disappointing to see, it's a stereotypical trope that I could have done without.

The cliff hanger ending at this book is heinous and insulting. The only reason I didn't grade down for it is because the third is due out in one month (Dec 1). I would have been very upset if I'd had to wait a year or more with this intentionally manipulative ending.

This books used the term "every fiber of his/ her being" several times. It's a personal pet peeve of mine and it was disappointing to see in this trilogy. Over all I'd say this was not as good as the first book led me to believe this one would be.

Or maybe I'm just feeling pissy about the cliff hanger and the seemingly unnecessary love triangle.

Incidentally, there are no set POV with this book. You get to see the story from just about every perspective. POV jumps around a lot, but in fairness to the author it's not too difficult to follow.
mcummings's profile picture

mcummings's review

3.0

This was a good second installment to the trilogy, but I did not like it quite as much as the first. Chrysabelle is following up on her promise to get Mal's curse lifted, Doc is trying to get Fi resurrected, Tatiana is still trying to get the ring. We also have the introdution of two new characters a witch, and Creek who is a vampire slayer and potential love interest for Chrysabelle. I really didn't care for the new love triangle, and the while the narrative was moved forward towards the conclusion, it didn't quite speak to me the same way the first one did.

readundancies's review

3.0

I’m giving this a 2.5 star rating and rounding up because I’m going to continue the series if only to see if we can turn this train around.

Because this didn’t exactly meet expectations.

I’m not about the love triangle. It’s a little too convenient. Which is not to say I don’t like Creek, it’s just I don’t love the instant gratification that comes with instalove (aka infatuation) which is what making him a romantic interest results in. He could be a really great new character, but all I get is obsessive I-was-born-to-protect-you vibes and I’m sorry, but it’s been overdone. That chicken be dry as fuck.

I wanted to be here for the slow burn, and the angst and the yearning for both blood and soul that is Mal from the first book and instead I got a goddamn sulky dose of depression and a no sense of self worth Mal who was not desirable in the least. Also you can’t be a possessive beast in the first book and then be willing to hand off what you care about with ease in the next one. That’s not growth, that’s inconsistency.

So yeah, the romance was not doing it for me in this one, kisses be damned.

I’m also not about Chrysabelle and her naïveté. Coupled with her need for everyone to get along and the fact that her actions often tend to go against her words makes her characterization seem quite underdeveloped, which is a shame because she could be so much more admirable but she’s not.

Still not about Tatiana, but then again, I never was because she doesn’t seem to have any sort of valid motivations for her actions and that makes for poor character development. Also, her whole let me follow Chrysabelle around because if no one can get the job done I must do it myself routine is not exactly the most conniving and manipulative way to do evil, and while the ends were made met, it just seemed very low effort.

The plot was still fast paced and engaging, but not nearly as much as the first one because there’s so many subplots that weave together. And it’s not exactly neat weaving, it’s forced and rushed to its detriment. I still enjoyed it, however since it’s not really up to par I’ve been wanting more in depth characterization and that hasn’t been happening. Truly my biggest issue is the inconsistent characterization with so many of the main players in this book.

Also, the ending? Sloppy. Messy. Witches deserve better than to be made convenient antagonists. And not every action has to come back and bite you in the ass directly.

So yeah, disappointed on my end.

Because I’ve asked myself what about this book did I like, and I can’t really come up with a positive answer.

And really, that’s just disappointing.

If the next one doesn’t improve, I think I’m gonna have to drop this series.
wonderturtle's profile picture

wonderturtle's review

4.0

Ah, the love triangle. Why is it that vampire stories tend to feature a love triangle with a woman at the center?
I felt this book, like many second-in-a-trilogy books, was setting up things to come. The story is still compelling, but not as much as the first book, for me. The addition of characters and the way the characters are changing make me excited to read the next installment, but I'm also a little impatient and anxious as I wait to find out how everything will come together in the end.
The mythology behind this series is so rich and I find myself wanting to know more about the comarre and their history. I also want to know more about the other "othernaturals" featured in this series. I hope this trilogy ends up spawning more books so we get to see more of this wonderful world!

anita86dk's review

4.0

So many things went down in this book, and I enjoyed it for the most part.
I'm not sure how I feel about the love triangle.... Why did that have to be in it as well.
I also really am not enjoying seeing things from Tatiana's (aka the villain) perspective.
I ship Chrysabelle and Mal so much tho....

Can't wait to see what will happen in the next book. That ending was Crazy!

wyvernfriend's review

4.0

This definitely needs you to read book 1 first to get a lot of what's going on with the characters. Chrysabelle is trying to find a role in live, still attracted to Malkolm but knowing that they can never have a real relationship, he would kill her. She also owes him a debt, a debt he's impatient for her to repay. Into the mix comes Creek, an erstwhile human who has been given supernatural power to fight supernaturals. Malkolms ex-wife is still on the scene, searching for the Ring of Sorrows and the power associated with it.

It's a complicated plot and I'm wondering how everything is going to resolve.

jamieaade5's review

4.0

4.5*