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mali33102's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
Brigid Kemmerer does it again. I love her books so much, and being able to revisit Syhl Shallow and Emberfall was great. I loved getting to see the old cast of characters once again as well as the new characters that were introduced. I also really appreciated how she sprinkled the plot of the Curse So Dark and Lonely throughout to remind past readers who may have forgotten some of it (AKA: me).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual content
maira_h's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.5 brilliant stars!
Halfway through, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars. But then, things started picking up and I was at the edge of my seat.
The first half of the book felt very domestic. We were following Jax (a blacksmith) and Callyn (a baker) who were trying to make ends meet. I'll admit, I don't really care for the first half– the romance, the domesticity etc. But their desperation to earn silver to save their homes laid down the groundwork for a lot of important keypoints in the story– their inner battle of right and wrong as well as the bigger conflict in the Kingdom of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall– the anti-magic faction.
I've read Defy The Night by the same author and quite frankly, I can't comprehend how it was written by the same author. I loved the Cursebreaker Trilogy– and now this book– because of the way the bond between the characters were written. They didn't need to say anything much to each other but the hurt, betrayal and angst oozed from the pages. I love that kind of thing in a book. I can't quite understand why Defy The Night couldn't accomplish this level of emotional maturity and intelligence but then again, I might already be biased because of nostalgia.
I said that I loved the way the bond between the characters were portrayed. The conflict between Tycho and King Grey was something that started in the previous series. I'm glad that it was finally addressed in this book and becoming something vital in the plot. And that unlikely bond between Tycho and Prince Rhen, I'm living for it. Rhen is absolutely great in this book.
I wished we got at least one perspective from the old characters, either Grey or Rhen (I mostly just want to see what the hell Grey was thinking because like Rhen said, Grey never yields), but I guess we can't all have nice things.
Can't believe I have to wait for the second book now...
Halfway through, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars. But then, things started picking up and I was at the edge of my seat.
The first half of the book felt very domestic. We were following Jax (a blacksmith) and Callyn (a baker) who were trying to make ends meet. I'll admit, I don't really care for the first half– the romance, the domesticity etc. But their desperation to earn silver to save their homes laid down the groundwork for a lot of important keypoints in the story– their inner battle of right and wrong as well as the bigger conflict in the Kingdom of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall– the anti-magic faction.
I've read Defy The Night by the same author and quite frankly, I can't comprehend how it was written by the same author. I loved the Cursebreaker Trilogy– and now this book– because of the way the bond between the characters were written. They didn't need to say anything much to each other but the hurt, betrayal and angst oozed from the pages. I love that kind of thing in a book. I can't quite understand why Defy The Night couldn't accomplish this level of emotional maturity and intelligence but then again, I might already be biased because of nostalgia.
I said that I loved the way the bond between the characters were portrayed. The conflict between Tycho and King Grey was something that started in the previous series. I'm glad that it was finally addressed in this book and becoming something vital in the plot. And that unlikely bond between Tycho and Prince Rhen, I'm living for it. Rhen is absolutely great in this book.
I wished we got at least one perspective from the old characters, either Grey or Rhen (I mostly just want to see what the hell Grey was thinking because like Rhen said, Grey never yields), but I guess we can't all have nice things.
Can't believe I have to wait for the second book now...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Grief, and Classism