This sequel is character focused, the plot's taking the backseat, since Vhalla is traveling North withUmmmmm, the ENDING?! Elise Kova, what the HECK.
This sequel is character focused, the plot's taking the backseat, since Vhalla is traveling North with the army and there's not much you can do while trekking for miles other than talk and train. I'm not entirely mad about it because we get to see relationships develop, spend time with the other characters, and most importantly, expand on the magical foundation set up in book 1. That's right, the magic system and some of its intricacies are introduced and explained! Ugh that's what I love about fantasy series--the opportunity to incorporate details about the world to make it so much more robust.
I did like this one more than Air Awakens, HOWEVER, I still can't stand Vhalla 60% of the time. I like the chosen one trope and I was so thrilled that we have a "chosen one displays great power in front of many and then gets respect for it afterwards" scene, but her thoughts and decisions were riling me up in not a good way. Also I'm devastated that the Daniel is such a sweetheart, I want to protect him at all costs, but I can feel his heartbreak coming.
It doesn’t matter how far we fall, how much pain we inflict, or how dark it becomes in the ruin. I’m going to be with you, waiting for you, loving It doesn’t matter how far we fall, how much pain we inflict, or how dark it becomes in the ruin. I’m going to be with you, waiting for you, loving you, forgiving you. I’m never letting go, Bennett. Never.
I'm not entirely enthused by pirate romances because the idea of being on a ship for months at a time and not thoroughly washing or up-keeping your personal hygiene is such a huge turn off to me. HOWEVER, I am happy to report that bathing is a regular occurrence in this book and that no one is getting intentionally close and personal with unwashed bits and bobs. Thank fuck.
Weird concerns I have aside, this was a wild ride. I INSIST you go into this book blind because its unpredictability really made this book for me.
The writing was so well done. It's written with the vernacular appropriate of its setting but still remains accessible and readable. The dialogue is quick, sharp, and entirely entertaining. Once you get past the set up, it is so easy to fall into and get lost in this book. Not to mention the tension was so thick, you could slice it with a cutlass.
There's the two jealous-possessive, and utterly delicious, MMCs. You meet Priest, a fellow renowned pirate, in the prequel novella but are also given a quick refresher on their history and his subsequent betrayal before the FMC is thrown into the arms of Ashley, a pirate hunter. I loved them both so freaking much. Priest for his utter unhinged devotion, Ashley for his dry humor and his reverence for Bennett. These men are two sides of the same coin and their worshipping of the FMC made for excellent smut.
Although, I need someone send the FMC an edible arrangement or a bouquet of flowers because my goodness she went through SO MUCH SHIT. Seriously? Can she get a break?? (that's not her arm?) Just when you thought she'd get some peace, the conflicts kept slapping her in the face. Don't worry, she gets a HEA, but what a freaking journey.
By the end, I felt satiated by the resolution but a touch unsatisfied. Conflicts wrapped a little too conveniently, and that ending, while fitting, left me a little wanting.
Ultimately, this was my first full novel by this author and definitely not my last. I am so wowed by the story telling and how compelling and immersive this was. I am desperate for more.
This book honestly has the bones of what gets me obsessed with a book: magic/fae, deception and manipulations, some obscure curse affecting the land tThis book honestly has the bones of what gets me obsessed with a book: magic/fae, deception and manipulations, some obscure curse affecting the land that only the heroine can help, a sweetheart love interest we're supposed to root for, and the other hotter love interest you actually want to root for, but it also has the one thing that can make me hate a book...a heroine I couldn't give two shits about. Brie's choices and internal monologue and conflict was so frustrating, I could not stop rolling my eyes at her.
(view spoiler)[ I wish the writing was more show don't tell BUT I'm still very much looking forward to the sequel! Finn kept me reading through to the end of this one and I want to find out what happens as Sebastian's mask finally comes off. I never liked him to begin with. How are you going to say you love Brie but then LITERALLY GO SLEEP WITH SOMEONE TWO SECONDS AFTER LEAVING HER ROOM. Yeah Finn all the way. (hide spoiler)]...more
This was frequently recommended to me, so I went in with pretty high expectations, and that's where it all went wrong...
Now the premise is interestinThis was frequently recommended to me, so I went in with pretty high expectations, and that's where it all went wrong...
Now the premise is interesting, you start the book with little to no context and the characters' intertwined history is steadily revealed with flashbacks throughout the book. That, along with the angst, I did enjoy. The rest of this book...not so much.
I found the writing to be long winded and boring. Granted political conflicts is not the most engaging to begin with *for me*. The prose itself is fine but I think my disdain comes from not liking the FMC, the one and only voice and thoughts we hear and are stuck with. She's this political savant, a self proclaimed spy trained by her former VP grandfather, so you'd think she'd be smart, sure, cunning. Well spoiler alert, she's not. She came off as annoying, gullible, and emotional stilted.
On to the men: Ash is not my kind of Dom. He's incredibly toxic-which I'd normally love in a romance but it did not work here-and he gave me the ick. He does say some alphahole swoony lines every now and then, but his overall demeanor, the way he treats everyone, is not it. Embry was the least annoying of all the character but also forgettable. I thought his and Greer's origin story was so sweet, so much better than Greer and Ash's *retches*.
The spice was nice though. They do the horizontal hokey pokey in many, many ways. (MF, MM, MFM, MMF, it's all here lol)....more
On one hand, I'm disappointed that there weren't as many puzzles and riddles included as I expected, the pacing luI feel pretty conflicted over this.
On one hand, I'm disappointed that there weren't as many puzzles and riddles included as I expected, the pacing lulled frequently, and I was slightly annoyed with the FMC the whole time. On the other hand, the bits with puzzle solving or secrets unveiled were entertaining!
This whole story is a little convoluted, the characters are one dimensional, and I guessed the reveal at the end but I'm sufficiently intrigued to continue the rest of the series.
Plus I'm reading this with my man so it's extra fun lol. ...more
Jess | jadecanread
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