**spoiler alert** This book felt a little less grounded and was more rushed than the first book. I think some things should have been cut or the book **spoiler alert** This book felt a little less grounded and was more rushed than the first book. I think some things should have been cut or the book should have been longer. The first book had better pacing and character growth, but this book did not disappoint as a sequel. It was super entertaining, and I flew through it. But I was able to guess the “bad guy” right away. I never trusted Ruslan.
There was not much character development in this book and Séverin seemed to go backwards.
Séverin. What the fuck. What was your plan?? Why do you think you know what is best for everyone? I was irritated with him the whole book! Uggh…I just wanted to slap some sense into him. He was so fixated on his goal the whole book. I thought that maybe he would learn his lesson from last time, when Tristan died, but he seems even more hyper-focused. He also did so many bad things. He crushed Enrique’s dream of becoming part of the Ilustrados and he kept Zofia away from her sick sister. I know he sent a doctor to help Hela but still.
I was excited to get a little more backstory on Séverin. I liked seeing the Matriarch of House Kore, Delphine, and how close she was to Séverin when he was younger. I just want to learn more about his mother! I hope that we will learn more in the next book.
Laila...I don’t know how I felt about her in this book. She didn’t seem like someone who was about to die. Why did she leave the hotel? I know she was mad at Séverin, but she abandoned Zofia and Enrique. And she isn’t baking anymore which I thought was a big part of her identity in the last book. I can’t remember if she is still dancing at the L’Eden but we don't hear much about that either. She feels different from first book Laila. She does kind of come back to herself after she tells Zofia and Enrique her secret. I liked how their friendship was strengthened in this book.
Man, Enrique got it bad in his book. In the beginning he gets stood up by the Ilustrados, then he mutually breaks things off with Hypnos, and then he gets an ear cut off!
I really want to see more growth in Hypnos. He had a bigger role in this book and was part of the main group, but he was still super immature. I’m happy that Séverin basically called him his brother at the end of the book. I think this will help his growth in the third book.
I wish we got more about Zofia in this book. I love all the interactions between Zofia and Enrique; they just work so well together. (I'm hoping they are endgame) I am super suspicious of that last letter she got. I really think her sister is dead. Why didn’t she open that letter!!!!
Omg the cliff hanger. Also, I really like that both books ended with a Hypnos POV. Overall, I liked the book, just not quite as much as the first. I will be anxiously awaiting the third installment.
2023 reread: I enjoyed this one even more the second time. I think I appreciated the pacing the second time around and I think (contrary to my past self) there was lots of character development. We definitely got development with Zofia and her trusting in herself more, Laila was able to let others in and share more of herself, and Hypnos learns he needs to be more aware of the feelings of others. I also wasn't as pissed at Séverin this time around. ...more
**spoiler alert** I started this book back in January 2019 and I just wasn’t in the right mood/could not get into it. But…I decided to give it another**spoiler alert** I started this book back in January 2019 and I just wasn’t in the right mood/could not get into it. But…I decided to give it another chance because I was seeing some gorgeous fan art for the second book (mainly art by Gabriella Bujdoso). And I was NOT disappointed. Roshani Chokshi is amazing and I am now in love with her. I was drawn into this world from page one. Each character felt so real and complex. Their motivations and what drove them through this book was clear. They all had their own reasons for staying with Séverin: Tristan because Séverin was his brother; Laila because she needs the power Séverin has as the future patriarch to find a book; Enrique so he can gain the influence he needs to join the Ilustrados; and Zofia because she needs Séverin’s influence to regain access to college and help get her sister into medical school.
The magic system was kind of mysterious but that didn’t bother me. It wasn’t really a focus of the book. I like how integrated the magic was to the world.
“There were two kinds of Forging affinities: mind and matter. Someone with a matter affinity could influence one of three material states: liquids, solids, or gasses.”
The pacing was perfect, the action was perfect, I loved all the Egyptian references; I really liked the Ammit. The Horus Eye scene *chef’s kiss* whole book *chef’s kiss* I just loved it all. This book has everything: romance, action, and deception. You never know what's going to happen next you are kept at the edge of your seat.
The characters were the shinning stars of this book. Usually when books have multiple POVs I always like one or two and the other views I have to slog through to get to my favorites again. But that did not happen with this book. I ended up loving all the characters, although I will say that Séverin and Laila were my favorites.
Laila, stage name L'Enigme, is a dancer and baker at the L’Eden hotel. She deeply cares about each member of the group; she feeds Tristan’s tarantula at midnight when he is captured, and she helps Zofia break out of her shell a bit. Her friendship with Zofia is just so precious. She held everyone together. Her affinity (I don’t know if that is the right word) allows her to read an objects history which is so cool, and I can wait to see more of it. Laila was made a jaadugar and her parents and she is going to die at 19!! What!!??
And when Séverin told her she could say whatever she wanted because he could never be hurt by words of someone who wasn’t real! Séverin needs to get his priorities straight.
“Call me whatever you wish. It’s impossible to be hurt by someone who’s not even real.”
Ouch.
But that last twist were she tricks him into a deal, so good.
Séverin took his found family for granted. He had such a narrow vision, all he wanted to do was become the House Vanth patriarch. He was only thinking about the end goal rather than the amazing people he as around him and it gets him in the end. I feel like there is so much more to learn about him. He’s who I’m most excited to learn more about. He’s just such a messed-up character. We get flashbacks to his childhood before and after his parents die. I hope we get to see more of Séverin’s mother. He names all his foster fathers after the seven deadly sins. Although I’m not completely convinced that the fathers are real. This book was full of twists and it is making me question everything! And Séverin is not even the heir to House Vanth! That got me good!
I did not see Tristan’s death coming. I was betting that Hypnos would die. I mean the man almost died a couple times. But looking back, Tristan is the only character who did not get POV chapters.
One of my favorite things in books is when the author will offhandedly say something that later turns out to be really important. This book was full of them, all those through away lines about how the birds dying!!! Oh my goodness!!! Tristan Noo!!!
Another thing I loved about this book is how something can be said and because of the bias you have can mean something completely different when you look back at it in hindsight.
“His love and fear and his own cracked mind made it easy to convince him that betraying you was saving you.”
It meant different things each time.
I loved Enrique and that he is bisexual. And I’m loving the love triangle that was hinted at. It took me a while to decide if Hypnos was a good guy or not, but I grew to love him too! I really liked all the interactions between Enrique and Zofia as well as Enrique and Hypnos. But I felt so bad for Zofia when she walked in on Enrique and Hypnos kissing.
Séverin-*heir* to House Vanth, owner of L’Eden, and leader of the group. (French and Algerian) Laila-dancer; baker, can read an objects history; was made by her parents and a jaadugar; and the mom of the group (Indian) Enrique-journalist, historian, bi (Filipino and Spanish) Zofia-scientist, engineer, forging affinity for solid matter, Jewish (from Poland) Tristan- Séverin’s surrogate brother, liquid forging ability with plants Hypnos-Heir to house Nyx, falls in with Séverin’s group
House Kore-symbol is thorns and represented by an emerald eagle House Nyx-symbol is Crescent moons, heir is Hypnos, represented by an onyx bear House Vanth-symbol is a snake biting its own tale, said to have died out The Fallen House-symbol a six-pointed star
Overall: I really loved this book and can’t wait to start the next one. All the stars!! This book reminded me a lot of Six of Crows. I think if you loved that book, this book is for you. I listened to the audiobook while I read which I found really helpful....more
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