3 stars - and I think I'm being generous here. Please make sure to read content/trigger warnings before you read this book and please be mindful I men3 stars - and I think I'm being generous here. Please make sure to read content/trigger warnings before you read this book and please be mindful I mention some of the triggers in this review.
The first 70% of this book was truly a difficult read for various reasons. Considering this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, I am truly disappointed. I believe this series should have been a duet, because this was mostly filler (and not good filler!). This book had no emotional depth, barely any plot, no character development and very obvious betrayals that added no real excitement to the book. I also found this book used rape for shock value, rather than providing anything worthwhile to the stories or characters.
One of my biggest issues was with our main character Isolde. Considering I adored her in the first book, I felt like I was reading a different character in this one. This Isolde felt whiny, immature, childish and her behaviour towards Adrian and everyone around her was frustrating and reckless. A lot of decisions Isolde made in this book, especially early-on, came from a place of 'wanting to be seen as a Queen to her people' rather than actually thinking about what she was doing. This resulted in a lot of unnecessary deaths of characters, which was just frustrating to witness. Particularly as she refused to learn from this.
Our FMC Isolde had experienced a lot of trauma in book 1, including (view spoiler)[ murdering her own father (hide spoiler)]. While we get hints of this throughout the book, it was clear the author didn't know how to handle this effectively and kind of glossed over it. This could have added so much more depth to Isolde's character, but instead we just received a smut scene in every chapter that literally added nothing. Adrian's trauma was also glossed over in this book, and while I think it was an intentional choice by the author, it honestly made me want to hit Isolde round the head with a frying pan. It highlighted how immature and childish her character was. Overall, the author made both the main characters unlikeable in this book. I honestly started cheering on side characters and the people betraying them about 40% in.
The relationship between Adrian x Isolde was downright toxic in this book, and not the good kind. The constant fighting and fucking was honestly tiring by Chapter 6. I wished the author had used this book to deepen their relationship but she seemed to rely on the fact that Isolde and Adrian knew each other in a former life to avoid adding any emotional depth to their relationship. I felt uncomfortable with the way they spoke and acted towards each other, particularly Isolde's behaviour towards Adrian. At one point, Adrian even says "She is mine - to hurt, to bleed, to fuck." That sums up this whole book. Literally.
It was very clear in this book the author was trying to push a female empowerment vibe to the book which I am always down for. But with the story and characters she had built in this book, it did not work. AT ALL.
We managed to get some plot in the last 80 pages of the book but it was cut-off so quickly, this book was definitely a build-up for book 3. My personal opinion, this may be one of Scarlett's worst books.
Some other 'small' things that pissed me:
- I noticed this in book 1, but it was even more obvious in this one. The author is weirdly obsessed with over-describing every single outfit that Isolde wears and I don't care for it. Not sure why we can over-describe on the clothes, but not include a hint of a plot in the first 250 pages...
-Isolde had a weird saviour complex in this book, particularly around the home/land of her mother, and it just felt like a useless plot at this point in the series. "I swore to protect my people," I said. "Can you even call them yours?" he said. "They do not know who you are." BOOM. Adrian hitting the nail right on the head here. Not me pumping my fist when he finally said that.
- "Perhaps you should reflect on why you are always apologising to me," I said. "And change." Babe, you're honestly the biggest problem in this relationship and the reason he's always apologising is because you're too stubborn and immature to do so.
"I am not like the women in your court," I said, because it was true... To these people, I was wild and untamed. - the pick me energy we didn't want. Also, she wasn't like other girls because she used to dig in the dirt with her hands...
This book has me questioning whether I will finish this series....more
Character Development: 3/5 Plot: 3.5/5 Readability: 4/5 Enjoyment: 3.5/5
I prefer this book over A Touch of Darkness to be honest - HaOverall Score: 3.5/5
Character Development: 3/5 Plot: 3.5/5 Readability: 4/5 Enjoyment: 3.5/5
I prefer this book over A Touch of Darkness to be honest - Hades has such an interesting subplot and I love seeing his relationship with the other Olympians and Gods. The romance is slightly repetitive having read it from Persephone's POV, but I do find Hades POV a lot more enjoyable.
I'd definitely recommend having a break from ATOD, I'd pretty much forgotten the plot so it didn't feel as repetitive when I read it. ...more
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