Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Godsdamn... that was Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Godsdamn... that was something! A bit expected, but thrilling nonetheless.
To just get the negative criticism out the way: There was a somewhat more redundancy to the language this time around. You can only read “dark” and “blood” and “monster” so many times before growing weary of hearing it page after page after page. But I get it. My other complaint is something I let slide in the first book, but here, it was a little ridiculous. And it’s simply this: I hated every time Nadya forgave Mal. Their romantic relationship still confuses me, and I am to the point where my dislike of it is 80/20 (it’s toxic). Whenever a character in literature says something along the lines of, “You hurt me, but this pull I feel for you is too strong. I hate you, but I love you.” And then they usually end up kissing aggressively... I will never understand it. Maybe because I’ve never felt that way before, but regardless, I find it infinitely annoying, and it just so happens to occur about a dozen times in this series between Nadya and Malachiasz. Betray > Forgive > Kiss. Rinse and repeat.
A few things: I have to applaud the authoress for her slow-burn building of the romantic relationships. I prefer it when they’re not so completely obvious. One was oh so very vaguely alluded to in Wicked Saints, but I was never really sure. And the fact that the LGBT inclusivity was amped up to 100 here in book 2 is surprising, but an altogether welcome surprise.
This book ups the dark and bloody content tenfold! It seemed as though every page a character was bleeding and/or stabbing something/someone. There’s a particular section that was especially grotesque and disturbing. It was very reminiscent of a gothic Hellraiser. For those passages alone, this book should be tagged as horror (and I do love that genre!).
If I were to say what I liked most about this book, it would definitely have to be how often I was constantly left guessing: Who to trust? What to believe? Was that a lie, or the truth? — There are no easy answers. Nothing is black and white, just shades of blood-spattered gray. The story deepened significantly, making the reading experience that much richer. Each of the three main characters (Nadya, Serefin, Mal) had/have the potential to be the one(s) whose journey is the correct (or, the most close to “right”) path, but their circumstances were always shifting and changing dramatically... and that’s exciting! The narrative for sure keeps you on your toes, and I totally dig that level of creeping suspense. Even most of the side characters (old and new) had their own side-plots/backstories elaborated on, and each were pretty intriguing.
I seriously regret getting to read this a year early, because I now have to wait TWO YEARS for book 3!!!!!
Merged review:
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Godsdamn... that was something! A bit expected, but thrilling nonetheless.
To just get the negative criticism out the way: There was a somewhat more redundancy to the language this time around. You can only read “dark” and “blood” and “monster” so many times before growing weary of hearing it page after page after page. But I get it. My other complaint is something I let slide in the first book, but here, it was a little ridiculous. And it’s simply this: I hated every time Nadya forgave Mal. Their romantic relationship still confuses me, and I am to the point where my dislike of it is 80/20 (it’s toxic). Whenever a character in literature says something along the lines of, “You hurt me, but this pull I feel for you is too strong. I hate you, but I love you.” And then they usually end up kissing aggressively... I will never understand it. Maybe because I’ve never felt that way before, but regardless, I find it infinitely annoying, and it just so happens to occur about a dozen times in this series between Nadya and Malachiasz. Betray > Forgive > Kiss. Rinse and repeat.
A few things: I have to applaud the authoress for her slow-burn building of the romantic relationships. I prefer it when they’re not so completely obvious. One was oh so very vaguely alluded to in Wicked Saints, but I was never really sure. And the fact that the LGBT inclusivity was amped up to 100 here in book 2 is surprising, but an altogether welcome surprise.
This book ups the dark and bloody content tenfold! It seemed as though every page a character was bleeding and/or stabbing something/someone. There’s a particular section that was especially grotesque and disturbing. It was very reminiscent of a gothic Hellraiser. For those passages alone, this book should be tagged as horror (and I do love that genre!).
If I were to say what I liked most about this book, it would definitely have to be how often I was constantly left guessing: Who to trust? What to believe? Was that a lie, or the truth? — There are no easy answers. Nothing is black and white, just shades of blood-spattered gray. The story deepened significantly, making the reading experience that much richer. Each of the three main characters (Nadya, Serefin, Mal) had/have the potential to be the one(s) whose journey is the correct (or, the most close to “right”) path, but their circumstances were always shifting and changing dramatically... and that’s exciting! The narrative for sure keeps you on your toes, and I totally dig that level of creeping suspense. Even most of the side characters (old and new) had their own side-plots/backstories elaborated on, and each were pretty intriguing.
I seriously regret getting to read this a year early, because I now have to wait TWO YEARS for book 3!!!!!...more
Ambrose really annoyed the hell out of me in this installment. I frequently skActual rating: 3.5 (rounded down)
This review shall be shorter than most:
Ambrose really annoyed the hell out of me in this installment. I frequently skimmed his chapters. Catherine’s were, frankly, weaker this time around, too. I really only looked forward to March, Tash, and Edyon’s. A good portion of the first third is the group fleeing. I won’t say from what or whom, but running and hiding and outpacing was the bulk of it. It gets redundant after a while, but also, no less stressful. I was truly worried the entire time for all my favorite characters. I’ve come to find that in this series: anyone is fair game. We get far fewer character deaths as in book one, but still, when they do come, it hurts a bit.
I wished for a fresh batch of interesting, engaging side characters this time around—and more preferably female characters—but, alas, no such luck. One major problem: There is a SEVERE lack of actually good (or frankly interesting) female characters in this series. The only ones we get, quite literally, are Catherine and Tash (and to a lesser extent, Tanya: Catherine’s handmaiden). That’s it. The world here in this book is freakishly patriarchal, misogynistic, and blatantly sexist. And as much as the author lambasts these woeful women’s roles—by making Catherine a feminist or sorts, and Tash a young, scrappy demon hunter—they do nothing to change the fact that it’s all pretty hollow. Lots of hot air about gender roles, but again, ZERO new female characters of import.
The story really didn’t pick up until after the halfway mark (which, if I’m being honest, was disappointing), but by the end, I was anxious as all hell. This series is stress-inducing! I’m beginning to think Sally Green is setting us up for major heartbreak(s) like her Half Bad trilogy come the final installment.
Merged review:
Actual rating: 3.5 (rounded down)
This review shall be shorter than most:
Ambrose really annoyed the hell out of me in this installment. I frequently skimmed his chapters. Catherine’s were, frankly, weaker this time around, too. I really only looked forward to March, Tash, and Edyon’s. A good portion of the first third is the group fleeing. I won’t say from what or whom, but running and hiding and outpacing was the bulk of it. It gets redundant after a while, but also, no less stressful. I was truly worried the entire time for all my favorite characters. I’ve come to find that in this series: anyone is fair game. We get far fewer character deaths as in book one, but still, when they do come, it hurts a bit.
I wished for a fresh batch of interesting, engaging side characters this time around—and more preferably female characters—but, alas, no such luck. One major problem: There is a SEVERE lack of actually good (or frankly interesting) female characters in this series. The only ones we get, quite literally, are Catherine and Tash (and to a lesser extent, Tanya: Catherine’s handmaiden). That’s it. The world here in this book is freakishly patriarchal, misogynistic, and blatantly sexist. And as much as the author lambasts these woeful women’s roles—by making Catherine a feminist or sorts, and Tash a young, scrappy demon hunter—they do nothing to change the fact that it’s all pretty hollow. Lots of hot air about gender roles, but again, ZERO new female characters of import.
The story really didn’t pick up until after the halfway mark (which, if I’m being honest, was disappointing), but by the end, I was anxious as all hell. This series is stress-inducing! I’m beginning to think Sally Green is setting us up for major heartbreak(s) like her Half Bad trilogy come the final installment....more
Alright, fine, okay, you got me… Pigs are flying and they’re building snowmen in Hell. I’m actually interested in reading this. Shocker! I’ll give Casey MAlright, fine, okay, you got me… Pigs are flying and they’re building snowmen in Hell. I’m actually interested in reading this. Shocker! I’ll give Casey McQuiston another shot. ...more
I love Saga. Truly. I think it’s one of the most ground-breakingly -innovative -progressive -fun -action-packed -fucking heartbreaking & heart-warming -imagI love Saga. Truly. I think it’s one of the most ground-breakingly -innovative -progressive -fun -action-packed -fucking heartbreaking & heart-warming -imaginative -and utterly thrilling comics to have come out in decades! Everyone should be reading it, and falling just as steadfastly in love as I have.
But this volume felt too much like filler.
Ah, well. I’m still head-over-heels but also slightly disappointed.
Merged review:
I love Saga. Truly. I think it’s one of the most ground-breakingly -innovative -progressive -fun -action-packed -fucking heartbreaking & heart-warming -imaginative -and utterly thrilling comics to have come out in decades! Everyone should be reading it, and falling just as steadfastly in love as I have.
But this volume felt too much like filler.
Ah, well. I’m still head-over-heels but also slightly disappointed....more
Many thanks to Rebellion and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Right off thActual rating: 1.5 (rounded down)
Many thanks to Rebellion and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Right off the bat: even with the prior ‘Names and Pronunciation’ section, I was at a loss. The names are just far too ridiculous to 1. Look at and 2. Pronounce. I’m not saying this in a xenophobic way, mind you. I respect cultures and pronunciations from all over the world (even fantastical made up ones), but when it comes to fantasy literature, I really don’t want to struggle with little things like names and honorifics. I’m also not trying to say that this shit should be dumbed down for readers, but make it a little less wild and abstract. Faraakshgé and Akizeké Shikishashir Dzaxashigé… ??? It’s needlessly convoluted.
And even after all that, we’re given even more dumps of information. The worldbuilding comes fast, and it comes fully-loaded with confusion. To summarize: I was at a loss before I even began. What I did note was that the gender politics were reversed, which was refreshing, and that there were… dragons and dinosaurs. Like, actual dinosaurs. And everyone in the book talked about the dinos’s presence unironically. It was a little too comical for me to get over it— “brotsaurus burgers” and raptors pulling hover ships like horses and a carriage. It’s not the kind of fantasy I enjoy reading, and I should’ve known better before diving in.
The only redeeming qualities is that there were glimpses of nuance and well-written passages, but they’re overshadowed at every turn by melodrama and inanely perplexing worldbuilding. I didn’t want to jump on the ‘one-star bandwagon’, especially considering this is a debut, but I have to stay true and honest.
Another thing: everyone in this book is so. Goddamn. Horny. There is a lot of sex and crudeness, so readers with an aversion to that sort of content should steer clear. I personally gave up and skimmed the remained of the book after I encountered a BDSM foot play and fisting threesome....more
Okay, this one is gonna be messy. I apologize beforehand.
I’m always put off by stories that involve the loss of autonomy. The fact that Paul’s innate Okay, this one is gonna be messy. I apologize beforehand.
I’m always put off by stories that involve the loss of autonomy. The fact that Paul’s innate magic allows for anyone he meets to want to be his friend bugs me. Free will is a big deal, and that sort of manipulative ability would certainly creep me out if I had it: If someone didn’t have the choice whether to like me or not. So, that part of the story really put a damper on my reading experience. The magic could’ve been made to be ANYTHING! Why go with that? I know it’s described as a “first impressions only” sort of deal, but still…
From the get-go, I was a bit confused. The worldbuilding is fine; the idea of cloth magic is pretty cool, and the “book binding” and idea of innate magic interesting, but that’s about it. The characters were also just… fine. I liked Paul and Thom’s friendship the most (for the first 2/3rds, at least). However, I was irked by how much Paul played into the stereotypes of a bisexual (i.e. the incessant flirting and wanting to sleep with everyone and anyone). It was really unfortunate. (view spoiler)[Plus, the fact that both of Paul’s romantic interests here are cishet women, didn’t make me go “Yeah, now THIS is a queer book!” Hector Hollister doesn’t count for numerous reasons, and Paul’s past same-sex pairings are meager. I would’ve liked more queer content from a book being marketed as such (hide spoiler)]. Another thing (view spoiler)[the whole Verity/Tonya situation was off-putting. How quickly Paul jumped into bed with Tonya after being involved with Verity so heavily was just… wrong. I don’t care that they’re the same person. Paul didn’t know that, and he still went ahead with it anyways. (hide spoiler)]
My biggest gripe here, however, is with the plot. The story itself meanders. I wanted it to stick with one thread: innate magic, or the multitude of burgeoning relationships, or Verity’s mystery. Instead, the plot consists of too much all at once. Honestly, it was all over the place. If it didn’t jump around so much, I might’ve enjoyed it more. The whole time I was reading it, I wasn’t immersed. I was reading about the things that were happening, sure, but I wasn’t having any kind of reaction to it. There was this disconnect between my brain and the story. The book didn’t know whether to be a lighthearted romp with a diverse cast, or a graphic deep dive into magic. And when I say “graphic,” I mean graphic. Some of the passages are downright brutal.
One thing that seemed to bug a lot of readers (from what I’ve seen) is the multitude of religious tones. Is it really that awful to have a queer MC who is also Catholic? So what if they know about the Bible and speak of God? Reviewers have this adverse reaction to religion in this book, and it’s baffling. To me, it sounds like self-righteous, PC bandwagoning. The religious aspects were not preachy or exclusionary. So, give it a rest.
I can’t say whether or not I’m going to read the next installment. The ending here was such a, well, nonending, and all the cons right now outweigh the pros. But still, I’m a little curious. I guess we’ll have to wait and see....more
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