Title– Dark Skies
Author- Danielle L Jensen
Rating– 3.5.5
Genre- young adult fantasy
POV- have alternating POV in third person past tense. However, I’m wondering how appropriate that is because of the alternating POV books I’ve read, they’ve all been romance and this is not a romance novel.
Trope- gods/goddesses
Similar Books/Comps– I felt Lord of the Rings vibes with the world building and all the battle/war talk
My emotions- frustrated
Comments-
So I guess this sequel doesn’t pick up from where the first one ended. It has different POV from characters who are barely in the first novel showing the story from the other side of events? I enjoyed Dark Shores with Teriana and Marcus more.
Page 49- I dislike that the exact same dialogue is being copy and pasted from the first novel, the only changes in between their statements are the internal thoughts of a different character this time, Lydia.
Page 57- ouch. Harsh words
Page 77- so far a bit bored. Killian and Lydia are leading separate stories and not connecting. They both just want to survive but to neither have a goal that they’re going towards, just trying to prevent their end & hide or run.
Page 134- now I’m invested
Page 147- I’ve been waiting for this. Also, I love that the group of soldiers protecting the princess is a sisterhood watching out for each other.
Page 200- Been bored for a bit but the concept of The Corrupted is amazing
Page 349- everything is exciting again
Page 353- what the WHAT?! No, I hate this. Ugh. Crap. Good job to the author
Page 408- when Lydia keeps repeating her goals about her father, Teriana & Lucius it feels forced because none of those characters are in this novel.
Page 411- great scene for making them both choose. But it’s a little exhausting that it’s so close to the end of the novel and the choices they’re making aren’t going to give the reader enough time to feel satisfied.
Page 456- the climatic battle scenes are a little chaotic with the jumping around and scene breaks.
Page 463- frustrated with choices of characters. There’s not enough time for them to switch
Page 478- warning cliffhanger ending. And FYI, this is not a romance genre novel
Characters–
Lydia- Marked with healing powers from a goddess
Killian- Marked with war powers from a god. 19 years old.
Page 101- an example of how many proper nouns are on one page, most of whom have never been mentioned before
Malahi
Killian
Serrick
the Six
High Lady Rowenes
Council of Twelve
Damashere
Keshmorn
Mudaire
Mudamora
Liratora
Sometimes random names are thrown in like a side of a cousin… there’s too many & many don’t seem to matter.
Plot/Blurb-
A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST
Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.
A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE
Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath – and his heart – to the test.
A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE
With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most―but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned―all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.
Best part-
Page 441- tugged at my heart a bit. Damn it
What I’d change-
A bit bored by the politics and war strategies but I enjoy the relationships
Quote- “There are as many paths as there are travelers.”
Pacing- slow until 70% mark
Cassie Swindon 