(Review #395)
I rated this epic fantasy sequel a 4.1/5 stars. It follows a non-vampire, yet potential vampire, Oraya through the second half of her story. If blood and battles and ruthless violence is your thing then check it out. I kept needing to take breaks because there wasn’t enough emotional calming moments like comedic relief to break up the hopeless vibe. From start to finish it was serious and heavy.
“The kiss was… an apology, a plea, a greeting, a goodbye, a million words rolled into several endless seconds in which time died between us.”
Here are my live thoughts while reading:
600 pages!?!? Aaah!
I sneaked a look ahead and Raihn also has a point of view, which I’m not sure how I feel about since it changes the vibe compared to the first book.
Oraya is dealing with a lot of grief, and the couple is in an impossible situation. I can understand both their dilemmas and uncertainty of how to move forward.
I’m not a fan of politics plots. So if that’s where this is going then I’ll probably lose interest quickly. Also… I’ll never understand kingdoms fighting each other, especially in long drawn out wars. For what? What’s the point? Both sides care. Both sides are trying to prevent harm from those they love. Both sides see the other as the villain. Why can’t the world/ humanity grasp the concept that no one ever wins that way? All the fighting and death just feels so senseless. When Oraya’s side kills a soldier, they’re doing the same atrocity that has been done to them. War in itself is hypocrisy.
Throwing soldiers into battle for “my kingdom” just doesn’t make any sense to me. Self defense and protecting their family makes sense. The rest doesn’t.
Page 93 is frustrating when she said “when I thought I had known him”… but she’s been acting so confident of interpreting his motives and little facial expressions. So which one is it… do you understand him or not?
I feel like her rationale is a bit unhinged. If Raihn just saved her. Again… Then why would she consider he is about to torture her?
Page 276- this is the second time Raihn has given her a “do this with me and you’ll be free after.” And so many things don’t make sense about that proposal. It’s like the first plan was forgotten about and discarded and secondly, he doesn’t want her to leave … so I don’t like that he’s pushing her away instead of fighting for her.
At the halfway mark it’s been a bit slow for my usual taste but it has some serious character depth which is ideal. I’m unsure how this one can outdo the events of the climatic scene in the first book. But I can hope.
“I’d spend a lifetime at the tip of your blade, and it would have been worth it.”
Adding in Raihn’s point of view may have been a mistake because I like him so much more than Oraya.
I’m getting a bit frustrated with every other chapter ending with a character blacking out.
What does one do with the teeth of the god of death?
Again at the end of chapter 59… “everything went black” feels like how every chapter finishes.
End of chapter 71… “And everything was dark.”
End of chapter 76 she blacks out again- “The words faded off into oblivion. And so did I.”
This book was good but sooooo long. I liked the first one better but I’m satisfied with the conclusion of the duology. If you love it, the series continues with another set of main characters in a different house.