Review #436
“I think people need stories to survive…”
I give this YA epic fantasy a 3.9/5 stars. I rated the first in the duology higher. The descriptions, doomsday and dark vibe (& Allister’s parts) were all done really well. Rereading some of my copy and pasted comments below (that I wrote live while reading)…. I’d probably take some of the critique back.
If Reed wanted Briony’s plan to fail then why did he ever giver her the idea in the first place?
I’m kind of frustrated that most character growth backtracked so the beginning of the sequel seems as if each of them are starting back from the starting line for their own personal theme.
At the 15% mark I’m a bit bored & annoyed without truly understanding why.
It’s nice to experience the unsaid conversations between Alister and Hendry but I kind of hate resurrected characters.
The abrupt constant back and forth between rivals and allies is exhausting.
The media plot is a bit annoying.
It doesn’t seem as though they need the high families stories to understand the relics and landmarks matching because the contestants themselves should already know that info.
“Family is supposed to mean something.” … uh… are you kidding me? That is so contradictory of all their actions. These characters swing back and forth way too much.
At the 30% mark I’m still disappointed so far. Things are dragging and there is too much angsty drama.
I feel like it’s a bad sign that I’m not rooting for someone, that I don’t have a favorite.
Just realized that destroying the relics is like destroying the horcruxes in Harry Potter.
Omg Briony and Finley just kissed for the first time and 3 seconds later they’re switching sides, almost losing each other as allies & giving up. It’s so annoying how fast everyone flips.
I wish they’d talk about the disappearances more. That will restart my interest.
The corpse in the grave scene was a bit much. Eek!
Halfway I’m still annoyed. Isobel and Reed were just having a moment and now they’re screaming at each other. Their conversations also feel repetitive.
At the 55% mark I’m starting to tune out. Finley just said he can’t lose Briony… then says their kiss was a mistake. Just so much contradictions.
Eww. Erotic moments while torturing someone else?
If so many people in the public don’t want them to break the curse then why aren’t they attacking the challengers in giant groups?
They’ve never made it clear if they have to known what spellstone they’re carrying or casting at the moment they grab it. Because if they’re carrying so many in their pockets, it would take them quite a while to figure out which to use in an emergency attack.
70% mark- basically every character seems like they have a severe mental health diagnosis. They all act bipolar.
Omg the 47 tallies is hilarious.
When the groups met up, the crew of 4 believed the other 2 way too easily & quickly. Yes, they used a truth spell, but after all they went through, it seems like there would’ve been more of an explosion.
Omg. Now Briony is questioning breaking the curse because of the government control risk… after being so adamant. They’re all just taking turns switching their opinion.
At the 83% mark I’m so confused. This is when everything is supposed to be blending together towards the exploding climatic scene but they’re sitting around waiting, doing nothing. They broke the Blood Veil, which doesn’t make sense because one relic remains. Is the tournament over or not?
Sometimes it sounds like their ideas or plans of guessing how spells and curses might work are too coincidental and convenient.
Alrighty, at the conclusion I rate this a 3.9/5 stars. My favorite parts were the trials. I do think Allister was the main character but that’s subjective. I’d recommend it but to someone whom I know their specific interests instead of just a reader who likes epic YA fantasy.