On one side this book's killing me! The ending always breaks my heart. It starts to break a long time beforeRe-read (12/2018): This is killing me. 🤯🌋💣
On one side this book's killing me! The ending always breaks my heart. It starts to break a long time before the end because I know what's coming. (view spoiler)[I'm not counting the fact that Mel faked her death. I hate the whole "she's dead but surprises! she's not. (hide spoiler)]
On one side, I love how cruel they still are. But on the other side, I think that the parent side of them changed them a bit. And I dislike Mel being a Governor because in a way it feels like she's going back on herself. It is not something that they would do, too many short strings that lead to them. They would just get someone to do the job for them.
The major problem I have with this book (or maybe whole series but it also continues in the Children of Vice series) is the really bad editing. And I do not even mean the typos (and there are typos don't get me wrong). I meant the fact that the consistency is non-existent in here. Previously I mentioned problems like Mel wearing a dress, suddenly trousers and then, magic, dress again. However, here and then in Children of Vice it gets even worse. When the previous book ended with the epilogue, it took time pretty much at the same time as A Bloody Kingdom. In the epilogue of the American Savages, we see Monte and Fedel waiting for Mel and Liam. But in here Melody mentions that Monte died a long time ago. And that's one of the things I really hate! And with every re-read of this series, I keep seeing more and more of these little misshaps. So, I think that there will be no re-read of this in a long time.
By the way, can I say that I do not like Coraline?
ORIGINAL: I am really torn on this one.
When the third book ended my first thought was that I cannot imagine Liam and Melody being old. With teenage kids, adult kids and then grandchildren. It wasn't them.
The thing I liked the most is that they're evil until the end. Still on top, still strong and playing the world.
At first, I sort of felt cheated. (view spoiler)[ Just saying that Monte and Jinx died that seemed cheap. They deserved much more. And Mel as a governor? I wasn't sure if that was really her. Like with the president she would get a puppet. (hide spoiler)]
I was torn on them being parents. Not sure if I like them being parents. Cause I loved them so much in the first book. Not really sure being parents is what I want from them. :D On one side they were amazing. They have so much love for their kids. But they also fear to lose them. (view spoiler)[ I understand why they started to train them to be strong and to survive. But that doesn't mean it did not break my heart a bit. Not for the kids. But for the pain, Liam and Mel had to be feeling. (hide spoiler)]
...there is a lot of blood in front of those hospital doors.
I wish there was more of a story for Fedel. He would deserve one. (view spoiler)[ Painfully loyal till the bitter end. He did not deserve to die this away! (hide spoiler)]
At first, since the chapter 24, I expected something to shatter their world. I could not stop crying. (view spoiler)[I was angry at her faking her death. This Melody in hiding? That wasn't her! (hide spoiler)]
And now, thinking about it I think it's brilliant. Sort of. I wanted her or both of them to die. In some epic was! Go up in flames and never to be forgotten! To be on top of the world. (view spoiler)[I still don't see them as two "older" people just having fun. (hide spoiler)]
I also wonder if at the end Liam also (view spoiler)[faked his death or simply passed the job and left. (hide spoiler)]
EDIT: I think this book of all four has the strongest ending. Minus like the last chapter. But since the chapter 24, I think it was one of the highest moments of the series, definitely emotionally highest because seriously, every time I get to chapter 24 until the last chapter (minus epilogue) I always cannot stop crying even though I already know how it ends!...more
Edit - April/2020 Back to my re-read session. And yet another disappointment. This book was always my least favourite from the wholes series, but it juEdit - April/2020 Back to my re-read session. And yet another disappointment. This book was always my least favourite from the wholes series, but it just got worse with time. I have to say that I did not remember a single thing about this book, so, it felt a bit like reading it for the first time. But that did not help at all; I was in chapter two when I started to feel like I needed to just skim through certain parts of the story.
I still enjoyed the parts which related more to the war arc than anything to do with the main couple. In other words, if it was a chapter focusing on Jeni and Hawk, it was not good, if it was not focusing on them, it was great. The only reason why this is not a one star.
In all honesty, I believe that this book was an unnecessary addition to the series. There was no reason for this couple to be together. Jeni was always sort of there, and Hawk played a role in Finn's book, but I never thought that either of them needed a book. And definitely not together because the chemistry was basically non-existent. And the war-arc could have been split between book seven and nine.
Original: ***Advance Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest I never really liked Jeni and Hawk. Their characters are okay. But I never saw them as a couple. So, I was a bit worried that I won't like this book as much. Well, I didn't have to. Kit again found a way how to make any couple work.
But yet I found myself more interested in the war arc - and our old friends showing up ;).
This series started as something easy to read. But now the war and all the things that built up during the whole series made it something completely else. More thrilling. And I cannot wait for the last book. And for the couple, I find it more interesting—full of potential.
To sum it up: I would like to read the scene where Noelle (view spoiler)[ finds out that her father died. Died trying to do a good thing for once. (hide spoiler)]. Jeni&Hawk aren't my favourite couple. But I'll still end up re-reading their book over and over again. What really holds this book is the anticipation. All those decisions. Friends and enemies.
So, I say well done. And please may I have the next book?
EDIT: Re-read time. (2/24/2017)
Okay, I don't like this couple again. They don't work for me. Rating changed....more
EDIT (July 2018): Okay, I actually think that Tate should have "left" Ang, she really should have ended their friendship. Because Ang is on a really hEDIT (July 2018): Okay, I actually think that Tate should have "left" Ang, she really should have ended their friendship. Because Ang is on a really high horse, using Tate and being a judgmental brat at best. If Nick was Tate's friend from the beginning instead of Ang her life would be way better. And I'm still a bit sour that nothing was done about Dunn and Petrushka, both deserved a horrible fate.
EDIT (08/04/2018): You know what? I'm actually angry this time around. At Tate! She was seriously getting on my nerves. And I just suddenly realized that through the series she did a lot of crappy things as well, but no one was really mad at her. Well, except for her family but they sort of don't count. Because they would be angry even if she did everything right. But every single person is punished for a single word they say, and even if it's not really about Tate, she gets angry. But then got forbid anyone mentions the pool incident to her. Or anything she did or is doing that is stupid. I don't know if I sort of outgrew Tate, and she seems childish now or what happened. But definitely, I need to change the rating. Originally it was 5* now I would rate it 3*. So I gonna go with 4*. Which is another think Goodreads need to do! They brought the ability to insert multiple read dates, and now I need the ability to rate the book separately for each read.
Original review: In the end, I wasn't really sure who I would like to slap first. Because both of them really need to start using their brains! Loved this series....more
EDIT (17/04/2020): Okay, I have no idea what happened. Reading and finishing this book, I was rather shocked that I read it 5 stars the first time reaEDIT (17/04/2020): Okay, I have no idea what happened. Reading and finishing this book, I was rather shocked that I read it 5 stars the first time reading it.
Looking back at my original review, I just cannot agree with what I wrote back that. Except for the point that the plot regarding the struggle between Sectors and Eden was the best in this book from the whole series. In the previous books, there were only breadcrumbs, and now the big drama starts. And it's the only positive thing about this book.
I did not care about the romance part one bit. I liked Mad since book one, and maybe that's why I liked this book back then? Because I just could not accept that his book would be disappointing. However, I have to say that the strongest character for me was Dylan. And looking at this book, I would be probably enjoying this book more if it were just the two of them or them plus Jade since she is major plot player in this book and actually worked well in the romance part. But I had a problem with Scarlet. She just seemed off, forced into this book to make it a foursome. But Scarlet just does not work; she feels like a very bleak character compared with everybody else. Forgettable.
The bottom line is that I had to force myself through this book and skipped pretty often. 2,5 stars at best.
Original: ****An advance reading copy of Beyond Ruin by Kit Rocha was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Before I started Beyond Ruin, I was actually really worried. Because we got four characters with different background/secrets/stories and also the plot - politics between sectors and Eden. The plot really developed from Beyond Shame. We met more people from Eden and also from other sectors. And it promised a lot of possibilities. But since I knew there would be four main heroes in this novel, I was a bit sceptical if we gonna get some development for the plot. And I was wrong; there was no need for worries. Actually, the plot was the best in the series till now. The whole novel was probably one of the best in the whole series.
I expected many things - and I got them and much more. From page 1 until the last dot there was still something happening which kept me alert looking for clues and traps where things can/will go wrong.
It's not such an unusual thing to find a book with three main characters. But I never read one with 4. And I own big applause to the authors because they managed to make sure no one was left out and all were committed to all. Since this is a book number 7, we know Mad since Beyond Shame. I believe we met Dylan and Jade in Beyond Control. And Scarlet in Beyond Pain. So we had a lot of time to find some things about them. And Beyond Ruin gave us their evolution. They started to fight their demons and for themselves, their futures. Which resulted in an interesting artwork of characters and personal development.
We also got glimpses (a lot) of Sector One (which should be getting its own novels). I loved Gideon for the first moment, and right now I love him even more.
After reading Beyond Ruin I am really happy and shocked what we got from this novel. But I am also stressed, worried and nervous because now I have to wait for the next novel....more
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