Well, I wanted to rate this book 2⭐ , but then I sat here and asked myself what is the extra star for? And I could not come up with an answer.
So, I wWell, I wanted to rate this book 2⭐ , but then I sat here and asked myself what is the extra star for? And I could not come up with an answer.
So, I wanted to read this book since it *was* the last one in this series. I was somewhere around the 40% mark, and I thought that the story was really dragging and nothing was happening, well, nothing which would move the story closer to the end and resolving everything. (And I believe that was one of the issues I had with Vicious Minds Part 1, I thought that there was so much unnecessary stuff that if half of it were cut there would be no need for book five.) And this book really seemed to have the same problem. And what a shock. This is not that last book! It had to be pointed out to me because I had no idea. I would absolutely finish this book, and then I would stare at the: "To Be Continued". Why?
Every character is just destroyed, completely shredded to little idiots only to built up Calliope. (view spoiler)[Even Liam and Mel, I mean they were shooting at her in a room, and they were not able to get her? (hide spoiler)] I mean Calliope supposedly teased Ethan in public, I would say more that she humiliated him, to be honest. At this point, Ethan is Calliope's Ivy. (view spoiler)[And I'm sure that the author has an explanation ready, how he did it only so that he can get what is his ultimate goal and whatever. The point is that Ethan just turned into a totally meek character who is just there to play second fiddle to Calliope. (hide spoiler)] And I do not care how the next (not going to call it last just to be sure) book is going to spin this. That he was again lying in his POV? Oh, and I almost forgot, since I'm talking about Ethan here (somehow this is just Calliope show now), let's just mention that I do not feel any chemistry between him and Calliope. None.
So, to probably the biggest thing that happened in this book which was basically almost at the end of it. (view spoiler)[ Calliope kills Coraline and I honestly thought that she was poisoning her for some time because she was coughing at one scene (maybe Cora was sick again?) but no, Calliope stabbed her. Plus then Mel and Liam attack Calliope. (hide spoiler)] And right after that I just went to cook lunch. It was probably the most *shocking* moment, and only a couple of chapters left, and I did not care one bit.
And that's the problem. With everything going on. With trying to build-up Calliope. And maybe to even trump the Ruthless People? Like to show that the children's series can be more ruthless and more everything than the original. Unfortunately, for me, it does not work. It makes it forced. Unbelievable. Even artificial. Sort of like a fake version of the story? And slowly while reading this book, I realised that I did not care for anything. Not for the story. Not for the characters. Not who's going to die, live, rule and whatever. And not just in this series, this includes the Ruthless People as well, one of my most re-read series ever.
I just cannot find it me to be interested in the story anymore because no matter what the next spin of the events will be, I won't trust it.
And I mean that. The author could take every single character I loved, kill them all and I would be like, yeah and? This spin-off or more precisely adding more books to it destroyed all characters for me, even Mel and Liam.
And the thing is I wish the events made me angry because then I would at least feel something towards this book. J.J. books usually made me feel so much, laugh, be angry and even cry, so, this emptiness is just shocking, and this really is a 1⭐ from me. ...more
Okay, first, did I miss something? I thought this was meant to be a duology; why is there another book?
So, since I have a feeling that this review migOkay, first, did I miss something? I thought this was meant to be a duology; why is there another book?
So, since I have a feeling that this review might be a bit of a mess, here is a little TL;DR. I was really enjoying the book; I thought it would end up with a good rating. But then the end hit, and it seriously threw me off, and last night when I finished, I was seriously angry with the book. Today, when I slept on the review, I'm just disappointed.
So, back to the review.
When I started the book, I was really enjoying it, and I had a hard time not grinning. It was fun.
So, I already mentioned in the review for the first book that I'm uncertain with Veritas. For someone that old and powerful, she just reads a bit too immature for my liking and does way too many reckless and not logical things. And that did not really change in this book.
Same with her and Ian, I do not necessarily feel any chemistry between them. Which definitely drags the story down. But still, the plot and Ian were able to hold the story without me exactly rooting for them as a couple.
Ian is my all-time favourite character from the Night Huntress Universe. I was terrified that he would lose his backbone and will be just walked over all the time. While that did not happen, he's definitely loosing some of his charms. But even despite that, he's still the best character. (view spoiler)[I just need to say that I loved how he went to the Council and filed charges against them to get Veritas to talk to him. That's what I expect from him. (hide spoiler)] Oh, and I completely forgot to mention something the first time when I was writing my review. Thank you, Lien, for reminding me! ❤(view spoiler)[I hate amnesia in a story. Because it just feels like it erases the progress of the one book and sends the second one to start basically at the beginning. Yes, here it did not play such a big role because Ian remembered something and then got the rest of his memories back pretty quickly. It just feels rather lazy to use amnesia. But here I wonder what was even the point of it? It realistically killed the little chemistry they had; we got Veritas thinking how this Ian was not that Ian since he had amnesia. Then we had some time Ian chasing Veritas to get her to talk to him, again the Bones and Cat echo. Then Ian gets his memories back, and it does not really matter that he had amnesia because it did not really have any real impact on the story other than he had to chase Veritas for several chapters. (hide spoiler)]
I really liked Ashael; he was an entertaining character and fun addition to the story.
So, where exactly this went super wrong for me? I was reading this book as the final one. And where the book was nearing the end, I started to feel like it was way too rushed. It was rushing to solve the Dagon problem. But then the (view spoiler)[Law Guardians (hide spoiler)] show there and more drama. And we are almost at the end of this book. So, I'm confused. (view spoiler)[But my guess was that Veritas and Ian would just go to that island and live HEA. This is still my guess for the third book since so much was spent on the island which did not feel that necessary for this book and Ariel said that she loved it there. So, yeah, I would not be surprised if that was the end of the trilogy. (hide spoiler)] But then a completely different plot for the third book dropped out of skies, and I'm over it. Because it was introduced at the very end of the book, it just feels so unnecessary and just creating a problem for the sake of having another book. I might have been more okay with a third book being added to the series if the "plot" started to show way earlier. But this, all of sudden in the last two chapters or so? (view spoiler)[ For example, how Ian mentioned that he felt Dagon from one of the Law Guardians, if then one of them showed out to be the top bad guy who was controlling Dagon all the time, I would not be ecstatic that there is yet another book being added to the series, but I would be okay with it. Because there would be some sort of a connection with Veritas being one of them and stuff. It just would feel less forced than Ariel's fiancé she did not know about just appearing. Btw, side note, can I just say that this feels a bit too much like an echo of Cat and Gregor? (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[So, since Timothy is finally found after being mentioned since the beginning of the Night Huntress Universe I guess we will see more of him. But probably not in the third book since that seems to have a different problem/plot than Timothy/Cain cult whatever. But I would say that Timothy's story would also heavily feature Katie since she's most likely key to waking Cain. So, the question is, will it be a spin-off on Katie or Timothy? Btw, I just hope that those two won't be a couple. (hide spoiler)]
So, overall, the book is now a 2,5 ⭐ for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, hold on... January 28, 2020
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I could swear it was supposed to be published in 2019.
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Am I going crazy? Did I miss something? Or am I confusing things? Someone, please save me!
Well, were the ACOTAR series was a huge surprise for me this was a great letdown.
I read it right after the A Court of Wings and Ruin, and there is noWell, were the ACOTAR series was a huge surprise for me this was a great letdown.
I read it right after the A Court of Wings and Ruin, and there is no way of hiding the problems of this novella. (Is it even a novella? Yeah, it's very short considering SJM, but normally this would be a normal novel, right? It has over 200 pages.)
ACOFAS took all the things that I was personally annoyed by from the ACOTAR series and tried to make a book out of it. And things I loved? Were not there. Well, except for the writing that it's easy to read.
-There is no action! No fight, nothing! And after the battles from the last two books, it seemed sort of boring in a way? And yes, I do not consider a snowball war action.
-If you read my review for A Court of Wings and Ruin you know that I was unhappy about the ending. And this novella(?) is basically the ending of ACOWAR stretched over 200 pages.
-Let Rhys be mean again! I miss the High Lord of the Court Of Nightmares. He has to be at list a bit evil!
-Can someone kick Nesta out? She is getting on my nerves; she's worse than at the beginning of the series. And honestly? I cannot imagine getting through a book where she's the main character. And seeing that "problems with Illyrians" will probably be one of the key topics of her and Cassian's book. Honestly? Even less interested.
-Elain is doe-eyed and unnecessary. I'm more interested in Nuala and Cerridwen than in her. (view spoiler)[The whole Lucien/Azriel drama does not work! (hide spoiler)]
-I'm surprised, but I really like Varian. Did not see that coming at all.
-There is not much of a plot in this book actually.
-Feyre opening an art studio for kids? Cute and everything. But... I don't know. I sort of don't care?
-And for Tamlin. I never liked that guy. Not even in the first book. But honestly? This is getting ridiculous.
(view spoiler)[After Feyre having a panic attack that she would be just a cute, little wifey for Tamlin. She surely is starting to be a cure, nice wifey for Rhys. Seriously? Is she going to pain with children? I bet that Tamlin would be happy about that. As for the having kid. Well, I sort of get why but at the same time... (hide spoiler)]
I don't think we needed this novella. But I get why it's here. A Court of Wings and Ruin was published in 2017. Book 4 should be published in 2020. That's a long time to wait. But I think it could have been done way better!...more
I could not wait for this book to drop. And the moment it was there I was actually afraid to start it!
SPOILERS for the previous books included.[image]
I could not wait for this book to drop. And the moment it was there I was actually afraid to start it!
SPOILERS for the previous books included. Spoilers for this book will be hidden under the spoiler tag.
EDIT: I have no real idea what just happened. I liked the book while reading but now? I’m very angry about it. (I had to change my rating to 3 ⭐ but it feels a bit too generous if you ask me but since I rated COV 2 ⭐, I cannot go lower with this one.) I hated it when I first read the COV, and I was very happy that she died. And I was excited for Calliope and Gigi. And while I like Calliope way more than Ivy, my excitement is mostly gone.
The majority of this book is one huge flashback, rewriting things that mainly happened in the first and third book of this series. What we thought had happened, did not. We were lied to, even in chapters from Ethan’s POV. And here my problems start. And while my evil side liked what was happening, my reader part was a bit annoyed because it seems like the author tried to rewrite what she wrote in the previous books. (And I saw several people calling the first book pointless right now. And honestly? I understand where you are coming from.)
When I started reading this, I was very excited to see what will happen, but now I feel like the author picked up the worst possible solution. (view spoiler)[Ethan knew all along that he has a daughter, he was supposed to be in love with Calliope, making plans with her and Ivy was getting on his last nerve and he could not wait for her to die. Yeah, and he knew all along that his parents are alive, and he wants revenge or whatever. Also, Ethan sleeping with Ivy and everyone else was part of the plan he made with Calliope. And apparently, Calliope has some plan to destroy the Callahans. But who knows. (hide spoiler)] <-- This is the whole book in a nutshell.
Looking back, it seems as if the author took the first book and went on rewriting it and tried to give a new perspective to everything. But it does not work since we got Ethan’s POV in the first book. If it were only Ivy’s POV, I would be okay with this. But the whole “Ethan was lying to the readers does not work for me. I hated Ivy, but I always felt like the author meant for her to by the endgame for Ethan. And I have no idea if she succumbed to the hate against Ivy or if she got the idea for Calliope and decided to go with it. The Children of Vice were announced as a trilogy, it was written as a trilogy and no matter what no one will ever persuade me that this was pre-planned.
In my first review, I called this book slightly as Deus Ex Machina but honestly? It’s more like Calliope Ex Machina, she just somehow did everything. She pointed her phone at something, and she hacked into it. (I know that there is someone on the other side doing the hacking for her. But… little explanation? Not leaving everything to the last part would be nice.) Also, she reminded me a bit of Tinker Bell, but instead of a magical powder, she was sprinkling poison everywhere.
I don’t know… I liked it while reading, but now I’m very annoyed by this book. The main problem for me with this book is that it feels a bit like fan fiction or as if the author wanted to change her work, but it’s hard to rewrite something that was already published.
I would just say, read her Ruthless series which is wonderful. Children of Vice were over-all just mediocre, and if she’s trying to save it, then she’s failing.
Also, it was mentioned in my now scratched review, but I have to mention it again, the editing of this series is getting worse or what?! Errors and typos were always in all series by this author (along with continuity errors – like the age of the characters, what someone was wearing in the same scene etc.) but this book? I even had to re-read sentences to make sure if I understood them correctly. And, this is not on the author since her work is edited, the editor dropped the bomb and the author should ask for money back.
And the first chapter already came with a huge twist! Which I loved! Which I hoped for! "YES! I KNEW IT!"
And I already loved where the book was going.
However, the "past" part was a bit too long and dragged out, and I sort of wished it would end finally. Vicious Minds were supposed to be one book, but because of the length, the author split it in two. And I have to wonder. Did the book suffer because of it? (I'm not even thinking about the terrible wait we have in front of us!) What I mean is that if the book was whole, I believe that a chunk of the "past" part would be cut out of the story and maybe that would help with the fluency of the story.
When I started reading the Children of Vice series, I hated the first one. I rated it 2* mainly because Ivy was just a waste of space and Ethan was not living up to my expectations. And since Ivy is now gone and we are getting a new perspective on the events from the first book, I'm happier, and it makes more sense. However, at the same time, I have to say that it is obvious that the author did not plan on this book from the beginning because it's an absolute turn from the beginning and now the actions are interpreted differently but not always it works. But seeing how much I hated Ivy, I don't care. She's gone, that's all I needed. (view spoiler)
Calliope is a fantastic character! Well, it's not hard to be better than Ivy, but still, she is wonderful. (view spoiler)
I wish there was a bit more on the present story, but I guess we will get that in the next book.
I'm sad that there was not a bit more of Gigi.
However, this book was full of twists, and I have no idea what's going to happen next! (view spoiler)
Sometimes Calliope seemed a bit like Deus ex machina. So, I hope this will be explained as well in the next book.
I cannot not mention the several typos I found in the book.
All in all, this is somewhere between three and four ⭐but since Ivy is gone, I'll go with four. ...more
Well, I don't know what to say. I wasn't really a fan of the previous book, especially because I never found a way how to like Hartley. But the HUGE cWell, I don't know what to say. I wasn't really a fan of the previous book, especially because I never found a way how to like Hartley. But the HUGE cliffhanger forced me to read this book asap. Well, after finishing my review, I feel like I'm even generous with my rating. Funny thing that I always realize how angry a book made me only when I write the review.
Let's start from the beginning. The whole "(view spoiler)[ amnesia thing (hide spoiler)]" it only seemed to me like the author didn't know what to do with the plot and thought that this would be an amazing plot or solution. Well, no, sorry, it was not.
I'm not a doctor but (view spoiler)[, so she remembers nothing, and they just send her to school? Like nothing happened, you would expect some sort of counseling and "transition," tests what she remembers and what not. I get that her parents are assholes, but I would think that this would alert social services or someone that a girl who remembers nothing is just sent to school. Same with Sebastian, he woke from god knows how long coma a guy that is going to trial for murder just gets him out of the hospital and then he is in school like a couple of days later. (hide spoiler)] Really don't get that and I would be really surprised if that were how that worked in the US. (view spoiler)[Talking about a guy who committed a murder. It was said that he was also being charged with an attempt to kill Ella as well. - Btw, when did he try to kill her? Because what happened at the end of the Twisted Palace did not seem like attempted murder to me. But still, she is a major witness in the case. He should not be allowed anywhere near her! But he can just come to the house where she lives? No restrictions on that? Seriously? (hide spoiler)] And since I'm already talking about the lack of action from CPS or anyone for that matter, let's add other issues. (view spoiler)[ So, at the end Hartley's dad is dead, her mother just packs her backs and goes away as well as her older sister. And no social services, CPS or anyone is involved when she leaves Dylan, her 13-year-old daughter with the family of the guy her 17-year-old daughter is dating? And do not tell me that it's the money. The case was under media scrutiny; they would definitely report on that. (hide spoiler)]
Okay, this feels like this review is going to be full of spoilers.
(view spoiler)[ I won't really comment on Callum going to Dubai to close a deal when his son is in a comma. If Sebastian was in a comma like for a month or so then okay but it was what? Days? Week? And he was off and left Easton in charge of everyone. As if he wasn't drinking all the time and Callum was aware of that. You would guess he would at least force Gideon or Reed to come back. (hide spoiler)]
As for Easton. In the last book, I was really angry about his behavior towards Ella. And to be honest several times in this book it was even worse than in the previous one. As well as his behavior altogether. (view spoiler)[He made no sense at all. He was just making things worse on purpose and then trying to excuse himself. (hide spoiler)]
Okay, so little miss Hartley. Still, don't like her. And have nothing much to say about her. Only that her actions were sometimes really stupid and forced her to do things were complicated. Maybe she should keep her mouth shut, just maybe sometimes.
The first half of the book is really slow and almost pointless.
We got some mandatory Felicity drama. Again sort of doing the same to get rid of the mean girl as Ella did. (view spoiler)[ Really don't get the Kyle thing. So Felicity set it up, and her parents just went with it? I understand that Kyle did it for money but don't understand why he punched her. Makes no sense at all. (hide spoiler)]
Then there is Steve who just won't go away. And I already voiced some of my issues about him in some of the previous spoilers. But let's add another. (view spoiler)[ So he has an ankle bracelet to monitor where he goes. And put that together with the fact that he should not be allowed anywhere near Ella he should be in jail for being at Royal's place. But okay, let'S pretend he could just order Ella in his car and all would be fine. Then to his suicide, come on, that was only a stupid way how to finish the book and close the Steve's issue without writing about the trial. (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[Also, Steve just goes crazy, shooting anything and everything. It also gets revealed that Easton is apparently his son. Which was suggested in the previous book by Hartley's father. I didn't believe it because a) didn't really think the author would go for the Ella and Easton kiss and b)in the first three books it was hinted that the twins were more like Steve so it would make more sense if it were them than Easton. (hide spoiler)]
Also about Hartley's father who was just behaving really stupidly and I'm sort of surprised he managed to go on with it as long as he did. (view spoiler)[He also said that he pushed Hartley at the hospital that caused her amnesia. (really convenient) But I re-read her fall, and I do not see how he could push her without anyone seeing it. They were looking at her! (hide spoiler)]
Hopefully my last issue with the book. The twins and Lauren and anything altogether. Since the author revealed that the Royals were over, no more books, no-extras no nothing I'm really confused and maybe even angry because we always got just hints on them. A built up of their story to get people interested, and I really wanted to know more about them. And the author is just like: No book for them. Okay, then at least please explain the things in this book! (view spoiler)[ The author just threw there that Lauren broke up with them which made me really angry. It was same as with Steve. Just deleting the character so I don't have to bother with an explanation. And I thought I was angry after the previous book when Lauren went from the sweet and nice girl to a complete opposite manipulative monster. But this got me angry even more. (hide spoiler)]
Also (view spoiler)[Sebastian woke up after being super angry and rude which is understandable but we won't ever know if he gets better or what. (hide spoiler)]
Wow, after letting all of my anger out I sort of wonder if there is really something I've liked about the book. Also, as some people already pointed out there were some really unnecessary typos in the book....more
I knew it! I just knew this was gonna happen since the moment the fourth book in the trilogy was announced.
What can I tell you? It was no surprise at I knew it! I just knew this was gonna happen since the moment the fourth book in the trilogy was announced.
What can I tell you? It was no surprise at all. You could guess everything. (view spoiler)[Sure, kill Samir. Never bought that. And Mencheres to be the real target was just so obvious! (hide spoiler)]
The whole book was just how Leila is awesome, and she only has to believe in herself and just do it, and it works! Every single time she is the amazing solution to it!
The only good part about this was Ian (hence this is not only 1 star). As it was announced he is gonna get his own book and I am terrified what he's going to turn into? Little mushy love-struck idiot?
(view spoiler)[ Am I the only one who feels cheated on the ending regarding Mircea? (hide spoiler)] (view spoiler)[When Marty finally died and then came as a ghost I was worried that he'd stay with Leila forever! Horrible thought. (hide spoiler)]...more
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