I read this book for school. And though I haven’t had my exam yet, and therefore don’t know if this was as helpful as I hope it has been, it’s been anI read this book for school. And though I haven’t had my exam yet, and therefore don’t know if this was as helpful as I hope it has been, it’s been an interesting book to read.
I will say I loved the insight it gave into thought patterns, and different traps the human mind goes into automatically. I also loved the part where it’s explained how people use tactics to manipulate others in debates, because I feel like I see this happening all the time, and I don’t understand why it’s allowed in public debates and stuff.
Now, English is not my first language, and although I am fluent, and read books literally all the time, and always in English, my head was spinning when I read about statistics and how to calculate different things like probability, and the base rate or what it was called. It’s also mentioned how human minds aren’t really programmed to calculate things with numbers in our day to day life, and I definitely found out that was the case for me. However, there were a lot of examples through the book that made it more understandable.
I actually would recommend reading this to anyone that wants insight into the workings of the human mind, and to teach themselves to think critically. Some of the traps I read about in this book have made me more aware of my own thought patterns, and the traps my own mind falls into, and now I feel a compulsion to change it every time I notice myself doing it. ...more
Um. Yeah. I have to say I was a little underwhelmed.
This started off strong. Don’t get me wrong. There were so many players still left in place, so muUm. Yeah. I have to say I was a little underwhelmed.
This started off strong. Don’t get me wrong. There were so many players still left in place, so much tension, and I knew the vandals would be more involved. I don’t know when it went downhill specifically..
I think it has something to do with the fact that all of these people. King, Harper Reed, Wallace Graham. They were all built up to be these powerful, unapproachable, not to mention dangerous people in not only this book series, but in the vandal series as well (more specifically King in this instance) And this series has spent five books talking about how they were up to their necks in trouble with these people. And yet, when it was time to deal with all of them, it was like they just went from door to door, rang the doorbell, and executed them.
I get that Andrea being taken was a big deal, and made for a good plot. But it did not have to take two full books. Especially considering she was basically fine when they found her, and we weren’t a part of her healing journey at all. We were told she went to therapy, but we got absolutely no insight into what had been going on during the time she was taken. It wasn’t like they had a lot of intel about what was being done to her before they found her. They were pretty much stumbling around in the dark actually. Bodhi finding his own brother has also been a side plot for several books, and we got like, three pages of them actually talking. And then it’s Emerson and Milo’s brother Theo. Why was he even a part of anything? There was never any indication previously that they had another sibling, but when it was brought up that King had another child I thought it would be important in some way. Turned out he was only there for a few pages, mouthing off to Milo (which he didn’t deserve because of how difficult it was for him to connect with Emerson/Ivy), and then we hear that Theo wanted to go live with Emerson and the Vandals, but we won’t get to see any of that, because that series is already finished.
I was so happy when I found out Margareta was Lainey’s grandmother. And then thoroughly disappointed when we didn’t get to see them explore that relationship AT ALL. Literally not even a conversation about it.
It was also just the ending of the book. It was just a summary of how everything came together, rather than actually showing it in present time. Does that make sense? I am under the belief that a book is better when the author shows, instead of tells. And, at the end of the summary everything was wrapped up in a nice little bow, but it wasn’t so satisfying.
I could go on about everything I liked in the book, but the truth is that it’s quite simple. The things I liked in the previous books regarding build up and the relationships were all done great. And I loved these characters and are very emotionally invested, which is why, despite not liking it as much as I wished, I can’t bring myself to rate it lower....more
Well. Everything is going to hell, that’s for goddamn sure.
What I love about the authors writing, is how there are so many stories, that seem separatWell. Everything is going to hell, that’s for goddamn sure.
What I love about the authors writing, is how there are so many stories, that seem separate, but in the end they all connect and fits so well. And it seems extremely well thought out, because this story started back in the Vandal series.
Margarita is one of the most fascinating characters to me, because she is one of the players I still don’t really understand. I feel like she is a threat, but at the same time, I feel like she has a connection to one of them, maybe, that is personal, and she is actually an ally. Does that make sense?
I still don’t understand why Julius King wants a relationship with Emerson. I mean, is it purely because he is apparently a bastard child of one of the old rich families, but he is considered new money, which means he isn’t truly through the door. But Emerson is technically a Sharpe, which means she is most definitely through that door, and he sees her as his way in? Or does he actually have a heart and want a relationship with her? No. I don’t believe that after all. When Emerson Sharpe barged in to King’s office by the way, I squealed. I just love her. I wanted more of her.
Although I love all the relationships between Lainey and her guys, it’s actually Adam and Ezra that I’m most invested in right now. I just didn’t see it coming at all! Even in the vandal series. I mean, I saw their relationship with Lainey coming, but not with each other! I love them together though.
Overall this book series has my rapt attention, and I don’t have time to write a page long essay about all the things that was so great about it, because I need to go read the last book. Goodbye. Nice knowing you and everything....more
Now, listen to me goddamn it, this is unacceptable! Ezra is basically just creating problems now, and what happened to Lainey? No. Just no. WHY WAS SHENow, listen to me goddamn it, this is unacceptable! Ezra is basically just creating problems now, and what happened to Lainey? No. Just no. WHY WAS SHE NAKED. I am literally scared on her behalf. No woman ever wants to find themselves drugged and naked in a pitch black room, and I am not fucking okay with it.
This book was better than the last. Mostly because I felt like they all bonded so much more, and everything with Ezra and Adam was just so raw. I also love how Lainey is actually involved actively in the plot, and coming along for things, and making decisions. I always felt like that was somehow missing from the vandals series. Emerson was just so guarded that she wasn’t as involved in the plots.
I also love the insight to Bodhi’s story, and I really want to see the conclusion to it. ...more
This entire book consisted of the main male character telling her she was his everything, and then heWhat is with all the positive reviews this gets.
This entire book consisted of the main male character telling her she was his everything, and then he left for months at the time.
And she would be all “I am over this, I don’t chase” only to be “weak” every time he came back, and she just couldn’t control herself. Then she would ask herself “why can’t I resist him?” OUT LOUD. She would talk to herself like this out loud all the time.
It was kind of understandable why she was understanding about him disappearing, because his mother died and he was looking for her killer. But every time, he would eventually stop communicating with her, and she felt like she couldn’t come to him.
I didn’t like it when Malcom showed up and told her about London, from the last book, and that they were cousins. Because he did it saying Aurora would have to really be there and support London when the time came, and that London wouldn’t know who she was yet. Aurora had her own life, and was really struggling because of her father. And she was also alone after what happened with her mother, and she just had to sit and wait for Malcom to tell London? What if she needed a cousin? This was a VERY small part of the book, but it still bothered me.
I just didn’t like either of them. But I hated the FMC most, because I can’t stand main characters that tell themselves to stay away, only for their body to betray them, and then they keep asking themselves why they can’t ignore this “pull”. ...more
Uhhh. Hello??? This book. THIS goddamn book, was quite simply a masterpiece.
Because of my deranged mind I am a sucker for the kidnapping trope. But theUhhh. Hello??? This book. THIS goddamn book, was quite simply a masterpiece.
Because of my deranged mind I am a sucker for the kidnapping trope. But there are still so many things I usually wish were done differently when I read those kinds of books. But this fucking man knew how to kidnap someone properly! God it’s too much to bear.
I mean, honestly, for me, everything was just great in this book.
I truly liked both the main characters. Vasilisa’s desire to actually be a part of that world was one of my favourite traits about her. And I loved how she got the validation she deserved when being with Rafael. A common denominator in the “imperfectly perfect” series is the fact that the women aren’t really involved in their world, and it’s always bothered me, which is why I loved that she was different. I feel like a lot of people will think “it must be such a hardship to be so pretty and get told you are all the time...more
I feel like - to me - Lina and Nash were the two least interesting characters that would get their own book.
I was still pleasantly surprised by the fI feel like - to me - Lina and Nash were the two least interesting characters that would get their own book.
I was still pleasantly surprised by the fact that I liked a lot of it. But I still found them to be rather bland.
Lina was a strong person, I’ll give her that. And when Nash was angry because she hid parts of her job from him I was absolutely on her side and cheered when she didn’t take most of his shit. He took it way too far. But I felt like everything with her heart problems was added to give her character some layers. And it was just forgotten about. Which made her someone who was allergic to commitment at every turn, someone who took no shit…And that’s really it.
Now Nash. He had a more interesting story. Technically. He was shot and almost died, and it seemed as if the author really wanted to get the point across that he was depressed. It however didn’t feel like depression since it basically went away the second he saw Lina, whenever he thought of her and so on. And his memory loss was completely glossed over. I had almost forgotten the fact that he couldn’t actually remember anything when his memory came back. He never once tried to challenge himself and work to restore the memories in therapy. And like I said. He overreacted when he learned Lina had lied about something as insignificant as the fact that she was actually in Knockemout looking for a car.
I also have to throw in something that I HATE in books. When they can’t stick to their resolve. Or when they can’t be upset with someone for real, because their bodies just keeps responding to that person against their will. The poor things. It happened with both of them through the book. But the time it pissed me off most was when Lina was at the gym after Nash had said some horrible things after discovering she had lied. And she says she doesn’t care to even look at him because she is so over him. Then she goes “maybe 10% still cares. 40% tops”. And the anger I had felt on her behalf as I read just drained away, because it’s just so stupid.
I loved Naomi, Knox and Waylay in this. Piper the cute dog was also a favourite of mine.
Weirdly enough I didn’t like Lucian that much. He was up Nash’s ass about Lina through the whole book. Clearly he was projecting his own insecurities on to Lina and Nash’s relationship, but no one actually seriously called him out on it, or the fact that he threatened to ruin Linas life if she hurt Nash, as if he is not a grown man. He never even apologised, not even half assed.
The plot moved along at a snails pace. It was interesting when we got to the action. But this book didn’t need to be as long as it was.
Overall I liked it. It’s been some time since I read the first so I honestly don’t know which one I read more. But I do know I liked the main characters from the first a lot more in this one....more
We all have slightly horrible thoughts from time to time. Which is why I am trying to accept the fact that I was happy she lost both her parents and hWe all have slightly horrible thoughts from time to time. Which is why I am trying to accept the fact that I was happy she lost both her parents and her sister, because she got a lot of overprotective big brothers. It’s just a weak spot for me.
I feel like this book managed to keep a red thread through the story, and at the same time it was all over the place.
The hangman was one thing. Someone we heard about, mostly related to the past, and believed to be a separate plot story.
Davis, whom I believed to be obsessed with her, but really he just kept showing up. And when we found out the truth about his money problems I felt like he was pointless.
I thought something was off with Duncan. How he would offer her his place to live, how he took photos of her -she commented on there being a lot of photos of her compared to Thea -, and how we would get a description about how his gaze would soften when she said something nice to or about him.
Owen who was such a jackass through everything, turned out to be just a jackass with no conclusion or growth.
And Felix. Poor guy.
Now don’t get me wrong, having the perpetrator be someone no one suspected is great. But I felt like all these clues were thrown in to make everyone else a suspect. With literally no clues as to who it actually was by the time it was revealed.
I am also a little shocked that a fourteen year old kid managed to break into a house and set a fire and make it look like a complete accident. Like, really?
Over to better things.
Both Rho and Anson suffered so much and I loved how they bonded over their trauma. And that she gave him hell when she realised she had shared a lot more with him than he had with her. Served him right.
My favourite part however was Rho’s family, and their family dynamic. I loved the concept of them being a chosen family. At the beginning of the book Rho made a comment to Fallon about how she would have trouble dating because of all her overprotective brothers. And I was jealous. On Rho’s behalf of course.. Which was why I was so happy when her family died and she got to join that family.
Really though. I loved this book and I am pissed at myself for having to wait for the next one to get in the mail. Oh shit. I just realized I haven’t actually purchased it yet. Now I am just pissed off....more
I hate using cruel words to describe someone’s work. But I hated this. I’m sorry, but I did.
This book had no soul. It had a foundation, but without aI hate using cruel words to describe someone’s work. But I hated this. I’m sorry, but I did.
This book had no soul. It had a foundation, but without any substance. The love interests didn’t know each other. I’m not overreacting. This can’t have been a second chance romance, because they were never actually together, and they just CAN’T have been in love. I thought, through the whole book, that they had had some epic love story and one of them broke the other’s heart in a cruel way. But really they met one week, not even every year. And after one summer when they had grown up, West decided to move on and got engaged. And then she got married to someone she didn’t particularly like. But her father liked him, so she stayed with him...more
Samael. THE SAMAEL goes by the name Viper. VIPER! I can’t accept this.
I will admit it was better than the last one - hunted - but I stand by the fact tSamael. THE SAMAEL goes by the name Viper. VIPER! I can’t accept this.
I will admit it was better than the last one - hunted - but I stand by the fact that I don’t believe this should be a part of the “dark in you” series.
This had a completely different feel to it altogether. Both the main characters had extremely loose connections to everyone from the original group, even those who came in later books such as the hellhorses and The Fallen. The people we have read about in all the other books were probably in ten pages combined through this book.
If I look at this as a standalone and forget about the fact that it was a part of a series, it was good in some ways. I loved the beginning and was hooked from the start - royally pissed off that they killed her - but writing that inspires emotion can only ever be a good thing.
I liked their romance. He definitely gave more to their love than she did, which I wish was different. I didn’t like the time jump where they had suddenly been together for a few weeks, but they were still not sure whether or not it was an actual relationship or not.
I loved Ella’s anchor bond with Luca in the beginning of the book, then came to resent it, only to like it, and then be left completely unsatisfied. He was so overprotective and sweet in the beginning. Then he was so unsupportive when he found out she was pregnant. Then they sort of half way figured it out. Then we never heard about it again. They never had a real heart to heart talk. We didn’t see him realise how much it hurt her when he wasn’t supportive from the get go.
The plot was very unclear to me. I didn’t understand the point behind the notes. How they were foolish threats in the beginning, and suddenly it was a death threat. And there was no real plan to figure the notes out.
There were no grand attacks on Ella in particular that truly gave her character some action. This really surprised me because this author is nothing if not repetitive in her writing, and in literally every book she writes the female main character is attacked in some way around halfway through the book. I felt like Ella just sailed through it.
And it was repetitive in other ways. The characters are all the same as everyone she ever writes. It doesn’t really bother me, or I wouldn’t read the books, but I do wish they would show some goddamn EMOTION other than UNDERSTANDING! Like every time Ella found out something about Viper. She didn’t have to have a full on tantrum or anything. I mean calm down it wasn’t that deep. But she could have at least said she needed a minute and walked off to think.
And I swear, every female main character she writes does this. They hear about something awful someone wants to do to them, or that has been kept from them, and they are just like “oh, well, is the dinner served yet? I’m hungry” as if nothing ever fazes them and gives them pause, and it is so unrealistic.
It was like she couldn’t be separated from her sister for the life of her I swear. Half of this book was honestly devoted to her sister’s love story, and anchor bond troubles, and we didn’t even get a conclusion to either. Does that mean Mia gets her own book, or is this series over, or what is happening??
I just want it said that I did love the premise of the book. With her being reincarnated, and him searching for her, and being so obsessed with her and devoted to her, and her accepting every part of his curse. Not to mention that this curse actually had real consequences. Drinking blood seems terrible - not so terrible that I understood the great apprehension in sharing it with Ella - but since he has no choice and can get into a blood rage, it’s terrible. But what really struck me was the whole having wings and not being able to fly, thing, and that everything around him dies or inspires chaos and rage. That seems truly terrible.
If this book had been the first in a spinoff I would have been so eager to see the rest of everyone’s stories such as Mia, Jesper, Ghost, and even Luka. They all felt like characters that would have interesting stories, and like characters that would actually get their own book. But how many books can actually be in a series? Isn’t this the tenth?...more
**spoiler alert** Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I love**spoiler alert** Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue.
Merged review:
Why don’t I have my own billionaire willing to kill anyone who looks at me wrong? A question I ask myself every day I’m afraid…
I loved Dante. Which is no surprise, because I always like the male characters Ana writes. I could go into specifics, but overall I loved everything about him, so it would be unnecessary to drag the statement out.
I liked Vivian. I will admit I could find it annoying at times how she sort of saw her family for what they were, or at least her father, and didn’t really do anything about it her whole life. But it was also understandable, and she explained it in her fight with Dante, so it is all very complicated, and I just wanted to slap them both when they argued, because they were both right!
I wish we had gotten a little more of her family, and if Luca. I had sort of hoped he and Vivian would bond a little after the robbery. And I just have to add, Dante’s reaction to finding out about the robbery. Need I say more? I think not.
Now, for the plot. I could see both their sides so clearly. Dante had every right to make every decision he made, even though it drove me wild to see him be so blinded about his feelings for Vivian. It was his brother’s life at stake, literally. I would have wanted vengeance, and considering how she defended and never spoke up to her family, I could understand why he didn’t tell her. She also had every right to feel the way she felt. It was just betrayal from all sides. And I would have been heartbroken to learn the person I was falling in love with had chosen vengeance over me. And the things he said, and how he treated her so hot and cold. She didn’t deserve it, considering she didn’t know anything about any of it. And Dante knew she didn’t know. Do you see my case?? It is so frustrating, but it is what made this book so good!
And Mia Cara is hands down one of the best, most sweet and romantic nicknames I have ever read in a book. It just rolls off the tongue....more
I could give some long spiel about everything that happened in this book, but it all comes down to the same point. This was just so boring.
She spent I could give some long spiel about everything that happened in this book, but it all comes down to the same point. This was just so boring.
She spent the entire second book trying to do the ritual thing, and failed, and then she spent this entire book doing the exact same thing. When I started reading it I figured she might spend a hundred or so pages getting the ritual done, and freeing her dragon. But at every stop they made in the new world they were in to find the dragon princess, they needed to stay a few days, and do a bunch of meaningless stuff.
She and Einar were practically separated the entire book.
The other point of views were so boring I almost fell asleep.
It was like everything that happened in the book didn’t happen because of the characters and the choices they made. It was as if it happened because the author had decided that was how it was to be, because the book needed pages with words on them. You get what I mean? It makes sense in my head.
This has gotten worse with each book I have read....more
A four hundred pages long book, focused on one specific thing. And what happens? They fail. They fail so spectacularly that This, this is disgraceful.
A four hundred pages long book, focused on one specific thing. And what happens? They fail. They fail so spectacularly that the ONE POWERFUL ALLY they have managed to meet since this whole mess started, dies.
Literally everyone else in a position of power except for Tamil has only ever betrayed them, or used them for their own advantage. And I hadn’t even gotten to a point where I actually trusted Tamil, and already she died, and they are once again just a band of misfits, and Adara is once again left without any true claim to the throne.
And where the actual did that suggestion come from anyway? Adara is the last person who should take the throne. She doesn’t know anything about anything. And I get it. She was raised in a small village, but she literally had no knowledge about anything. Even what I would assume would be basic knowledge about what the different kind of Fae’s powers must be. But no. She was surprised when a water fae could heat up water. And this was a greater fae, who according to Adara herself can use the element they were born with in practically any manner they please.
One would think her mother - Gelsyne - would have at least made sure she was educated enough to be able to stay alive, and to know her true heritage, even though she didn’t know it was her heritage. I mean Gelsyne must have considered that one day Adara might find out about her power, or she might be in need of powerful allies, but since she is a clueless child stumbling along, she falls into the hand of literally anyone and everyone who wants to use and abuse her.
But she finally seemed like she was about to come into her power, and perhaps be stronger both physically and mentally if she just did the ritual that the entire book was building up towards. And then as she is about to reach for and connect with her dragon, she is ripped away, and the next book will once again be about her trying to do this ritual.
And there is apparently no value in the art of choosing which information to share with others. One only had to ask or demand for them to tell the entire story about what had happened to them, and they will literally tell everything in great detail from the very beginning. There is no scheming, or plotting, or thinking ahead, or regard for what information they shouldn’t tell so that they don’t look weak or incompetent.
And all this is why Adara should not take the throne.
I was actually surprised about the fact that this entire book surrounded TALKING about who should sit the throne, and was shocked when Adara was such an obvious contender. I would have believed she was the rightful heir to the dragons throne, but they are gone.
I honestly don’t understand much about the fae system, and don’t see the point in having a single throne. The different elements all have one powerful family that sit on their own thrones, and have their own strongholds where they are treated like royalty. - Including the water fae. But they still have one ruler who presides over them all. Which was King Aolis. But then he was a water fae too. But why does the throne get passed down in King Aolis’s family specifically? Like, why are the water fae known as the royal family? It would have made more sense for the throne to be passed down in some other way, where the other elements had claims and a chance, when the different elements seem like equals in some ways. And Wind mentioned withdrawing from the kingdom, or some pact in this book because they believed they had given more than the other elements when dealing with the shadow creatures. But how can they simply drop out when the courts are united under one monarch? Like do you get what I mean??? What is happening?!
Can I also just ask. Why is Einar here, and why is he a dragon. There is no rich history behind his character that connects him to the dragons, that is consistent throughout the books. Or anything that gives him a purpose. It is as if he was assigned a job - to look out for Adara - and now he is simply doing it like a robot. I don’t see what drives him beyond that. He hates the fae, or at least that’s what we are told. And yet he bends over for them any time, any place. I feel like his character needs more of a purpose. Like defeating the shadow creatures so his fellow dragons could return to their world or something. But it’s as if Adara just needs to defeat them, because hey, the prophecy said so, and Einar needs to defeat them, because hey, his mate will run head first into a hornets nest she has no idea how to fight....more
Somehow I got it into my head that this caraval game would be infinitely more deadly and treacherous than it actually was. I don’t even know how.
I waSomehow I got it into my head that this caraval game would be infinitely more deadly and treacherous than it actually was. I don’t even know how.
I was confused a lot of the time. Figuring out how the game actually worked was so difficult for me for some reason. Because I didn’t understand for some time if it was truly magic, or magic tricks. And I didn’t understand the whole difference between the players and performers. And I sort of thought everything that was happening was real, but then at the end where they were at the party, it was as if most of it had been planned. I don’t know. Confusing.
I also didn’t feel like Julian or Tella deserved forgiveness from Scarlett. Especially not Tella. The trauma Scarlett must be dealing with in the aftermath, not to mention the pain of watching in the first place. No. I just can’t. I don’t forgive her. And I feel like Julian needed to do some grovelling. But as they were taking in the end, at the party, he wasn’t even really apologising. And they felt like strangers.
There were also some plot holes. Spoilers ahead ladies and gentlemen. It didn’t make sense how Julian could come back, but that Tella couldn’t without Scarlett’s wish. Tella said performers could die during the game and come back. But she also said Julian’s part was over after he brought Tella and Scarlett to Caraval, and was supposed to leave her at the clock place. So was he technically a performer anymore?? And why wasn’t Tella considered a performer? She certainly performed a very convincing suicidal act in front of Scarlett when she jumped to her death. And died. Not to mention, she basically helped plan the entire game, and knew she would get kidnapped and everything. I would say she counted as a performer. It didn’t make much sense to me.
I gave it three stars instead of two because, despite the confusion, the twists in this book were just jaw dropping. It just kept twisting and turning, and I was asking myself where it would end, and suddenly I didn’t know up from down. I only knew what had happened to Julian, and then to Tella, but it suddenly hadn’t happened to them after all, only it had! Do you see what I mean? Did any of what I just say make any sense??
I also liked the intimate moments between Julian and Scarlett. He was a true gem. Though he wouldn’t make it on my radar of book boyfriends. Mostly because they didn’t have enough time to connect. He would disappear several times, and suddenly he looked as if he cared for her. Though I let the abruptness of it go because he was so sweet when he was caring.
Their father and Scarlett’s fiancé showing up and causing hell was one of my personal favourite moments. I couldn’t really figure out her fiancé though.
But I am a little confused. It seems as if “Legendary” is told from Tella’s point of view. But I don’t feel like Scarlett and Julian’s story is even close to finished. It’s not finished right? If I find out this book concluded their story, and now they are simply a strong happy power couple, I will be back, and give this book one less star. That is a promise....more
I should have read this when I was younger. I may be giving it four stars, but this is not going to be a glowing review.
Don’t get me wrong. This is noI should have read this when I was younger. I may be giving it four stars, but this is not going to be a glowing review.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not a bad book. It is actually a really good one. And had I been in middle school and reading this I would have loved it. Now? Not so much.
Everything was so rushed. In the beginning, before Percy understood everything he was seeing I was feeling disoriented with how it was written.
Then he was suddenly at camp and his mom was dead, or at least taken, and he didn’t seem cut up about it at all. He was in fact having bonfires and playing “catch the flag”. And I get it. This book is meant for younger people. But reading about grief and somewhat dark and emotions will not be too heavy themes for younger people. Give them some credit. They can handle it just fine, and I believe it will make them more perceptive in the long run.
Then they went on their quest, and at literally EVERY turn they ran into some kind of monster, or just happened to land on the doorstep of someone who wanted them dead. Like Medusa, and the guy with the waterbeds. And incidents like the guy with the waterbeds was unnecessary. It didn’t do anything for the plot. They were just tied down to waterbeds and were going to be stretched out because the guy couldn’t handle the fact that they were shorter than 6 feet.
Every obstacle was also solved incredibly fast. In a matter of a few pages.
The biggest issue I had was with their communication. Annabeth clearly had suspicions about Percy’s dreams being about Kronos, but didn’t say anything. She would just look at him with worry. And he could tell she knew something, but then decided to not ask about it. And it happened over and over again with several themes. Someone was always holding back some information, or being cryptic. It’s an easy way to keep all the puzzle pieces from fitting together until the author wants them to, but I believe it is somewhat poor writing. But then again, since it is meant for younger people, it makes it easier to hang on to the plot in some ways. But on the other hand, I still believe younger people are smart enough to understand and love a book where these things aren’t done.
And at the end, where Luke was revealed. It was the classic “villain spills every single detail of their master plan because the reader is too dumb to put the pieces and clues together on their own” rant. All he had to say was a short sentence of “it was me”, and a few more sentences explaining his motives, and the reader would have understood immediately. Instead he had to lay it all out on pages upon pages. It wasn’t necessary.
My rating is very objective, because objectively this book isn’t bad by any means. Personally I didn’t love it. I might continue with the series.
I also have to mention that I was actually somewhat on Luke’s side. Not about everything, he still seemed like a psycho, but all these children are risking their lives to help their parents/gods, who play no part in their lives, and show no love of any kind. Even Poseidon looked as if he wasn’t sure if he liked Percy, and was sorry he was born. And yet Percy is calling him “sir” and bowing at his feet. No thank you....more
To be honest, I wasn’t completely sold on this in the beginning. And i will thoroughly explain why:)
The story building regarding Zilvaren was inconsisTo be honest, I wasn’t completely sold on this in the beginning. And i will thoroughly explain why:)
The story building regarding Zilvaren was inconsistent. An example is the water. They barely got any water, and had to fight and steal to get it. But there was a bar that served alcohol, and there wasn’t any restrictions as to how much one could have. Just drink ale to survive instead of dirty water.
Another is how The Third was quarantined because of a supposed plague. The guard Saeris stole the gauntlet from seemed to believe the Plauge rumours, and wouldn’t touch her. But later that day, several guards were sent into The Third to find the missing gauntlet. And they had no qualms about laying hands on her.
And how could a malnourished and thirsty 24 year old bring down three warriors who in her own words were practically impossible to defeat, without breaking a sweat.
Not to mention, how did Saeris even get out of The Third in the first place. It seemed way too easy for a place that has supposedly been completely sealed off.
She also made a comment about not knowing what a moon was, then later used the phrase “they looked at him as if he’d hung the moon”.
And let me explain. It’s great if you are a “vibe reader” and don’t care about these things. But it is not nitpicking to point out holes in the world building. No one is negating the fact that writing a fantasy book and creating a world is difficult, but creating that world - one that makes sense - is a part of the writing job. And it is completely understandable if people can’t look past it or connect with the book if it’s lacking in that aspect.
I also had some trouble liking everyone, including Saeris when she first ended up in the new world.
Kingfisher was extraordinarily rude, compared to what he needed to be. Every time she opened her mouth or had a question he would mock her in some way, and I was not here for it. You don’t need that in order to have a good, or even great enemies to lovers book. I also wanted to kill him and hurl the book across the room when they made the deal that practically made her his slave.
But don’t worry. Things went uphill from here. Once you are at the bottom, it can’t go anywhere else but up, you know?
She gave him shit for that deal. She did not roll over and bend over backwards to please him, and she put him in his place and made him swear to never use the bargain against her again. And she mentioned several times that if he chose to ever do it again she was completely done, and would never forgive him. And I believed her. Strong independent woman right there. Something loosened in my chest when that happened.
And he became such a sweetheart. Like I would say he definitely made up for his awful behaviour, and started treating her like the goddamn queen that she was.
And she started making connections with Ren, and Lorrenth, and even Carrion. Which by the way, thank god he was the one who was brought through the Quicksilver, and not Hayden. Sorry, but Hayden would have done nothing but distract Saeris, but Carrion was just a blast. And I lost it when he named his ancient, powerful, magical sword, Simon. Gods spare me.
But anyway. I just loved getting to know both Lorrenth and Ren, though I liked Lorrenth the most, and his history with Fisher.
I liked the plot, and I didn’t mind how it took a backseat from time to time to focus on the romance. I only wish we had gotten the bigger picture about the war that was going on a little sooner. It now seems as if the conflict in the Fae world, is the same in Saeris’s world. Which I had a hunch was the case from the start, otherwise it would just be weird, but I didn’t really see how.
I loved their time at the war camp, and when we saw them fight together.
And by the end of the book. Let’s just say, thank the gods she is no longer human, because that’s boring. Let’s only hope we will see some actual changes that are significant to her person, or behaviour, or abilities. All I can say is that I need the next book like right fucking now. Actually I needed it yesterday....more
When will the opportunity to ride a dragon come along?? Cause I have been waiting for some time, and I am not very patient by nature. And I am jealous When will the opportunity to ride a dragon come along?? Cause I have been waiting for some time, and I am not very patient by nature. And I am jealous of Adara. I don’t like being jealous of anyone.
Was this book fantastic? No, not really. Was it still good? Yes, I would say it was.
The problem is that it felt more like an early draft rather than the finishing product. We have the plot scenes down - mostly - but it lacks a lot of scenes around it that lets us connect with the characters, and see emotional relationships form and evolve.
I didn’t feel like Adara and Einar actually hated each other. I didn’t feel like Einar really hated the fae even though he kept saying it.
Adara couldn’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. She was on the run, and he was the last dragon shifter in existence, and no one knew about him. Yet everywhere they went everyone found out about both of them, about her magic, they gave their real names to everyone they came across, along with their whole story of being on the run. It was just so easy to track them that even I could have done it. And yes, she was inexperienced, but Einar had been to war. One would think he could strategise better, and had sharper senses that didn’t allow for them to be ambushed at every turn. It also seemed way to easy for the Fae to take down dragons.
It still has potential. I am hoping it will get better, because things were interesting in the end. As was the true identity of Adara. And now I need Einar to get his shit together and realise he wants her....more
Everything from Hades’s point of view was basically copied from “a touch of malice”… This is nothing new, but II am yawning so hard my jaw is cracking…
Everything from Hades’s point of view was basically copied from “a touch of malice”… This is nothing new, but I would have hoped things had changed, and it aggravated me more in this because in the first two I at least felt like he did something outside of being with Persephone the whole time. Like Hera’s labor’s in “retribution”. The scenes were barely even written differently. I would always wonder how he felt and thought as he said the things he said, but the times that was explained even in a short sentence was far in between. It was just straight up boring.
I liked this the least of all the books, because I am so fed up with Hades not telling Persephone anything. I stupidly thought things were different when reading “a touch of malice” because I felt like Persephone was more involved in the growing plot. It wasn’t until this I realised how much of a fool I was for thinking it.
The only thing that kept this book afloat was Dionysus and Ariadne. I craved their chapters every time a new one started, because they were actually in this together. They plotted, and worked, and fought together, and I believed a lot more in their love from the short snippets we got, compared to what we have seen between Persephone and Hades over the course of several books.
I mean Persephone doesn’t even know who these people are! We got to know them so well in this book, and she is just not a part of it at all. She is only in Hades’s bed, either asleep, or waking up, or in need of rescuing, where she eventually pass out.
Hades is so worried about her safety and her ability to protect herself from a world she barely understands because of her mother, but he is the one allowing her to stumble through it blind. An example is how he didn’t tell her about Hera’s involvement with Theseus, or about the creature everyone was looking to kill, to be able to defeat the gods. Everyone else around her knows about it though. Because they talk about it, and plan ahead, and fight to stop the war, or at least prepare for it. And they do it together. Without her!
And I was so mad when Hades left Dionysus and Ariadne with Poseidon. I understood why he left, but not why he didn’t come back! He knew Dionysus’s powers was no match to Poseidon’s, and he knows how Poseidon relish in raping women, which he almost did to Ariadne by the way! But no. He didn’t come looking for them because he brought Persephone to a private island to have sex several times. I lost respect for Hades after that. At least some of it....more
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