This was really entertaining, but I felt like I didn’t get much information from this. I want to continue with their story, I’ll let you know if I figThis was really entertaining, but I felt like I didn’t get much information from this. I want to continue with their story, I’ll let you know if I figure out which comic to read next lol...more
This was such a good second book. I loved this. I think the reason this was a 4 instead of a 5 star for me was that it ended at all. There's somethingThis was such a good second book. I loved this. I think the reason this was a 4 instead of a 5 star for me was that it ended at all. There's something underwhelming to the ending, not in the actual story itself but in the fact that it ended at all.
I LOVED every addition to this plot, but for some reason this just felt like a 4 star to me.
(I actually couldn't tell you why I gave this a 4 star and not a 5 star as I am writing this review two months after I finished the book but this is just what I'm assuming.)
I've read enough books by Tricia Levenseller now to understand that she works best when she's able to write a unique and interesting story as opposed I've read enough books by Tricia Levenseller now to understand that she works best when she's able to write a unique and interesting story as opposed to a sequel that's rooted in wanting to make money.
Don't get me wrong, none of her sequels are bad. But it's become clear how simply trying to replicate the success of the first book limits her writing.
I absolutely loved The Shadows Between Us. I loved how there were two morally grey characters who finally felt truly morally grey to me. Yesss killers! Yesss use each other for power! The Shadows Between Us is my favorite book by this author.
This is maybe why I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to, but I think it's more to do with my first point. The Darkness Within Us was good, but ultimately ended up feeling like a copy of the first book with a mediocre enemies to lovers plotline instead of the relationship of convenience.
I also think this book helped me realize that I just don't like Tricia's enemies to lovers plotlines that much. I couldn't put my finger on exactly why until I was directing this book and realized that it doesn't follow the formula for romance that I enjoy. (To explain it without going into too much detail, it was rushed and underdeveloped.)
Which sucks because I like Chrysantha a lot more than Alessandra. Alessandra was an enjoyable main character because she did whatever she wanted and that was a beautiful breath of fresh air as far as main characters go. Chrysantha was more interesting to me, however, because she was largely the same but fueled by this deep rage and desire for revenge in the form of being better than her sister. But that rage and motivation just goes away throughout the story with little explanation.
I don't know, this book was enjoyable to read but felt like it was just trying to replicate what people liked from her two most successful works; the romance from Daughter of the Pirate King and the storyline and structure of The Darkness Between Us. ...more
This book is the best book in the series and it's 100% because a certain character wasn't in this book at all. THIS is what I wanted from this series,This book is the best book in the series and it's 100% because a certain character wasn't in this book at all. THIS is what I wanted from this series, not a stupid guy being obnoxious with the main character and making her life miserable.
Hopefully the books get better from here on out <3...more
You'll Like This Book If -You liked the first two <3 -Seriously go read those before you read this <33
****(I'm back again to say that I am also writing You'll Like This Book If -You liked the first two <3 -Seriously go read those before you read this <33
****(I'm back again to say that I am also writing this review after finishing the series but will still be writing it as if I have not already read book 4 <3)****
To say I needed time to process this book is an understatement.
Once again, Jennifer switched up the mystery and was able to keep me in the dark and on the edge of my seat the whole time. And, as I said in my initial review, that ending????
Crazy.
Beautiful.
Wonderful.
10/10.
So why, one might ask, was this book a 4 star and not a 5 star? If the plot was so good, and it was btw, why not give the book a 5 star?
Spoilers incoming <3
Because, dear readers, I am coming to realize that while Jennifer's ability to write an amazing plot may be great, her ability to write side plots is concerning and possibly alarming. Let's play a game called "Will Carlie be correct about the love triangle or once again bamboozled at the incredible amount of stupidity required to completely neglect all structure in literature and choose the wrong love interest."
Sorry, that's a low blow to stupid people. They are better than Jennifer's writing of love triangles. This is coming from a certified stupid person <3
Listen, I am trying really hard to ignore all signs that point towards Cassie ending up with Dean instead of Michael because somewhere deep down inside me I refuse to believe that an author who can create such a wonderful main plot cannot write a proper love triangle. I mean it could still happen guys. There's a whole book left like they could still get together.
Oh boy. What's happening right now? What's going on?
*insert war flashback man meme but with cat here because idk how to use Goodreads and idk how to upload a picture to my reviews*
I think I'm having war flashbacks.
I'm trying not to compare the two series but like, I'm facing the same issues here. Why is the romance? What? Can anybody please answer one or both of those questions in a timely manner? Thanks <3
Ok I'll get off the romance, aspect, let's talk about all the side plots here. Why are they all so lacking? In a book that is heavily about the found family, why are there not more scenes of Cassie interacting with the characters? We have finished book 3/4 and yet we hardly know anything about anyone who isn't Cassie. And don't get me wrong, I love when everything is about Cassie. So dramatic. I love.
Speaking of which...
There was so much wasted potential in the "found dead mom's body" plotline. Like, okay, so it's not that big of a deal. THEN WHY HIDE IT FROM EVERYONE AND MAKE IT A BIG DEAL ONLY TO DO NOTHING WITH. The build-up was THERE. She did ALL THE LEG WORK. So why then was it tossed to the side for no reason? Give me morrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee Jennifer. I want the melodramatic interactions with her peers as she tries but fails to handle this life-changing news that her mother is actually dead. I want Michael, whose abilities are so underused btw, to see her emotions and ask her about it and not let her not tell him. Really the only reason he doesn't push is because he's dealing with his own stuff, BUT THATS NOT EXPLORED EITHER.
Two beautifully laid-out plotlines that could have been so much more are just... wasted. Not even touched.
Why?
Listen the main plot was wonderful and I really enjoyed it but I also would have enjoyed this book more if I would have had more character interactions in between. And thats TWO plotlines of the many character-based plots we could have explored more.
Although the whole book should have been about Sloane I felt like more could have also been done for her plot, although she was given the most of the characters.
Dean's plot sort of doesn't exist at all her, same with Lia, and we still don't really know anything about the Directors.
I hope things get better in the last book for all things but...we'll see.
Review Immediately After Finishing:
I’ll write a formal review later but THAT ENDING???
Honestly if it weren’t for the stupid romance I would have given this a 5 star rating. The mystery was easily the best in the series I definitely didn’t see any of that coming....more
You’ll like this if: -You like reverse harems -You like assassin story’s
Normally I’m not really a why choose girl, but I’ve recently realized that I likYou’ll like this if: -You like reverse harems -You like assassin story’s
Normally I’m not really a why choose girl, but I’ve recently realized that I like serial killer romances and this premise seemed similar enough. I haven’t read many why choose reverse harems but this one seemed like it was written better than the ones I’ve read before. I was really interested in the climax, and while I feel like it was a little short lived I liked it.
1/3/24
First book of the year.
I’ll write more later but the main plot in this is really good. I’m not typically a why choose girl but I didn’t hate this romance. And if it wasn’t port the fact that she was literally soaking her panties from how attracted she was to them in their first interaction then I might have even enjoyed the romance....more
I'm ngl I read this a while ago and can't remember a ton about it but I do remember liking it. I think the weakest part of the book was the romance buI'm ngl I read this a while ago and can't remember a ton about it but I do remember liking it. I think the weakest part of the book was the romance but it was still enjoyable. ...more
I’ll come back and write a longer review but I’ve just been thinking about this book and how it would have been so much better as a dual POV rather thI’ll come back and write a longer review but I’ve just been thinking about this book and how it would have been so much better as a dual POV rather than just being told from Oaks POV.
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with it being told from his POV except that I feel like the only reason it was that way was to try to hide information from the readers. I think instead I would have preferred the readers be in on the information and use that to build tension in the readers.
Also I miss Surens POV she was like the most interesting part of the Stolen Heir and while I enjoyed expanding on Oaks character here I was really looking forward to diving into Surens character more and we didn’t really get that since she’s hardly in this book.
In my opinion, all this book needed was added scenes from Surens POV....more
I love the idea of combining fairy tales to create a new retelling.
How uniqueeeeeeeeee
Listen besties, the concept for this series is actually so inteI love the idea of combining fairy tales to create a new retelling.
How uniqueeeeeeeeee
Listen besties, the concept for this series is actually so interesting to me because I have never seen anything like it in all my years of kindle unlimited reading.
Basically I will be reading the other books in this series.
(Although there was a lot of context that I feel was from another book but I can’t find it on kindle so maybe I’m just crazy)...more
This series is becoming a favorite retelling series of mine.
Usually I find Snow White retellings to be boring but this one was very interesting to me.This series is becoming a favorite retelling series of mine.
Usually I find Snow White retellings to be boring but this one was very interesting to me.
There is one thing about the ending that does bother me but I don’t want to spoil it…also it’s not that significant it’s just the way the author went about the climax that I’m not the biggest fan of. Probably my least favorite book in the series so far but I still enjoyed it....more
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