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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book picked up right where the 1st one left off. The incredible character development continued. The descriptive world building and magic system had my imagination running wild. Making the best decisions with the hand you have been given. Love this book as much as I did the first. The ending had me gasping and crying for joy. Heartbroken, because Zen had to die, but elated because of the little Zen.🥰
I have completely fallen in love with Asian fantasy
I have completely fallen in love with Asian fantasy
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm ugly crying :(
Oh man what a ride these two books have been! This one had less shock moments than the first, and a couple of weird breaks in chapters, but overall just an incredible duology!
Oh man what a ride these two books have been! This one had less shock moments than the first, and a couple of weird breaks in chapters, but overall just an incredible duology!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Unfortunately, this sequel did not live up to the first. For the first book, I generally viewed it favorably and with fondness. However, this one was hard to get through. I feel like it took the worst parts of xianxia dramas and put it all into the book, like unnecessary noble sacrifices, unnecessary bad communication between main characters, a split plot between two characters where really only one person is interesting, a random new villain who wants a forced marriage, , etc.
Not to mention, I thought the ghost army was very Lord of the Rings. (Or maybe Legend of Fuyao, which also ripped off Lord of the Rings.)
The character growth was little to none.
I found the romance to be overdone in this. Well, the first one was already a bit much, but for this one, it was difficult to take them seriously when they'd known each other for a matter of weeks. The constant callbacks to "intimate moments" in the first book also felt repetitive (and I was especially annoyed because I went to the trouble to reread the first book prior to starting this).
Received a free copy from Netgalley.
Spoiler
a tragic ending with a sacrifice that is somewhat ok because the female has a child (rolls eyes)Not to mention, I thought the ghost army was very Lord of the Rings. (Or maybe Legend of Fuyao, which also ripped off Lord of the Rings.)
The character growth was little to none.
I found the romance to be overdone in this. Well, the first one was already a bit much, but for this one, it was difficult to take them seriously when they'd known each other for a matter of weeks. The constant callbacks to "intimate moments" in the first book also felt repetitive (and I was especially annoyed because I went to the trouble to reread the first book prior to starting this).
Spoiler
Also, how in the world did it make sense to be able to bind two demon gods? If you already promised one your body, mind, and soul, what does the second demon god even get? It felt a bit hand-wavy here.Received a free copy from Netgalley.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“They were the balance. She and Zen, one made to create and one made to ruin, one to wield power and one to destroy it”
For fans of:
- Asian Inspired Fantasy
- Strangers-to-Lovers-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
- Unique Magic Systems
I found this book hard to give a rating. I will preface this review by saying that I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to return to world and characters. Unfortunately, Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night is the stronger half of this duology.
I do think this series ended strongly. I just wish the journey through the first half of this book was stronger. The beginning of this book spends too much time slathering on exposition, infodumping, and rehashing the first book. It unfortunately makes getting into this sequel a struggle.
There is a considerable improvement around the halfway mark. And while the plot slips into a place of predictably - hitting the some more of the more tropey story beats of the YA genre. It started feeling fun again. I got to enjoy being back in the world and the characters I came to care for in the first book.
As I said, the ending was strong. The final chapter leaving me misty eyed. An I was expecting from the trajectory of the narrative, but a strong way to end the series. The beginning of this series is strong, the ending is strong. It’s just a shame about the middle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, War
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder