dbguide2's Reviews (863)

 I love it when the next books in the series are even better than the previous ones! I really liked Silver in the Bone, I thought it was a great start to a duology, tons of lore and world-building done really well, and The Mirror of Beasts is even somehow better? I gotta get to Bracken’s other books if they’ll be like this! I loved everything in here and I could definitely see myself rereading the duology (especially to see if I pick up on any hints or easter eggs).

I loved the characters so so much. They improved from the first book – I had to reread because I remembered like literally… nothing – which was a great idea as it really helped me to get into the characters’ heads and understand their motivations. This book only carries that forward and definitely delves deeper into what makes them tick.

I said in my review for the first book that Tamsin and Emrys were my two favourite characters and that didn’t change in here! They both went though such a change it was amazing to see them go on that journey and how Bracken never faltered on their development for their journey. I think I said I half or mostly liked Neve in the first book and I ended up liking her more here. I remember I didn’t immediately like the sorcerers in the first book but they grew on me and then I really liked them! 

As mentioned before, Bracken is amazing with the world building and plot. I was captivated throughout, I didn’t want to stop reading, she really made me feel like I was in the book and fighting alongside the characters. That’s always something I love to experience while reading a book – also a big compliment from a reader, in my eyes. 

I love anything mythology and definitely anything Arthurian related. I need to get more books inspired by this mythology – I know there’s a bunch. It’s swords, it’s fighting, it’s magic – literally all right up my alley. 

Bérubé excels in her type of writing that will haunt you a while after you’ve finished. She balances soft writing with hard plots and makes it work – which isn’t a thing to be found often. This is now my third book by her and I’m glad to say I’ve never found myself bored, even if there’s nearly nothing happening. She’s good with the quiet moments, with what happens when no one’s speaking. That’s why I go back to her work, I know I’ll get moments with little dialogue, but a lot is said in that silence.

There’s almost always sibling relationships in her books, which I’m a fan of. She writes them well where sometimes they don’t get on with each other – much like real-life siblings (guilty, as one with an older sister). And just like real siblings – they come to each other’s aid when needed. No matter what. Jo and Audrey definitely showed that here. Jo’s doing so much for her sister and it takes a toll on her. Even when Audrey’s out there making terrible decisions, Jo still loves her, still wants the best for her and tries to help the best she can. Jo had to be strong when she didn’t know how to or if she could even be strong – and still she managed to. That’s another thing that Bérubé shines in – writing characters who find their strength when they’re not sure where their strength comes from. 

The good plot goes hand-in-hand with the good characters. I was onboard when she said “vampires” because I knew it would be different and it was! I love reading vampires books because it’s nearly always different lore/rules so it’s like a new journey every time. Here’s there’s not that much knowledge so the sisters are basically in the dark – which I also liked because they had to rely on each other. The plot’s medium-paced which is nice as it keeps you interested without losing your interest (at least in my opinion). 

This will definitely be a book that I think of far down the line. It’s not an easy book even thought it might seem that from the synopsis. I think I thought it would be and then it very certainly wasn’t. I think I knew that it would be a book that has more than what meets the eye – but I don’t think I was expecting all of this. 

The book certainly went above and beyond my expectations. I enjoyed the ride and was solidly in the book a ton. I really like friendship groups and I think all girls are always interesting (I have an older sister, we both went to the same all-girls school so for the most part most of our friends are girls) – there’s so many ways that it can go. I liked this friendship group, I think they worked well together and even though they had their issues (as with any friendship group), they ultimately were there for each other. I really liked that – they chose to stick with each other and be there for each other. 

Nell was definitely my favourite character. I liked that we were in her head, she was a good narrator and took us along the journey, allowing us to discover things through her. Which I like! Sometimes I prefer to figure out the mystery before the characters and other times I like when the characters and I are in the dark together. I didn’t like Dia and Harper at the start – there were things that they did or things that happened and I wasn’t exactly there for it. Luckily they improved and I ended up liking them.  

I did want more of Harry but also I understood why they didn’t focus on him more. But I like how they tied him in at the end. I was annoyed that Harper (his sister) got annoyed at him often and I kept saying “Harper, he’s being a good brother!” I think I’m getting old but also like… trust your siblings, I feel? Especially if they’re good like Harry.

I liked Tris from when we met her. I think it was a good idea to add her – both as a character and a love interest. I had hoped she would be a good addition and not just simply there (to add another character, I mean), so I was glad to see that wasn’t the case. Gavin and Christopher however, I could and would throw both into the lake and not think twice of them. I instantly knew I’d dislike them and then it became even clearer (basically by their first scene). What boys/men think they can get away with just because they want to… will never cease to make me angry.

The plot and pacing go hand-in-hand together. It’s a slow pace and it very much could’ve not been handled well but it did. That’s credit to the author because sometimes a medium or even fast paced book can feel slow. I know with another book I’d easily be less interested or even dnf because the pacing is so slow and the plot is taking forever to show (and it’s not even that long) but here it works. That’s all due to the characters. They’re well-written, fleshed out. Their differences work well both against each other and together when they need to. Could the author have introduced the witches earlier? Yes, but I’m actually glad that she didn’t! It allowed me to get to know their personalities, how they interacted with each other. 

I thought I really enjoyed The Third Daughter and then this book sort of blew that out of the water. Absolutely stunning, amazing sequel and conclusion to a series. I like it when the last book feels like the last book; where plots are all neatly tied up and the endings all make sense. But still there’s that sense where you could very well spend 3 more books in this universe. That was me with this series – fantastic ending but I wouldn’t mind spending more time here.

That’s definitely due to the characters. Tooley fully shines in her characters – dialogue, development, just how they live in the world. It was even better than the previous book. Especially with the two main female characters – Sabine and Elodie – how they interacted with everyone around them, whether friends or enemies. How they interacted with each other – so sweet and special, I loved every second. And even with themselves as they try to navigate their new roles and their purposes in life. 
 

I really liked Sabine and Elodie in the first book and I liked them even more in this one. Reading the first book’s review I said I liked Sabine’s chapters more, and here I liked Elodie’s chapters more – so that was interesting. Both of them had changed so much with all they’ve been through and they continue to go through so much more this time around. To me their personalities were better in the sequel – maybe because Tooley spent more time with them or they’re put through rougher circumstances in here.

Either way, it just works so well and I was here for it all the way. I want to dive into Grace’s other books because of how well she writes these characters. I can only hope that the characters in her other books are as well-written as in here. The side characters in here are so well-written too that they don’t feel like they’re actually side characters. They’re fully fleshed out, you see their emotions clear on their faces and dialogue. You know their personalities even though they’re only seen in a few scenes. That’s what I love to see in a book. 

The plot rolls over from the previous book but it also brings up new plot points and Grace balanced them all very well. I really like a good balance of typing up the old plot points from the previous book and dealing with new ones. To me that’s the mark of a good author as it shows not only that they’re able to juggle it all but they do it well enough so that you, the reader, understands it all. 

I don’t so much mind modern words and phrases in fantasy worlds but to me if I see them I’m more likely to think a character will soon use a phone or use magic with technology. Writers don’t have to use long or old words to create believable fantasy worlds. I was enjoying how Page had crafted her world and characters and I think using the modern words actually took away from that. I think if she had not used those modern words I would’ve enjoyed reading the book more.

I liked the characters but I kept feeling they could’ve been more throughout the book. I was promised banter, and only got a bit. I was promised enemies-to-lovers, and it didn’t give me that the way I’ve read it in other books. I could tell that the potential was there but as readers we didn’t get it. I think I might’ve loved Erik, had he been written better. Isabel was the main issue for me, I think. She wasn’t working the way I had hoped she would (as a main character).

I liked the plot and definitely wanted to see it through. It wasn’t that it was wholly original but was written in a new way, which is nice to see. It wasn’t all neatly tied up and could’ve been better – but it’s also Page’s debut so I’m not so fussed about that. I could also see the potential and I think I might keep an eye on Page’s future books to possibly see what else she has up her sleeve. I did really enjoy the side characters. I think she shone there (if not with the main characters). They had a ton of banter and improved throughout the book. I sort of liked them better than the main characters but maybe that’ll change if I read the sequel.

Another factor of the book I liked was the magic system. I would’ve liked to have learnt more or see if there’s any subsections of the magic shown in this book. Maybe that’ll be a bigger plot point in the sequel, who knows. I think the world-building was set up well enough but like most of the other aspects of the book – just not enough for me to like it more.