Reviewed by ladygrey on
But the characters build and grow until by the end I was quite invested in the lot of them and eager to read the next book. It moves quickly enough that it was a pretty fast read. And the story turns quite a few times so that a lot happens. But what I think I appreciated most was how Cluess built a bit of mystery into character's actions that kept me reading to what to find out what was going on. Then she provided the needed explanations in a satisfying way.
The rather glaring flaw is Rook. He's all well and good as a plot device. And Henrietta's affection for him is established nicely in their history and then threaded throughout the story and it impacts her current choices and thoughts. The problem is the reader never really gets to know *him.* Henrietta's always talking about how she cares about him and how important he is and we believe her. But... they don't interact that much. Some, but not enough.
In contrast, she's interacting with Magnus and Blackwood all the time. They are well established characters that the reader knows and becomes invested in them. Rook, however important he is, is a pale character filtered dimly through Henrietta. He needs to be as important to me as he is to her.
And right now, I'm kind of ok if he goes dark and she ends up with Magnus.
The world is well established and there are enough mysteries lingering, and I like the characters enough to draw me into the next book. Even though I suspect it's all going to go horribly wrong...
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 2 November, 2018: Finished reading
- 2 November, 2018: Reviewed
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 2 November, 2018: Reviewed