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Review of ‘The Beast Hunters’ by Christer Lende

Synopsis

Winner – Best in Fantasy by Indies Today Awards (2022)
Shortlisted – The Chimera Awards (2022)

When a monster brutally kills her parents, Ara is saved by two beast hunters. Becoming their apprentice, she discovers serums, secret bestiary knowledge, and remarkable abilities-all to save unsuspecting souls from the same fate her parents suffered. But, terrifying creatures lurk everywhere and Ara must master the art of beast hunting quickly if she is to uncover the elusive beast plaguing the village of Cornstead.

Review

A huge thank you to Christer for sending me a copy of ‘The Beast Hunters’, below is my honest review.

The Beast Hunters finds the perfect balance between deep, overwhelming grief/despair and warming, light-hearted hope and laughter. Ara’s life in the beginning is heartbreakingly cruel. Lende is not afraid to tackle complex family dynamics that highlight the effects of emotional and physical abuse/suffering. When fate throws Khendric and Topper (beast hunters) into Ara’s path they give Ara a sense of purpose, and a glimpse of a brighter future. Lende carefully shows the lasting effects of trauma on Ara’s thoughts as she struggles to accept their kindness as an action that doesn’t require a debt. Through their friendship, she has the space to begin to heal herself. Lende’s ability to delve deep into the characters’ psychology shows a knowledgeable understanding of the human psyche which makes Ara’s character feel raw and real.

Lende is really clever at dropping little secrets and letting them fester in your mind such as Khendric’s amber eyes and Topper not giving his real name at the beast shop. This builds an aura of uncertainty around the past of these characters, as you await their layers being peeled back. Khendric’s stalwart warmth and kindness is contrasted nicely against Topper’s awkward sense of humour and social clumsiness. They make a solid character pairing and each give Ara something she has been craving.

Of course the best parts of the book are the beasts. I love how seamlessly the beasts and their world-is built into the plot, as the two are symbiotic, relying on tensions between humans and beasts to catapult Ara into her destiny. I liked how there’s almost a hierarchy or spectrum of beasts from completely harmless ones, to mild irritants, to full-blown predators. One of my favourite mentions was definitely the Gremliks who beg for food then if fed became greedy and aggressive, definitely referencing everyone’s favourite 80s movie! I loved the original take on the main ‘pest’ (who won’t be named for spoiler reasons) transforming them into religious fanatics was amusing. I liked how the beasts weren’t just wild but some even had uses for merchants and traders making their lives more profitable. Once immersed into this beastly world, you simply don’t want to leave, as someone who loves animals, I could have read hundreds of pages about the multitude of beasts that inhabit Lende’s imagination. The ‘Bestiary’ at the back of the book was a genius touch too, giving more insight into the beasts.

Overall, The Beast Hunters is like The Witcher meets Sherlock Holmes. It’s detective, monster-mystery vibes combined with heartwarming found family and action-packed beast-slaying makes it an awesome read. I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series: The Beast Hunters Dark Sovereign and The Beast Hunters Blood Oath.

Goodreads link.

Review of ‘The Luminaries’ by Susan Dennard

Synopsis

Hemlock Falls isn’t like other towns. You won’t find it on a map, your phone won’t work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you.

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie’s town—and the rest of humanity—from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night.

Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal—and restore her family’s good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie enlists the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie’s ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.

Review

Hemlock Falls is the perfect setting for the clan-based, nightmare-slaying families called the ‘luminaries’. It reminds me a lot of Forks, Washington from Twilight. The forest, mist and nightmare monsters injects the novel with horror and tension that is elevated by the main narrative of Winnie training to become a hunter. The context behind the luminaries is intriguing, with the clans living near 14 spirits who when asleep dream and their nightmares stalk the forest. It’s the job of the clans, separated into the different days of the week to hunt and kill the nightmares so they don’t affect the normal world.

I loved the artwork contained within the novel and how it was interspersed between the pages every time a new nightmare monster was introduced, weaving snippets of folklore about them alongside beautiful illustrations. The monsters felt original and horrifying, especially being able to actually see their likeness made it easier to evoke their true horror in your mind. The banshee was my favourite, I loved how her method of killing actually helped Winnie release her emotions in a kind of cathartic ecstasy.

Winnie is very naïve and feels younger than sixteen to me. She is perfectly awkward and honest to a fault, unable to tell a lie even a white lie without being crippled by anxiety. Her nervous habit of constantly wiping her glasses shows the real vulnerability at her core. She is desperate to restore her family name and prove her ‘loyalty’ to the clan. I like her affinity for art as she mentally collects images of the nightmares to draw in minute detail, fuelled by a desire to capture their likeness exactly. Art seems to be her form of therapy and a way to control her fear of the nightmares themselves, once rendered on paper they have no power over her. That is until she comes face to face with one!

The book is really easy to read and you become absorbed into the world of the clans. I liked how each clan has their own motto and culture and there is definitely a lot more to be seen of them. The two main storylines of Winnie training to become a nightmare hunter and the threat of a never before seen nightmare stalking the grounds intertwine perfectly and create the right crescendo of suspense. There’s also the mystery of the locket which was my favourite plot thread because it was shrouded in uncertainty and kept me guessing.

I liked Winnie’s friendship with Jay. His character is aloof and hard to read but he is always there for Winnie when she needs him and you get the feeling there’s something eating away at him beneath the surface … which makes you want to unearth more about his character later on. I was disappointed that this plot thread wasn’t resolved during the novel but Im convinced there must be more puzzle pieces about his secretive nature to come.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, the steady pace makes it very readable and I digested it in one day. Winnie is likeable and the lure of the sentient forest is a pull you want to keep reading more about, especially the nightmares! I was slightly let down by the ending, there was one reveal but I thought the ending would punch more than it did and lots of plot threads were still left loose. Still I guess it will make me buy the next one to see how they are resolved!

Review of ‘Assassin’s Apprentice’ by Robin Hobb

Synopsis

In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.

Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals – the old art known as the Wit – gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.

So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.

Review

I joined a buddy read for this book as it had been on my TBR for ages and I thought it would be good fun to share the experience with others. I had no expectations going in as this was my first experience of reading Robin’s books. The first person narrative drew me in straight away, particularly the older man reflecting on his younger self, allowing for an unreliable narrative tone to creep in as he openly admits his memory isn’t perfect and that he has secrets. It makes the chapters that unfold after like a puzzle that you want to solve or consume to see the bigger picture.

The book was definitely a slow-burner for me as someone who is used to more action and world-building and typical epic fantasy scope – this book is quieter and a more subtle exploration of character. Hobb’s skill for characters shines through with Dickensesque flourishes. Each relationship is crafted with delicacy and care, to the point where you truly understand them better than your own relationships! Across the book we get a personal insight into Fitz’s upbringing, we see him step into the shadow of his father’s name and come up against his father’s enemies. I liked how Hobb wrote the fragility of Fitz’s existence and handled his depressive episodes and moral dilemmas with care. Burrich, the stable master and Chade were my favourite side characters. I loved Burrich’s simpleness, domestic loyalty to Chivalry and how he becomes the father figure that Fitz sorely needed. I loved how Chade was so unlike an assassin that it actually makes him the perfect assassin! Chade passes his directness and ability to understand the royals better than they understand themselves to Fitz, honing him into a tiny weapon of knowledge and insight.

Even the magic system is subtle and quiet. Fitz’s affinity for animals called ‘The Wit’ is frowned upon by Burrich and he keeps his ability to convene with them a secret. He is taught ‘The Skill’ without any real development or explanation as to what the skill really is. By the end of the book you get the feeling that the skill is a mental field of magic with the ability to communicate telepathically, affect people’s emotions/thoughts and even drain a person of energy. Fitz’s natural talent for both the Wit and the Skill ultimately save his life and you get the feeling that this foreshadows his ability later being able to save the kingdom.

Most of the book plods at a steady pace until the last few chapters ramp up the action, political scheming and emotional pull. You get the feeling that this book does a lot of contextual foregrounding for the rest of the series, with Fitz’s motivations and character strength built up and the kingdom’s political landscape explored. The whole book felt like a prequel to me, which is a strange feeling having not read the next book but it did feel like a ‘setting the stage for things to come’. The quietness of the book does not undermine its cleverness and in-depth, fantastic character work, it was simply a unique read for me. I look forward to seeing what happens to Fitz next.

Review of ‘House of Sky and Breath’ by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

Review

The CC story continues in its captivating way but this time Bryce becomes caught up in the rebel cause of overthrowing the Asteri. However, there are multiple plot threads at play in this book, the rebels, the witches, the Asteri, the romances, the Mer folk, the Bone Quarter, the Mystics. Maas is a genius at holding all of these threads together and making them all relevant and important. I particularly liked the injection of sci-fi elements into the storyline of this book which I think will have a bigger impact in the next one.

We finally get the spice from Hunt and Bryce and it’s very satisfying! They are just the dream. The only thing I thought was a bit unnecessary was the whole ‘fated mates’ thing, like it was cute in ACOTAR but it feels out of place in Crescent City, a modern cosmopolitan rather than a traditional fae trope fest. Having said that the ending possibly explained why Maas made the connection, she does tend to do everything for a particular reason which is why I love her intricate planning.

Danika still lingers in this book and I kind of wanted it to move past her now. I get it Bryce is obsessed with her best friend due to their closeness but I don’t think anymore secrets that she was hiding are necessary. Let Bryce move on. The more secrets that are revealed the more you feel like Danika was just fake with Bryce and kept a lot from her , kind of dampens their bond.

The real strength in this book is the characters, the rebel storyline was neither here nor there for me, didn’t grip me but what did keep me hooked was the loveable characters. The bromance between Ruhn, Declan, Flyn and Ithan was adorable and it was great to see Ithan with his own fleshed-out storyline and motivations beyond that of simply loving Bryce. Hunt was a little one-dimensional for me in this book probably because he didn’t do much beyond protect Bryce. Bryce is still unequivocally Bryce and I’ll always love her but she was a little sneaky in this book which I felt didn’t really fit. Ruhn was by far my favourite character in this book, I adored him. The ‘Prince of Nothing’ chapter had me in bits and his ‘Day and Night’ storyline was really emotional.

The final page … I had to read it a gazillion times to make sure I hadn’t had a seizure … then I swore very loudly. I don’t think a book ending has ever made me as flabbergasted and shocked ever! Why can’t book 3 be already out? Why did I read this without waiting for the full set to be complete? Probably because it won’t be complete until 2040 at this rate, ahhhh!

Overall, I fell in love with the side characters in this book and admired the little Easter eggs and clever weaving that Maas is a master of. Get writing Maas!!

February Wrap Up

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Manscalco

You can find my review here.

The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan

You can find my review here.

Waking Fire by Jean Louise

You can find my review here.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

You can find my review here.

Review of ‘The Tyranny of Faith’ by Richard Swan

Synopsis

From a major new debut author in epic fantasy comes the second book in a trilogy where action, intrigue, and magic collide. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is an Emperor’s Justice: a detective, judge, and executioner all in one. But these are dangerous times to be a Justice….

A Justice’s work is never done.

The Battle of Galen’s Vale is over, but the war for the Empire’s future has just begun. Concerned by rumors that the Magistratum’s authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets.

Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor’s grandson has been kidnapped – and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead him – and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir – to the southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights – and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined.

Review

I’ve been looking forward to this sequel since I put down ‘The Justice of Kings’ last year. I had high hopes and I can safely say my expectations were greatly exceeded. It felt good to be inside Helena’s head again, her voice is comforting and authoritative and you trust her narration implicitly. Helena feeds into her narrative little hints of what is to come and what might be important later, these little breadcrumbs of intrigue cleverly set up not just the action in the sequel but also potential action in the final instalment. This is a plot that has been painstakingly crafted to the minute detail from the beginning.

I liked how ‘The Tyranny of Faith’ picks up where the previous book finished with Vonvalt readying himself to journey to the capital to check on the state of the Magisterium and warn the emperor of Claver’s powers. Helena’s misgivings about what path she will choose are pushed to one side as the events that unfold around them are too urgent and consuming. However, there are new plot threads that such as Vonvalt’s mysterious ailment and the hunt for the missing prince that become new mysteries for the team to investigate but as always all threads cleverly converge into one in the end.

I loved the vast scope of this book as we are swept across more of the empire and get to soak up more of the landscape and politics. Sova is the crowning jewel, the seat of the emperor himself and it is impressive! I love how complex the layers of power are within the city, with the church, the justice system and the senate. It’s overwhelming at times but only because I’m a lowly layman when it comes to the intricacies of empire. The grotesque and grandiose architecture of the seats of the empire poignantly reflects the transcendental nature of their power but also just how easily they could crumble.

Vonvalt in ‘The Justice of Kings’ took on a constabulary role, trying to solve the murder mystery before having to face the treasonous Claver. In ‘The Tyranny of Faith’ it feels like Vonvalt takes on a completely different helm, finding himself knee-deep in politics and therefore, he acts as more of a politician for the situation requires it. His character is still deliciously fallible, more so in this book, as his deeds become darker and he is less able to justify them ethically or morally to Helena leading her to question his character.

I enjoyed the exploration that Helena makes into understanding the afterlife, the astral plain and the existence of the Gods. Through her questioning of Vonvalt on this matter and her peaked interest, some curious tidbits are revealed about the nature of death in the empire of the wolf. You get the unnerving feeling that these details will soon become an integral part of the storyline, especially with the mention of Claver’s nefarious dealings with dark entities.

Helena’s complex feelings for Vonvalt are explored further in this book and they feel more mature as if Helena has realised what she truly wants. Her emotions feel more certain than in ‘The Justice of Kings’ and we feel that she has decided to choose Vonvalt’s love over that of her training. I also loved how her relationship with Bressinger is explored further in this book, she begins to understand the depths of his motivations for drinking and his unquestionable dogmatic loyalty to Vonvalt. Helena despite her love for Vonvalt challenges his authority at times and disagrees with his principles, especially his unwavering commitment to the empire. Here Helena is trying to forge her path, morality and beliefs in a room full of men with strong ones. Her character growth in this book is phenomenal.

My favourite scenes have to be Helena’s journey into the astral plains, the barrenness, despair-filled endless marsh/beach with a whole host of spine-tingling entities. These scenes had me on the edge of my seat as there is no law of nature or physics or time in the afterlife and therefore, anything goes! I also loved how Helena despite pushing away from wanting to be a Justice clearly shows a natural affinity for it in these scenes which I’m sure will further cloud her decision regarding her career in the next book. Vonvalt’s pride in her ability is heart-warming and you can see his vulnerability in the way he opens up to her about his powers.

The last 150 pages were on steroids. Literally, insane. I can’t say any more than that without spoiling it but if you know, you know! Overall, this is a triumphant sequel with tremendous character and plot growth, deep dives into the machine of empire, religion and loyalty. Richard Swan has firmly cemented his name as a master in the world of epic fantasy. Most sequels are usually either not as good as the first or are a step up from the first but this book feels more like a leap ahead in its scope, growth and overall enjoyment levels. No pressure for the third!

Review of ‘Waking Fire’ by Jean Louise

Synopsis

This incendiary YA fantasy debut follows a girl who will stop at nothing to save her village after it’s discovered by a dangerous warlord and his army of undead monsters.

Naira Khoum has only known life in Lagusa, a quiet village at the desert’s end. But to the rest of the world, Lagusa is a myth, its location shrouded in secrecy. While war rages to the north led by power-hungry Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi, Naira’s people live in peace.

Until the impossible happens—Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress sent to do Sothpike’s bidding with a hoard of Dambi under her control. The Mistress is looking for something, and she’s willing to let her Dambi destroy Lagusa to get it.

Desperate to protect her home, Naira convinces her twin brother Nez and handsome refugee Kal to join the newly formed resistance with her. Together, they’ll have to figure out what the Mistress wants—before there’s nothing left of Lagusa to save.

Review

A huge thank you to Harper 360 YA for an arc copy of this book to review, below is my honest opinion.

‘Waking Fire’ is a story of family, heartache and strength. Naira is an incredibly likeable MC. Her profound love for her family above everything else is heartwarming. She has a fierce inner strength that serves her well when her village faces an imminent danger. Naira throws herself deep into fighting for her people without a second thought about her own safety because her father taught her to always do the right thing even when others are afraid to do so. Even when making selfless decisions, Naira always goes about them with logic and care and doesn’t run recklessly into things, something a lot of YA protagonists like to do that gets tedious. Naira has a solid foundation and great mental clarity that forms her actions and deeds.

The worldbuilding is small geographically with most of the action occurring within Naira’s village which is actually really refreshing to have the core action in one place allowing for a depth of character-building. Despite the small landscape, lots of history and lore is woven into the context of the current battle that explains the Gods at work and the ruthless enemies. Sothpike and his undead army are fabulously villanious. I loved the grotesque zombie-esque vibes from the monsters as they ravaged the village. Zombies are rarely seen in fantasy but to see them executed well is a treat. The violence is very gory and bloody, definitely needs a trigger warning! However, it never feels cliche or unnecessary, it’s only ever used to show visceral pain or the intensity of the suffering in battle, bringing the threat of the undead into a sharpened focus.

Besides Naira, the main characters are her twin brother Nez and her love interest Kal. The romance storyline is so tender and cute and pivots at the perfect pace. Nez is the great ying to Naira’s yang, humorous where she is serious, logical where she is emotional and has the same strength. Some of the twists and turns were predictable but the final huge twist caught me unawares right in the gut, marvellous craftsmanship! Overall, this debut feels fresh and exciting, it is meticulously crafted, jam-packed with emotionally gripping romance and family dynamics, harrowing action and immersive with its North African/West African and Middle Eastern influence. As a planned duology, I can’t wait for the next installment!

Review of ‘Godkiller’ by Hannah Kaner

Synopsis

Kissen kills gods for a living, and she enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skediceth, god of white lies, who is connected to a little noble girl on the run.

Elogast fought in the god war, and helped purge the city of a thousand shrines before laying down his sword. A mysterious request from the King sends him racing back to the city he destroyed.

On the way he meets a godkiller, a little girl and a littler god, who cannot find out about his quest.

Review

Godkiller was just the right package for a fierce debut. Decent page length but is not too long, concise plot with three main protagonists, intense world-building with enough scope for a series and a hook of wild gods and their riveting past chaos and anticipated future chaos. I immensely enjoyed reading this book, it was an all-around, feel -good fantasy, with lots of likabilities, the depiction of the Gods was perhaps my favourite ever description of the way Gods can manipulate but in this case, they manipulate to survive making them extremely deadly. They need prayer and sacrifice like we need air to breathe, making them dependent on human behaviour which creates a complex and twisted relationship between mankind and its deities.

Kissen is slightly reminiscent of a Witcher, she has no innate magic, only her honed skills and trinkets to smoke out and destroy a God. I liked how she was softened by Inara as she sees something of herself in the girl and wants to shield her from the life she knew as an orphaned child. I warmed towards Elogast too, reluctantly plodding back into the world of knights and gods to save his best friend from certain death. All three main characters were likeable, perhaps ironically too likeable, they all have vulnerabilities and flaws which make them rounded and connect you to them. I do think I like my characters slightly more morally grey but that’s just my personal preference.

Skedi is my new favourite animal companion – can you call him that!? God companion? I don’t know but he is an amalgamation of three animals! I loved how his white lies were able to save the trio on many an occasion but my favourite arc of the whole book was Skedi’s growth. How he begins as a selfish God wanting to get rid of Inara and in the end becomes her feisty defender, seeing the worth of building a relationship beyond the bond of the worshipper and worshipped that he has been programmed to want.

I loved the representation in this book on disability. This is the first fantasy book where I’ve seen mention of a wheelchair and prosthetic legs. It’s brilliant how Kissen is representing what it’s like to live with a disability but at the same time how badass she still is, it may hinder her at times but it does not define her. Having a prosthetic limb is written with care and raw emotion and does not skim over the issues but instead explores them beautifully.

Overall, Godkiller felt refreshing. Blenraden is up there with my favourite fantasy cities, echoes of dead gods, half-starved gods, smashed shrines, secret shrines, deadly wild magic – so exhilarating. I liked the context that has been built up so far and I am looking forward to where Hannah takes the story next.

Review of ‘Kingdom of the Wicked’ by Kerri Maniscalo

Synopsis

Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…
And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked—princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

Review

I really wanted to like this book – it had been on my TBR for ages and I’d seen so many people rave about it but now that I’ve finished it, I just don’t get it. The book had so much potential: witches, demons, dark magic, princes of hell, these ingredients were exciting and much like the food descriptions throughout the book were mouthwatering enough to make me want to devour it. However, – the actual main course fell flat.

For starters, Emilia is a very problematic character, she’s motivated by wanting revenge on her sisters’ murderer which gives her a strong purpose however, she simply waltzes into danger like nothing can harm her, stumbles blindly upon monstrous demons and talks to the prince of hell as if he’s a schoolchild from their very first conversation. If we’re supposed to believe the princes are evil incarnate then a little wariness or hesitation would make sense but no – she scolds him and flirts with him like he’s just a handsome dude. This leads to Wrath’s character feeling more like ‘Weak’ as he fails to intimidate Emilia therefore, we never feel like he’s anything but a nice guy. I wanted dark depths to his character but they just weren’t there.

The romance can’t even be called slow-burn, it’s a no-burn and then suddenly they are kissing – woah! Supposedly, Wrath’s kindness towards her was hidden lust, but there really were no dots linking it together. The only part I liked was Emilia accidentally tying them in a marriage bond as you could claim romance due to forced proximity, a trope I like. But the ending totally shatters this bond apart! Why!? There really was no need, it was the only part of the book that made any sense.

The plot trots furiously forward, way too fast, skipping over place and time changes leaving the reader a little confused and jet lagged. There were also too many convenient plot points, it just so happens every prince in hell is now in her little town? Not really believable. The side characters are not fleshed out enough, the princes of hell all blend into one another with no real distinguishing features which is a shame as there’s so much that could have been done! I wanted Greed to have a dangling jowl and fleshy hooded eyes or anything!! Emilia’s family are not believable, her sister is murdered and then her grandmother’s throat is slit and yet all her mother says is to be careful! I’m sorry but any mother would forbid her daughter from leaving the house under those circumstances! The reactions were too deadpan with NO EMOTION. And she doesn’t visit her grandmother after she was attacked!? Makes zero sense.

Overall, I felt let down by this book. Will I read the next one – yes – but only because I want to see if it improves now that the story has shifted to the world of hell. I just couldn’t see past the glaring errors in plot and characterisation, sadly 😦 But I’d love to hear from you if you liked this book and if you think the next one improves at all!