There's an ancient war between the Fates, and a girl whose magic could end it all. But there's also another girl - destined to die for love. Sophie Lou is to marry the youngest prince of Caladria, the one whose kiss is rumoured to kill. King Pandemonium demands it. But Sophie has little interest in being commanded by kings or having any relational ties in the first place. Luckily, neither does the prince. Reluctantly, the two band together with Sophie's sister Charlie and friends to find the Scissors of Death - the key to stopping Atropos, their engagement, and a foreboding prophecy from coming true. Yet the more time Sophie spends with the prince, the more she feels a pull toward him-one that, if acted upon, will surely kill her. Meanwhile, Charlie's newfound powers are causing a strain on her own relationship, making her see the one who got away in a whole new light. Navigating the murky waters of hurt and betrayal, mysterious deaths and visions, the daughters of Life must face their fears and decide for themselves whether some things are worth holding on to or if it's time to cut the thread. But Death always stays two steps ahead... A slow burn romantasy novel riddled with unexpected twists, Scissors of Death ups the stakes from Spindle of Lif e, keeping you glued to the pages from beginning to end. comes with a reported side-effect of a book hangover
C. L. Qvam has been lost and found on several occasions, and this time she’s been found by you!
Drawn to everything British and lore infused stories that explore the morally grey, Chase moved across the pond at a young age to write the story in her heart. Since then, the mixed-race Norwegian author has identified as an English rose and defies the barriers of her first language and dyslexia to write in her preferred language on the daily.
While pieces of her debut trilogy was drafted and written all over the world, Chase is now working on new Fantasy Romance series back home in Norway, living with a very patient boyfriend and furbaby.
When she’s not writing, she spends her time illustrating the stories in her head, recovering from a rough start at life, and checking her dms for unhinged reader reactions.
[Currently doesn't accept friends requests because, well, she isn't savvy enough on Goodreads to know what that would even entail]
Despite the continued attention to the subject of mental health and trauma, Scissors of Death had a much lighter tone than its predecessor. I enjoyed it so much more, especially thanks to the beautiful romance between Sophie and Caden!
Sophie is Charlie's twin, and I immediately loved how easy it was to be in her head. Her first interaction with Caden had me kicking my feet, and sets the perfect premise for the book: Cursed Prince saves the girl from the minotaur's labyrinth, and now they're forced to marry.
I loved the interactions between them! While Sophie's sass brings out a playfulness to Caden, I also really love how gentle and quiet he is. It was one of the things I loved most about him in the first book, and something that makes him stand out from Tyler, who is a much more chaotic character and who managed to make me scream at my kindle even in this book!
While Sophie and Caden are the main focus of the book, we do still get a portion of the story for Charlie, and this girl deserves a happy ending more than ever. There is actually a plot twist that may lead to something... but I won't say more! Instead, I'll say that I am loving her growth throughout the series and her relationship with Sophie!
Very excited to see how everything will come together in the last book. The cliffhanger was brutal!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review. Opinions are my own.
I had the joy to be accepted as a beta reader for Scissors of Death (SoD) and, while it is not in my "duties" as such, I'm writing this review because this is a book (a trilogy!) the world deserves to know.
SoD is the second book in a trilogy set in a world much like our own, but where magic is real and persecuted, hidden from all those who don't have it in fear they might join the witch hunt. Mythology, magical worlds outside our own, and the strong pull of the Fates' actions turn the dark academia with budding romance of the first book to an epic fantasy with the perfect amount of romance.
I loved it.
Adored it.
As a beta reader I didn't have access to the whole book at once, so I couldn't binge read it as much as I wanted to... and believe me, I could have read SoD in one sitting had I been allowed. I will definitely read it again as soon as I can, because it's one of those stories where there's so many layers of information, little tidbits of genius that you don't notice at first and then they come back full force and make you realise how much each plot twist has been planned, hinted at, beautifully laid out. And then there's all the research that the author has clearly done about mythology, and the ease with which she weaves it with reality. It leaves you wondering if it may, in fact, be real.
C.L. Qvam has a gift for writing beautifully about mental health and its reflections in the character's lives and relationships, the always present ramifications of it. And she does it in a way that feels genuine and true.
The first book, Spindle of Life, gave us a first glimpse into the world, the protagonists, and the high stakes they're facing. SoD delves deeper, showing us the roots of the conflict, and pushing the protagonists towards decisions that may change their (and our) world forever. They are not only worth reading, they are well worth re-reading.
I will await eagerly for the third book, as I'm sure it will be an epic finale.
If you thought Spindle of Life was full of twists, turns, magic, and mythological lore, then you are in for a real treat with the sequel Scissors of Death. I loved the exploration of parallel realms, fantastical creatures, and magic as well as getting to know more about how the characters are faring after the events that have taken place throughout the first book.
The author has a way of having characters walk through different emotions, life events, and even thought processes that challenge the reader to examine their own. I caught myself just staring at the pages sometimes triggered by my own memories or feelings that resonated with what was happening in the story. If I had to pick one central theme of the book, I would say that it's all about relationships; which I think is also one of the central themes in Spindle of Life as well. This book continues on the theme of relationships by diving into other perspectives about relationships and how they are viewed as important or unimportant. Though romantic relationships are a big part of the story, the relationships that received most of my attention are the relationships you have with yourself and with your family. The exploration of how the characters interacted with themselves, nature, and others was a major positive for me when reading Spindle of Life and it stands to hold the same, if not heavier, weight in this sequel as well.
You may enjoy this book if you like the following tropes: - Strengthening family bonds - Found family - Fated love - Prophecies - Frenemies to lovers - Forced proximity - slow burn with some steam - fade to black romance - a plot that will keep you guessing
*Disclaimer* I applied to be a beta/testreader for Scissors of Death after reading and loving Spindle of Life and I was chosen to be on the author's beta reader team. This review is based on my early reader experience of an uncorrected draft.
After reading Spindle of Life, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book, and Scissors of Death has been a roller coaster to say the least…
This book is filled with perfectly written YA love, dilemmas, mythology, plot-twists and heart-in-throat action. And I simply couldn’t stop reading, once begun!
I found myself holding my breath, as hope was both lost and found throughout the book. (Even though I won’t tell in what order…)
Once again has C. L. Qvam’s words managed to leave me with my jaw dropped, craving for more.
Old read I completely forgot to update! I love this series and where Book 2 picks up. I’m kicking myself for not reviewing earlier because some of it has slipped my mind, but perchance Book 3 will jog it.
At this point, I sound like a broken record, but this story is just so great! What I love most about it is that while it does have a lot of fantasy/magic elements, it's also a very human story dealing with some heavy topics.
Book 2 really picks up and boy does it pay off in the end! I loved how when I started the book, Sophie's stubborn nature made me want to scream and by the end, I was able to understand her better. Charlie's journey breaks my heart but I hope that it'll all pay off for our girl in the end. There were a good amount of surprises and twists that make me so excited about this series conclusion.
There are no words for all the feelings I am feeling!
If Spindle of Life focused on Charlie, Scissors of Death focuses more on her twin sister, Sophie. From the very first pages of the book, I immediately had the feeling that the tone would be different--much less serious, and more romantic! In fact, Sophie is thrust into a minotaur's labyrinth, and is saved by Prince Caden (who may or may not be cursed to have a poisonous kiss 👀). Except this little act of heroism sees them both thrust into a forced marriage!
Sophie was such a wonderful protagonist. Like her twin, she's gone through her fair share of hardships which leave behind insecurities. Primarily, Sophie has a hard time getting attached to people for fear of losing them or being abandoned. She hides this insecurity behind a tough front. She is sassy, she is strong, she knows her way around a blade. I found her to be a character I personally related to more easily than Charlie, who will definitely resonate more with other readers!
Sophie's fire was perfectly leveled by Caden, who was my favorite of the princes already in the first book. He is a neon green flag love interest--gentle, kind, funny, caring and considerate of Sophie's needs before his own. Despite his fear of getting close because of his curse, he was so romantic! Falling for this man is an inevitability. The author did such an amazing job at building up to this relationship, with adorable interactions and a slow-burning tension that had me begging for the curse to be a fluke. (I won't tell you if it was).
Sophie and Caden definitely stole the show for me, but their story wouldn't have been this fascinating without the carefully built web of the plot around them, rich with mystery, meddling gods, mythology, and prophecies, and the support of the other characters. I can't put to words how many times my heart broke for Charlie in this book and how angry I was toward a certain character...but perspective is key! If anything, I appreciate the author for building three dimensional characters who are flawed and make mistakes. It's hard to stay angry with these potatoes for too long!
I cannot wait to continue with the third book after the revelations at the end of this one, especially following a plot twist with a character that I absolutely did not see coming!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved getting the two POVs from Charlie and Sophie. And finding more about Sophie and her past.
I loved getting more Caden. He is my favorite brother. And finding more about the mystery around him. I enjoyed the forced/fake engagement and everything that came after it.
Love Jaden and Vanilla. Love their friendship with the sisters and the love they have for each other.
Still unsure how I feel about Tyler. But I feel like he is growing.
Once Upon a Broken Heart meets Greek mythology in Qvam’s sequel, where even love could prove to be deadly. Following a larger cast of characters and dual POVs from Charlie’s and Sophie’s perspectives, Scissors of Death takes us deeper into Qvam’s magical world, full of both whimsy and danger. With beloved tropes like an arranged engagement and forbidden love, this sequel continues the building tension and danger of the world of the fates while also delivering even more romance, full of tension and a touch of angst.
I was chosen as a test reader for SoD and absolutely loved it! There are twists and action and deep dives into the characters and it makes me all that much more excited for the next book!
I tried to drag this ARC out for as long as possible because it was so amazing I didn't want it to end!
Greek Mythos, spurned lovers, enemies to lovers, a mention of Hades and Sephy....it's like this book was WRITTEN for me!
"A sister dies for love, Death follows where the son goes. A twist of Fortune you shall have, when all unite as one."
"Love will eat the parts of you that others exploit, until one day, there's nothing but solid ice left, and they will die I'm cold starvation for your affection."
"Persephone ached for her love, Hades... ...She didn't feel like herself when she was kept from him."
This book was beyond incredible. The fantasy world was so well fleshed out; it was like a painting you could step into. Waiting for the enemies, turned friends, to turn into lovers FINALLY was both exhilarating and made me want to scream for them to move faster!
I'm already dying for book 3. 2024 is WAY too far away! But luckily for you, 'Scissors of Death' releases November 2, 2023! And the first is already out for you to get!
If you love Greek mythos as much as I do, you NEED to read this series!
I’ve been sitting on the review for a while, the emotional whiplash made it a bit hard to put things into words. After the ending of book 1, I didn’t think book 2 could have the same gasp factor, but almost every page was proving me wrong. @chaselouiseqvam puts so much of herself into her writing and her words stick with you long after you’ve read the book.
Scissors starts out almost immediately after the end of book 1, with action starting right on the first page. Where book 1 was world building, magical/character growth and adventure set up, book 2 is action, adventure, and a healthy dose of heartache and fallout. We have a multi dual POV Charlie and Sophie, and we get to see how each sister is coping with the hands dealt to them. My heart is absolutely rooting for Charlie in book 3 because my girl needs her happiness.
We grow to know (and love) Caden in this book, and the tension and angst between him and Sophie? Absolute *chefs kiss*
The ending? We aren’t going to talk about that, because in my brain it didn’t happen and book 3 is going to be sunshine and rainbows and goodness 🥲
Jumping in right where we left off, this book starts off with action and adventure. I loved getting to visit a different world in this book as well as spend some time in the one we got to know in book one. We get to be in Sophie’s head as well as Charlie’s this time around, though the focus of this book is definitely more on Sophie’s story.
While book one focused more heavily on the lore, magic system, and world building, this book is centered on the romance and relationship drama between the two main couples and how the overarching plot affects them and their world.
We get to experience the fated mates trope, forced proximity, forced engagement, he falls first, tons of heartache, and mental health representation.
The story was action packed and full of twists and turns! I can’t wait to see how their story concludes in book 3 next year.
This is book 2 in the series and continues the journey of Charlie with her new found powers and her squad to figure out the prophecy that Maddison says over & over again. She also tries to figure out what it meant to be loved and to love other person with all of their bad and good parts. The thing about the story I loved is that how mythology was mentioned in an interesting way. Again the twists were amazing and ending made me go and run to read the book 3 immediately. Thankyou Chase for this beautiful heart wrenching book
Holy Pan! This book was nonstop from begining to end. This follows an even wider cast of characters and answers many (not all) of the questions from the first book-and leaves you with more mysteries. This book also traverses several realms with fae travel techniques. We also get more lore! A delight to read, slow burn continues to burn I surprising ways 💙
The Scissors of Death is the second book in the Spindle of Life series, and it's an exhilarating and fast-paced adventure that will take you on a wild ride. This dark fantasy narrative delves into the life of Sophie Lou, Charlie's twin sister, who is newly betrothed to a prince who will kill her with a mere kiss. The story is told from dual points of view, through Sophie Lou and Charlie.
This dark fantasy tale follows the journey of Sophie Lou, newly betrothed to Prince Caden who is cursed to kill with a single kiss. With the help of her twin sister, Charlie, and her developing love interest, Caden, they race against time to use the Scissors of Death to change their fate.
As you follow these characters on their perilous journey, you'll feel a deep connection to them and their struggles. Charlie, in particular, deals with her relationship troubles and fleeting friendships while trying to save her sister. The stress and mental health issues she faces are relatable to many, and her suicide attempt is a poignant reminder of the importance of seeking help when you need it.
Despite the challenges they face, the characters in this book are determined to succeed. And with the help of magic, adventure, and romance, they just might do it. Author C. L. Qvam has a gift for evocative writing that pulls you in and keeps you invested in the story. This book is a fantastic example of her writing prowess and ability to explore complex themes in a relatable way.
Overall, I highly recommend Scissors of Death to anyone looking for an imaginative and engaging read. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, romance, or action, this book has something for everyone. So settle in and get ready for a wild ride!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.