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Ink, Iron, and Glass #2
De brume, de métal et de cendres
Et si on pouvait vraiment créer un monde avec de l'encre et du papier ?
En s'armant d'encre et de papier, il est désormais possible de voir naître sous ses doigts des univers entiers. Il suffit, pour accomplir ce miracle, de respecter les règles complexes d'une discipline toute récente, la scriptologie. Elsa est l'un de ces nouveaux savants aux pouvoirs vertigineux. Quand elle découvre avec stupeur que sa mère a mis au point un livre capable de modifier le monde réel, elle n'a plus qu'une idée en tête : récupérer ce dangereux ouvrage avant que ne survienne un drame irréparable.
Mais il est déjà trop tard... Non content de la trahir, Leo, l'ami le plus cher d'Elsa, s'est emparé du précieux livre-monde pour le remettre à son père, le terrible Garibaldi. Ce fou furieux entend bien unifier l'Italie, quel qu'en soit le prix. Dès lors, il ne reste plus qu'un espoir à la jeune fille – et à l'humanité tout entière : celui que ses ennemis échouent à déchiffrer le manuscrit qui pourrait bien réduire à néant la planète...
Saura-t-elle réparer par l'écriture un monde devenu fou ? Une multitude d'univers créés de toutes pièces entrent en collision dans ce deuxième et dernier tome de la duologie. Passé tragique et ténébreuses conspirations, univers de poche et armes ultimes : suivez cette héroïne armée d'encre et de papier à travers une ribambelle de mondes réels et inventés !
En s'armant d'encre et de papier, il est désormais possible de voir naître sous ses doigts des univers entiers. Il suffit, pour accomplir ce miracle, de respecter les règles complexes d'une discipline toute récente, la scriptologie. Elsa est l'un de ces nouveaux savants aux pouvoirs vertigineux. Quand elle découvre avec stupeur que sa mère a mis au point un livre capable de modifier le monde réel, elle n'a plus qu'une idée en tête : récupérer ce dangereux ouvrage avant que ne survienne un drame irréparable.
Mais il est déjà trop tard... Non content de la trahir, Leo, l'ami le plus cher d'Elsa, s'est emparé du précieux livre-monde pour le remettre à son père, le terrible Garibaldi. Ce fou furieux entend bien unifier l'Italie, quel qu'en soit le prix. Dès lors, il ne reste plus qu'un espoir à la jeune fille – et à l'humanité tout entière : celui que ses ennemis échouent à déchiffrer le manuscrit qui pourrait bien réduire à néant la planète...
Saura-t-elle réparer par l'écriture un monde devenu fou ? Une multitude d'univers créés de toutes pièces entrent en collision dans ce deuxième et dernier tome de la duologie. Passé tragique et ténébreuses conspirations, univers de poche et armes ultimes : suivez cette héroïne armée d'encre et de papier à travers une ribambelle de mondes réels et inventés !
480 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2019
46 people are currently reading
2990 people want to read
About the author
Gwendolyn Clare
27 books256 followersGwendolyn Clare's debut novel -- INK, IRON, AND GLASS -- is the first in a steampunk duology about a young mad scientist with the ability to write new worlds into existence, out now from Imprint. Her short stories have appeared in Clarkesworld, Asimov's, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, among others, and her poetry has been nominated for the Rhysling Award. She holds a BA in Ecology, a BS in Geophysics, a PhD in Mycology, and swears she's done collecting acronyms. She lives in North Carolina with too many cats, too many ducks, and never enough books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 8, 2023
It has been a year since I read Ink, Iron, and Glass and I honestly had no idea if I was going to remember everything before diving into this one. I took a chance and dove into it anyways.
Mist, Metal, and Ash was an okay sequel. I mostly wanted to dive into it because I'm trying to clear up my TBR and finish out series that I just kind of ghosted. This book definitely kept the adventure part up but I feel like so many things were left unfinished? Maybe it's just me but I would've liked all those loose ends tied up. I have no idea if there is going to be another book or not.. so maybe one day we will get that?
As for this book, the characters were still interesting to me but I feel like I just kind of zoned out every once in a while. I am, however, thankful that I was listening to the book instead of reading it. Mostly because the book flew by a lot faster but it was also easier to zoom to the part that I missed.
Overall, I wasn't expecting much when it came to this book so I can't really say I was disappointed or not.
Mist, Metal, and Ash was an okay sequel. I mostly wanted to dive into it because I'm trying to clear up my TBR and finish out series that I just kind of ghosted. This book definitely kept the adventure part up but I feel like so many things were left unfinished? Maybe it's just me but I would've liked all those loose ends tied up. I have no idea if there is going to be another book or not.. so maybe one day we will get that?
As for this book, the characters were still interesting to me but I feel like I just kind of zoned out every once in a while. I am, however, thankful that I was listening to the book instead of reading it. Mostly because the book flew by a lot faster but it was also easier to zoom to the part that I missed.
Overall, I wasn't expecting much when it came to this book so I can't really say I was disappointed or not.
March 4, 2019
A good ending to the serie.
March 12, 2019
I liked it better than the 1st book since I already had an idea of the type of world we were in. It still all felt a bit strange and like information was missing
There were also a ton of storylines that I felt like were left unfinished? So I'm not sure if there is going to be a 3rd book, but at the same time it seems like all the excitement is over so what would the 3rd book be about?
I also really love the cover of this book. But I'm still not loving this series.
There were also a ton of storylines that I felt like were left unfinished? So I'm not sure if there is going to be a 3rd book, but at the same time it seems like all the excitement is over so what would the 3rd book be about?
I also really love the cover of this book. But I'm still not loving this series.
Want to read
April 6, 2018I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS BOOK! I need to know what happens to everyone.
In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to read this book so soon...
In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to read this book so soon...
Read
March 21, 2019DNF @ 35%
June 23, 2019
I really loved this sequel to Ink, Iron, and Glass. It was just a ton of fun with non-stop action and adventure, and danger levels that kept the tension high throughout the story.
First off, the world-building in this duology is really fun and unique. I love the idea of the pazzerellones and the three different ways those magical talents work. You have scriptologists who are able to write worlds in books and make them real, you have mechanists who are able to create wonderful devices, and alchemists who are able to make potions and such. Then there are the rare folks who can do them all. Not everyone has these talents and some people see them as a great resource while others view them as mad scientists who are a detriment to society. Our group of pazzerellones live in an alternate version of the 19th century Italian city states, so there’s an interesting mix of the fantastic layered with the historical.
In the first book I had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters, but not so here. I was fully invested in each of the pov character’s story lines and rooting for them even when they were seemingly working at odds to one another. I loved how each of the characters had their own very distinct motivations. Also, I thought I would be mad at Leo, after his decision at the end of the last book, but it’s clear why he did what he did. I also love the Elsa explained to him exactly why that was an idiotic thing to do. Yes, Elsa can be impulsive and stubborn, but actually, in this book, she’s shown a lot of growth and she’s made some really good decisions and planning–she’s really come into her own and I love that! Portia had a great story arc too. I would have liked a little more time with Faraz, but the story didn’t have a lot of room for extraneous stuff and his story line and personal growth wasn’t as important to the overall story here, unlike Leo, Elsa, and Portia. Plus, we had new characters like Aris (Leo’s truly mad scientist brother) and a couple of others who joined the cast this time around. And can we talk about Aris for a second? Because, wow. This is a character I should truly hate, he’s been a party to horrific things, but he’s also….sometimes a lot of fun? I really love it when I can feel a tad conflicted about a villain.
The pacing of the book was fantastic. There was plenty of action and between that planning and plotting while on the move. Once Elsa arrived where she was needed to be according to plan, there was a tiny bit of ‘hurry up and wait’ mode, while searching for the edit book that Leo had given to his father, but that was cut nicely with Aris being Aris–unpredictable and quite, quite mad. The stakes were high here, with the edit book being able to alter the real world and having fallen into the wrong hands. I thought the level of tension throughout the story was great–everyone knew what they were fighting for.
Overall, I really loved this sequel. I also really loved this world. I do hope the author continues to write more in this world, even if there isn’t going to be a direct sequel to these books. 4.5/5 stars.
First off, the world-building in this duology is really fun and unique. I love the idea of the pazzerellones and the three different ways those magical talents work. You have scriptologists who are able to write worlds in books and make them real, you have mechanists who are able to create wonderful devices, and alchemists who are able to make potions and such. Then there are the rare folks who can do them all. Not everyone has these talents and some people see them as a great resource while others view them as mad scientists who are a detriment to society. Our group of pazzerellones live in an alternate version of the 19th century Italian city states, so there’s an interesting mix of the fantastic layered with the historical.
In the first book I had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters, but not so here. I was fully invested in each of the pov character’s story lines and rooting for them even when they were seemingly working at odds to one another. I loved how each of the characters had their own very distinct motivations. Also, I thought I would be mad at Leo, after his decision at the end of the last book, but it’s clear why he did what he did. I also love the Elsa explained to him exactly why that was an idiotic thing to do. Yes, Elsa can be impulsive and stubborn, but actually, in this book, she’s shown a lot of growth and she’s made some really good decisions and planning–she’s really come into her own and I love that! Portia had a great story arc too. I would have liked a little more time with Faraz, but the story didn’t have a lot of room for extraneous stuff and his story line and personal growth wasn’t as important to the overall story here, unlike Leo, Elsa, and Portia. Plus, we had new characters like Aris (Leo’s truly mad scientist brother) and a couple of others who joined the cast this time around. And can we talk about Aris for a second? Because, wow. This is a character I should truly hate, he’s been a party to horrific things, but he’s also….sometimes a lot of fun? I really love it when I can feel a tad conflicted about a villain.
The pacing of the book was fantastic. There was plenty of action and between that planning and plotting while on the move. Once Elsa arrived where she was needed to be according to plan, there was a tiny bit of ‘hurry up and wait’ mode, while searching for the edit book that Leo had given to his father, but that was cut nicely with Aris being Aris–unpredictable and quite, quite mad. The stakes were high here, with the edit book being able to alter the real world and having fallen into the wrong hands. I thought the level of tension throughout the story was great–everyone knew what they were fighting for.
Overall, I really loved this sequel. I also really loved this world. I do hope the author continues to write more in this world, even if there isn’t going to be a direct sequel to these books. 4.5/5 stars.
March 24, 2020
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
This was okay. I had finished the first book a while ago but still remembered a lot of details because it was so original and unique but this felt almost sloppy in comparison. Everything neatly tied up and finished but I am a little unsatisfied with some of it. However, the world is so interesting that it makes up for a lot of it.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
This was okay. I had finished the first book a while ago but still remembered a lot of details because it was so original and unique but this felt almost sloppy in comparison. Everything neatly tied up and finished but I am a little unsatisfied with some of it. However, the world is so interesting that it makes up for a lot of it.
May 13, 2019
j'ai largement aimé ce second tome !!! :D tous les défauts que j'ai retrouvé dans le premier ont été balayés! Les personnages sont beaucoup plus approfondis, ils ont évolués par rapport au 1er. L'action commence d'emblée vu que c'est la suite direct et ça n'est pas pour me déplaire! j'ai beaucoup plus apprécié Elsa, Portia et Leo dans ce tome ci, bien sûr Faraz reste mon préféré <3 même si on retrouve quelques similitudes avec le 1er tome (labyrinthes...), il m'aura beaucoup plus transporté avec les courses poursuites, les missions d'infiltrations, etc..
Enfin bref ça aura été une agréable surprise et je suis contente d'avoir persévérer ^^ comme quoi il ne faut pas rester sur une 1ere impression !!! j'espère que l'auteure écrira d'autres romans de fantasy ou de sf :D
Enfin bref ça aura été une agréable surprise et je suis contente d'avoir persévérer ^^ comme quoi il ne faut pas rester sur une 1ere impression !!! j'espère que l'auteure écrira d'autres romans de fantasy ou de sf :D
December 12, 2024
This was a strange one. You get closer and closer to the end and I'm thinking...how are they going to wrap everything up in such few pages...they don't. So then ilook it up and no there isn't a sequel?
Strange
This one didn't hold my attention. The world building is very cool but that's all built in the first book.
I did like hearing about someone's family. But otherwise this was just OK.
Strange
This one didn't hold my attention. The world building is very cool but that's all built in the first book.
I did like hearing about someone's family. But otherwise this was just OK.
September 5, 2020
Mist, Metal and Ash swiftly follows on from the events of Ink, Iron and Glass with little preamble. I very much enjoyed returning to the world of scriptologists and madness.
Fast paced and action packed this story leaves the reader turning page after page, twisting and turning through portals and deception.
Fast paced and action packed this story leaves the reader turning page after page, twisting and turning through portals and deception.
October 9, 2022
I am sad to say I am really disappointed with this book. It had some great parts to it and kept me interested enough to finish. That being said, it was also boring and to rushed. The ending is open-ended which is irritating as I believe this is a duology. It didn't have any closure to the story at all.
September 25, 2019
A book that is a good sequel to the first, definitely a LOT of teenage drama, but the premise and the alternative history is good.
Full review at: https://tinynavajoreads.wordpress.com/
Full review at: https://tinynavajoreads.wordpress.com/
January 17, 2019
Chronique de Diana :
https://followthereader2016.wordpress...
Attention, si vous n’avez pas lu le premier tome vous risquez d’être spoilé.
Il est rare que je dise ça mais j’espère qu’il va y avoir un tome trois, tout simplement parce que je sors de ce récit avec encore plus de questions .
Mais remettons un peu en premier lieu le contexte de cette histoire.
C’est un univers unique, je n’ai jamais rien vu ailleurs et ça permet des milliers de possibilité, l’imagination n’a plus aucune limite. A la fin du premier livre « D’encre, de Verre et d’Acier », je savais que je devais lire la suite, qu’il me fallait comprendre pourquoi Leo trahissait Elsa et ses amis pour une famille qui l’a rejeté et abandonné.
Une fois de plus j’ai eu du mal à rentrer dans l’histoire, je ne sais pas si ça vient du rythme ou tout simplement de la multitude de possibilités qui s’offrent à nous lors de notre lecture. Je me suis retrouvée un peu comme nos héros à chercher pourquoi Leo avait bien pu agir de la sorte. J’étais fâchée comme Porsia, incrédule comme Faraz me disant qu’il n’avait pu faire ça que sous la contrainte (car rappelons le Leo a volé le livre), et j’ai essayé de comprendre au final comme Elsa qui n’a qu’une idée : trouver une piste et rattraper le jeune homme. Mais à nouveau la magie opère et je me laisse complètement attirer dans le récit.
Donc le schéma est assez similaire dans la construction avec le premier opus, il faut un moment avant que les choses se déclenchent mais ensuite les événements et les rebondissements s’enchainent pour ne plus vous laisser un instant de répit.
Une chose qui est très appréciable avec un récit aussi complexe, c’est l’alternance des points de vue, ça nous permet de nous situer et de ne pas perdre pied dans l’avancement du roman. D’ailleurs je vais préciser que l’enchainement entre ces points de vue est parfait, car ils sont vraiment amenés dans un ordre qui donne une visibilité alors que dans certains cas, on ne sait plus quoi croire ou comprendre.
Je ne trouve pas d’aspects réellement négatifs. Oui, on peut râler avec le rythme lent du début ou parce qu’on trouve que la fin est trop ouverte. Cependant, les personnages sont des génies et leur particularité en action est juste addictive. Le travail en équipe, le fait de grandir et de prendre en maturité nous permet de les voir évoluer. L’auteure n’omet rien, mais elle apporte des détails aux lecteurs en temps voulu.
Je reste donc un peu dans le flou en terminant ce récit, tant de choses restent hors de notre portée mais je me dis que Gwendolyn Clare veut juste que notre imagination prenne le relais.
C’est une duologie jeunesse que j’ai appréciée, si je ne devais trouver qu’un petit bémol c’est que la romance n’est pas utile. L’auteure a une très belle plume et elle sait créer des personnages et des lieux forts.
Une très belle découverte et des romans de toute beauté autant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur.
https://followthereader2016.wordpress...
Attention, si vous n’avez pas lu le premier tome vous risquez d’être spoilé.
Il est rare que je dise ça mais j’espère qu’il va y avoir un tome trois, tout simplement parce que je sors de ce récit avec encore plus de questions .
Mais remettons un peu en premier lieu le contexte de cette histoire.
C’est un univers unique, je n’ai jamais rien vu ailleurs et ça permet des milliers de possibilité, l’imagination n’a plus aucune limite. A la fin du premier livre « D’encre, de Verre et d’Acier », je savais que je devais lire la suite, qu’il me fallait comprendre pourquoi Leo trahissait Elsa et ses amis pour une famille qui l’a rejeté et abandonné.
Une fois de plus j’ai eu du mal à rentrer dans l’histoire, je ne sais pas si ça vient du rythme ou tout simplement de la multitude de possibilités qui s’offrent à nous lors de notre lecture. Je me suis retrouvée un peu comme nos héros à chercher pourquoi Leo avait bien pu agir de la sorte. J’étais fâchée comme Porsia, incrédule comme Faraz me disant qu’il n’avait pu faire ça que sous la contrainte (car rappelons le Leo a volé le livre), et j’ai essayé de comprendre au final comme Elsa qui n’a qu’une idée : trouver une piste et rattraper le jeune homme. Mais à nouveau la magie opère et je me laisse complètement attirer dans le récit.
Donc le schéma est assez similaire dans la construction avec le premier opus, il faut un moment avant que les choses se déclenchent mais ensuite les événements et les rebondissements s’enchainent pour ne plus vous laisser un instant de répit.
Une chose qui est très appréciable avec un récit aussi complexe, c’est l’alternance des points de vue, ça nous permet de nous situer et de ne pas perdre pied dans l’avancement du roman. D’ailleurs je vais préciser que l’enchainement entre ces points de vue est parfait, car ils sont vraiment amenés dans un ordre qui donne une visibilité alors que dans certains cas, on ne sait plus quoi croire ou comprendre.
Je ne trouve pas d’aspects réellement négatifs. Oui, on peut râler avec le rythme lent du début ou parce qu’on trouve que la fin est trop ouverte. Cependant, les personnages sont des génies et leur particularité en action est juste addictive. Le travail en équipe, le fait de grandir et de prendre en maturité nous permet de les voir évoluer. L’auteure n’omet rien, mais elle apporte des détails aux lecteurs en temps voulu.
Je reste donc un peu dans le flou en terminant ce récit, tant de choses restent hors de notre portée mais je me dis que Gwendolyn Clare veut juste que notre imagination prenne le relais.
C’est une duologie jeunesse que j’ai appréciée, si je ne devais trouver qu’un petit bémol c’est que la romance n’est pas utile. L’auteure a une très belle plume et elle sait créer des personnages et des lieux forts.
Une très belle découverte et des romans de toute beauté autant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur.
January 21, 2019
http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2019/0...
Ce second et dernier opus est une vraie réussite : une aventure haletante, un voyage à cent à l'heure où on a du mal à cerner les bons des méchants parfois. Elsa nous entraîne dans son histoire avec panache à la pointe de son crayon...L'auteure parvient à nous faire rêver dans un récit original et riche sans que jamais on en devine là où elle nous emmène .
Ce second et dernier opus est une vraie réussite : une aventure haletante, un voyage à cent à l'heure où on a du mal à cerner les bons des méchants parfois. Elsa nous entraîne dans son histoire avec panache à la pointe de son crayon...L'auteure parvient à nous faire rêver dans un récit original et riche sans que jamais on en devine là où elle nous emmène .
February 10, 2019
This is the sequel to the amazing debut Ink, Iron, and Glass. This series reminds me a lot of the Map Makers series. I find the concept of being able to create worlds out of words is an amazing concept with so much potential. This series does not let you down with its excitement, danger, and plot twists. I love Elsa and what she stands for in using and preserving her gift to create worlds.
The ending of the first book was so heart wrenching I just had to get my hands on the second book. What we think we know just is not always the case and we discover that in book two. I love the fact that their no time missing between the books and it picks up right where we left off in book one.
This book has two storylines flowing altogether, we have Elsa trying to save Leo. We have Casa the house which has gone insane. Casa the house going all protective on everyone was great as it totally something you can see happening.
With the Leo end of the story, we get a lot more in-depth on his character and the whole backstory of his family. How cruel and insane his dad is and what depths his brother will go to be loyal to him. Then their a very interesting twist towards the end that really changes up the whole dynamics. There a lot of nice scenes with steampunk themes and their plenty of world book fun to be had. This is a great series and I highly recommend you check it out. This book is due out February 19, 2019.
The ending of the first book was so heart wrenching I just had to get my hands on the second book. What we think we know just is not always the case and we discover that in book two. I love the fact that their no time missing between the books and it picks up right where we left off in book one.
This book has two storylines flowing altogether, we have Elsa trying to save Leo. We have Casa the house which has gone insane. Casa the house going all protective on everyone was great as it totally something you can see happening.
With the Leo end of the story, we get a lot more in-depth on his character and the whole backstory of his family. How cruel and insane his dad is and what depths his brother will go to be loyal to him. Then their a very interesting twist towards the end that really changes up the whole dynamics. There a lot of nice scenes with steampunk themes and their plenty of world book fun to be had. This is a great series and I highly recommend you check it out. This book is due out February 19, 2019.
October 9, 2018
We were anxiously waiting this installment because this series totally reminded us of the inkheart series plus after reading the latest installment of the invisible library series, we had a lot of useful information to inspire this review. First off, we absolutely love Elsa and what she stands for in using and preserving her gift. She is basically in our humble opinion one of the most extravagant female heroine that possesses a power of writing. Our patrons also love the name Elsa (from Disney Frozen) and the adventure her power gets into. We enjoyed Ink, Iron, and Glass and loved the climax and ending so much that it became one of our most popular books to circulate to which we know our patrons are sure to enjoy this one.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our YFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely consider this title for our YFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars!
December 2, 2023
(Publication date: February 19, 2019 Pre-order today)
Dammit, sucked in again!!! Alternate world/fantasy authors love the sequel. YA authors love the trilogy with some novellas tucked in between. So a YA alternate world/fantasy author? I should know better, but this is really my personal genre of choice, so no, I am just left at the "Edgemist."
This is an action packed, stay up late book. There is always something around the corner and the end words are a great example in craft. No complaints. This book delivers.
"So." Porzia gave them all a glittering smile. "Would you care to make a deal?"
Dammit, sucked in again!!! Alternate world/fantasy authors love the sequel. YA authors love the trilogy with some novellas tucked in between. So a YA alternate world/fantasy author? I should know better, but this is really my personal genre of choice, so no, I am just left at the "Edgemist."
This is an action packed, stay up late book. There is always something around the corner and the end words are a great example in craft. No complaints. This book delivers.
"So." Porzia gave them all a glittering smile. "Would you care to make a deal?"
May 13, 2019
It didn’t take me long to get back into this story. Elsa and her new friends believe that Leo has betrayed them by returning to his father’s side. Unknowingly to them, Leo is trying to keep Elsa safe in the only way he knows how. A bit slow at times, the action picks up at the end. I can’t say that book two completely wraps up the story bust as of now, there is no word on whether there will be a third book.
November 4, 2018
#NetGalley #YARead2019
What an incredible second novel! No filler book here. Mist, Metal, and Ash is excellent sequel. I feel like this book is better than the first one. The characters are more polished and the story line develops at a steady pace to keep the reader hooked. I recommend this book without any doubts.
What an incredible second novel! No filler book here. Mist, Metal, and Ash is excellent sequel. I feel like this book is better than the first one. The characters are more polished and the story line develops at a steady pace to keep the reader hooked. I recommend this book without any doubts.
Read
March 3, 2019Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Pretty Messy
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Magic, But Missing
Bonus Factor: Power of Books
Anti-Bonus Factor: Bridge Book Blues
Relationship Status: You’re Good? That’s Good.
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Pretty Messy
BFF Charm: Meh
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Magic, But Missing
Bonus Factor: Power of Books
Anti-Bonus Factor: Bridge Book Blues
Relationship Status: You’re Good? That’s Good.
Read the full book report here.
May 12, 2021
I wanted to like this book--I loved the premise. Scriptologists who can create worlds, alchemists, mechanists. Sentient houses. Other worlds with people -- but the execution of it didn't resonate with me. The plot could have easily spanned into a third book; instead, the end felt rushed. A lot of plot points (like Casa) are unresolved. It just wasn't satisfying.
March 3, 2019
The first one was a lot better.
on-hold-maybe-finish-later
March 14, 2019I've tried but I think I just need a little break and will come back later.
June 11, 2019
This is a great, well written book. We get to know the characters a bit more and a few new characters are added. I enjoyed this book very much.
December 18, 2018
**This review WILL contain spoilers for the first book Ink, Iron and Glass. Please read at your own risk!**
Quick Summary:
- Loved the unique concept of scribing worlds and all the pazzerellone inventions!
- Took a lot longer for me to become engaged in this book and I felt like the plot was a bit all over the place
- I really hope there is a third book because this book created more unanswered questions!
My Review:
Thank you so much to Imprint for providing me with a review copy of this book via NetGalley! All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When I read Ink, Iron and Glass last year I absolutely loved the idea of being able to scribe worlds into existence. It was such a unique concept that I really enjoyed the book. I knew at the end of the first book that I had to read the second book! I just couldn’t wrap my head around why Leo betrayed all his friends and Elsa for his family who abandoned him! While I definitely enjoyed the second book, I didn’t love it as much as the first.
This book picks up shortly after Leo pushed Elsa back through the portal and stole the Editbook. Leo is reunited with his father and brother and is headed to their secret location. Back at Casa everyone is dealing with Leo’s betrayal in their own way. Porzia is furious that Leo betrayed them while Faraz believes he was forced to turn against them and is now being held captive. Elsa has taken the middle ground and is just trying to keep the peace between the two while trying to find a way to track Leo and the editbook. The pazzerellones are quickly running out of ideas but with some outside help they just might have found a way back to Leo. But the true question remains whether or not Leo needs their help.
I love that the book picks up almost immediately after the first because I was in shock after that ending and needed more! The book does have a slower start and maintains that pace for the first half of the book. But it does pick up towards the end where all sorts of action occurs and I could not put it down! It was very similar in pacing to the first book with a lot of background and set up needed before the plot could really get going. I did feel like the plot was a bit divided. We had the main storyline that we have been following since the first book and then we get this new almost side story that involves Casa. It was interesting and I did find myself wondering a time or two in the first book if something like this would occur but I felt like it didn’t add much to the plot in this book.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the multiple point of views. It was really helpful to be able to switch from character to character to see what was happening with Leo and his family and then to be able to switch back to Casa and what was happening at home. I also loved the insight it provided to be able to see from different characters and to know what they were thinking about a particular situation. The author did a great job of making the transitions between POVs very smooth and it definitely added to the story! I also love all the characters! Being back with Elsa, Porzia, Faraz and even Leo and watching them work their crazy science genius-ness is so entertaining! It really makes me wish I was a pazzerellone and could invent the amazing things they do!
If this book is a duology, I really did not like the ending. While it did resolve some issues, there are just way too many things left unresolved that really bother me. I’m really hoping there will be a third book but I also don’t feel like there will be. Hopefully there will be a novella or something to help answer the questions that I still have. While I definitely enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it as much as the first book. It took a lot longer for me to become engaged in this book and I felt like the plot was a bit all over the place. If you’ve read the first book and enjoyed it I would definitely recommend reading the second book!
Quick Summary:
- Loved the unique concept of scribing worlds and all the pazzerellone inventions!
- Took a lot longer for me to become engaged in this book and I felt like the plot was a bit all over the place
- I really hope there is a third book because this book created more unanswered questions!
My Review:
Thank you so much to Imprint for providing me with a review copy of this book via NetGalley! All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When I read Ink, Iron and Glass last year I absolutely loved the idea of being able to scribe worlds into existence. It was such a unique concept that I really enjoyed the book. I knew at the end of the first book that I had to read the second book! I just couldn’t wrap my head around why Leo betrayed all his friends and Elsa for his family who abandoned him! While I definitely enjoyed the second book, I didn’t love it as much as the first.
This book picks up shortly after Leo pushed Elsa back through the portal and stole the Editbook. Leo is reunited with his father and brother and is headed to their secret location. Back at Casa everyone is dealing with Leo’s betrayal in their own way. Porzia is furious that Leo betrayed them while Faraz believes he was forced to turn against them and is now being held captive. Elsa has taken the middle ground and is just trying to keep the peace between the two while trying to find a way to track Leo and the editbook. The pazzerellones are quickly running out of ideas but with some outside help they just might have found a way back to Leo. But the true question remains whether or not Leo needs their help.
I love that the book picks up almost immediately after the first because I was in shock after that ending and needed more! The book does have a slower start and maintains that pace for the first half of the book. But it does pick up towards the end where all sorts of action occurs and I could not put it down! It was very similar in pacing to the first book with a lot of background and set up needed before the plot could really get going. I did feel like the plot was a bit divided. We had the main storyline that we have been following since the first book and then we get this new almost side story that involves Casa. It was interesting and I did find myself wondering a time or two in the first book if something like this would occur but I felt like it didn’t add much to the plot in this book.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the multiple point of views. It was really helpful to be able to switch from character to character to see what was happening with Leo and his family and then to be able to switch back to Casa and what was happening at home. I also loved the insight it provided to be able to see from different characters and to know what they were thinking about a particular situation. The author did a great job of making the transitions between POVs very smooth and it definitely added to the story! I also love all the characters! Being back with Elsa, Porzia, Faraz and even Leo and watching them work their crazy science genius-ness is so entertaining! It really makes me wish I was a pazzerellone and could invent the amazing things they do!
If this book is a duology, I really did not like the ending. While it did resolve some issues, there are just way too many things left unresolved that really bother me. I’m really hoping there will be a third book but I also don’t feel like there will be. Hopefully there will be a novella or something to help answer the questions that I still have. While I definitely enjoyed this book, I didn’t love it as much as the first book. It took a lot longer for me to become engaged in this book and I felt like the plot was a bit all over the place. If you’ve read the first book and enjoyed it I would definitely recommend reading the second book!
November 18, 2022
Second verse, somewhat worse than the first.
This is a doozy folks.Which is such a shame because in spite of its flaws, I loved the first book enough to wait (very impatiently, mind you) for the sequel. I thought it would finally reveal some important aspects to the first that were left hanging.
Aspects such as:
-
- What about Elsa's childhood friend Revan (something which was touched on, to be fair.)
- What about the
- How's Casa?
Most of these were either never discussed, or discussed quite poorly, in my opinion.
We never learn why Elsa's mother was sick, nor what caused it. Only that she is sick, and Veldana is keeping her alive. Okay, that's fine, but I would have been more interested if it was something scripted into their world to keep them from being immortal, or growing too independent, though we never learn if it is.
Revan appears. He shows up, talks about missing Elsa and feeling as if she's abandoning him, and then falls for Porzia. Yeah. That happens. He does have some decent dialogue though, describing his feelings in a pretty realistic way for a teenage boy.
The fake humans and how/ why Leo's family used them? Never brought up. Never even referenced in passing. There's not even a snippy line from the brother saying he made their servants take care of it, which could have really shown that he doesn't view them as people, but as pawns.
Oh, and the younger brother who actually died?
Casa? She's doing pretty fine - oh, never mind. She's gone completely and utterly insane since the last book, with such lackluster buildup I wrote an entire essay about it in high school for extra credit and took up four pages of notebook paper with my righteous fury over this character, whom I love deeply.
I went back through the entire series and poured over both books for almost an entire month trying to tie in Casa's descent into madness with the character presented in the first book. There is unfortunately, very little to show the change from an aloof, somewhat smug guardian who refers to the children as Progeny, and the character shown in book two, who ultimately is forcibly killed.
Not to mention the fact that the meaning I extrapolate from Casa was about the trauma of loss in multiple ways, over how small losses of things important to you can build up until you are finally so hurt that the only option is to go a little bit mad; and the fact that the book portrays Casa as a villain, instead of someone who has been traumatized by the events in the first book including the break in, the hacking, and the loss of multiple children who left, is horrifying to me. Not to mention the idea presented that the kindest thing that Gia and Alek could do for Casa was to kill her, rather than to rehabilitate and to heal those wounds, made me sick to my stomach.
It's a terrible lesson in any book, and it's a terrible lesson here. Because it's not just implied that they are killing her, they openly state what they are doing is effectively killing her, as it cuts her off from the world entirely.
There's also Leo's older brother Aris who is a hot mess and whom I harbor only the worst intentions for. Let's go over a list of things he does that make me despise him, shall we?
- He does not believe service staff to be people, and treats them poorly, to a disgusting degree.
- Kept his youngest brother trapped in a maze in a book, alone for years, with no real explanation to said brother.
- Cheats on his best friend (granted it appears to have been a crush on the friend's end) with Elsa, a 17-year-old girl, while in his presumably 20's.
- Makes Elsa kiss him, and slowly takes over his younger brother's place as a side love interest. *barf*
- Designs a flying machine which breaks mid-air while he and Elsa are in it, on purpose to test her skills
- Uses the tracker in the bird creature to hunt a group of child refugees (who escaped from casa) because he wants to return his youngest brother to the book.
- And works with a fantasy fascist who wants to use a book to unify Italy, possibly leading to the brainwashing and free-will-erasing of hundreds of thousands of people. (This also ends up summoning an eldritch being from the depths of the ocean but that's kind of a footnote honestly.)
The Oracle:
What is wrong with using a cool oracle in your story? Not much in theory, I've done it (story still a work in Progress) however this Oracle doesn't feel very authentic. It exists solely in a worldbook, and the book only exists to house the Oracle.
It's implied this is the original copy of a book which is thousands of years old, and that it has been lost to time, which is strange considering they just find the book, as opposed to going on a big hunt to look for it.
When asked about the future it practically tells them an eldritch being will come into play by stating it will boil the seas and sully the skies (something to that effect, but very blatant code for eldritch beings) and the only real thing that happens is Elsa assumes "loosing what is precious to you" means her mother, nothing else. She also threatens to burn the book and kill it, and it's rightly horrified, but this means nothing to the Oracle in the long run, because it just continues to help her and her friends along whenever they need it.
I'd enjoy it more if the Oracle had a full personality, even if we never saw it entirely, and the Oracle was easily slighted and offended, and had to be bartered with to help once Elsa offends it by threatening its life. It would feel like a real character instead of a plot-contrivance designed to push the story along by giving characters hints. It feels like Gwendolyn realized she'd written herself into a corner by not giving the characters enough clues, so she created the "clue-giver9000" to fix that.
The guy in the first book who rendered himself textual - doesn't really mean anything. He's never elaborated on, mentioned once or twice, and even the mention of being rendered textual is basic, and bland in my opinion. It's only ever mentioned as a reason to not be a fascist and try to unite all of Italy. As if the only reason that it's a bad idea is the fact that if they mess up everyone in Italy will be like him, though fascism is bad for other reasons besides that.
I once again fell hard and fast for characters who ultimately meant nothing, did nothing, and kind of were nothing. In this book, a common theme is the dislike/low opinions of service staff, which is insulting as a maid named Colette was the only character that I felt like could have been good. She is Elsa's personal maid while Elsa is held hostage at Leo's family's weird castle in the mountains (why a castle, why mountains? To make escape harder? The man who brought her here literally leaves about 1/2-3/4 through the book.) Colette only tells Elsa her name because Elsa asks, and it's supposed to be a touching moment in which we see Elsa as a hero for being the only person here to care about the service staff.
Though this comradery really only allows Elsa to travel through a backdoor in the kitchen to escape and then Colette fades from the story, never to be seen from or heard of again. Sorry Colette, you will be missed.
There is just so much going on that if I tried to gather my thoughts into a more concise list, I would be here all day, I've already spent almost two hours writing this review and I still feel like I'm missing details that are important to the story (and many, many that are not. Including Alek and his dead boyfriend, and how Leo's older brother is aware of the crush his friend has on him and manipulates him with those feelings of love, while also doing the same to Elsa.)
So, I'm cutting it off here.
A poor sequel to a decent book, and in the event this becomes a trilogy, rest assured, that book will be purchased and reviewed. And I will return to these two books as well for a thorough series breakdown.
This is a doozy folks.Which is such a shame because in spite of its flaws, I loved the first book enough to wait (very impatiently, mind you) for the sequel. I thought it would finally reveal some important aspects to the first that were left hanging.
Aspects such as:
-
- What about Elsa's childhood friend Revan (something which was touched on, to be fair.)
- What about the
- How's Casa?
Most of these were either never discussed, or discussed quite poorly, in my opinion.
We never learn why Elsa's mother was sick, nor what caused it. Only that she is sick, and Veldana is keeping her alive. Okay, that's fine, but I would have been more interested if it was something scripted into their world to keep them from being immortal, or growing too independent, though we never learn if it is.
Revan appears. He shows up, talks about missing Elsa and feeling as if she's abandoning him, and then falls for Porzia. Yeah. That happens. He does have some decent dialogue though, describing his feelings in a pretty realistic way for a teenage boy.
The fake humans and how/ why Leo's family used them? Never brought up. Never even referenced in passing. There's not even a snippy line from the brother saying he made their servants take care of it, which could have really shown that he doesn't view them as people, but as pawns.
Oh, and the younger brother who actually died?
Casa? She's doing pretty fine - oh, never mind. She's gone completely and utterly insane since the last book, with such lackluster buildup I wrote an entire essay about it in high school for extra credit and took up four pages of notebook paper with my righteous fury over this character, whom I love deeply.
I went back through the entire series and poured over both books for almost an entire month trying to tie in Casa's descent into madness with the character presented in the first book. There is unfortunately, very little to show the change from an aloof, somewhat smug guardian who refers to the children as Progeny, and the character shown in book two, who ultimately is forcibly killed.
Not to mention the fact that the meaning I extrapolate from Casa was about the trauma of loss in multiple ways, over how small losses of things important to you can build up until you are finally so hurt that the only option is to go a little bit mad; and the fact that the book portrays Casa as a villain, instead of someone who has been traumatized by the events in the first book including the break in, the hacking, and the loss of multiple children who left, is horrifying to me. Not to mention the idea presented that the kindest thing that Gia and Alek could do for Casa was to kill her, rather than to rehabilitate and to heal those wounds, made me sick to my stomach.
It's a terrible lesson in any book, and it's a terrible lesson here. Because it's not just implied that they are killing her, they openly state what they are doing is effectively killing her, as it cuts her off from the world entirely.
There's also Leo's older brother Aris who is a hot mess and whom I harbor only the worst intentions for. Let's go over a list of things he does that make me despise him, shall we?
- He does not believe service staff to be people, and treats them poorly, to a disgusting degree.
- Kept his youngest brother trapped in a maze in a book, alone for years, with no real explanation to said brother.
- Cheats on his best friend (granted it appears to have been a crush on the friend's end) with Elsa, a 17-year-old girl, while in his presumably 20's.
- Makes Elsa kiss him, and slowly takes over his younger brother's place as a side love interest. *barf*
- Designs a flying machine which breaks mid-air while he and Elsa are in it, on purpose to test her skills
- Uses the tracker in the bird creature to hunt a group of child refugees (who escaped from casa) because he wants to return his youngest brother to the book.
- And works with a fantasy fascist who wants to use a book to unify Italy, possibly leading to the brainwashing and free-will-erasing of hundreds of thousands of people. (This also ends up summoning an eldritch being from the depths of the ocean but that's kind of a footnote honestly.)
The Oracle:
What is wrong with using a cool oracle in your story? Not much in theory, I've done it (story still a work in Progress) however this Oracle doesn't feel very authentic. It exists solely in a worldbook, and the book only exists to house the Oracle.
It's implied this is the original copy of a book which is thousands of years old, and that it has been lost to time, which is strange considering they just find the book, as opposed to going on a big hunt to look for it.
When asked about the future it practically tells them an eldritch being will come into play by stating it will boil the seas and sully the skies (something to that effect, but very blatant code for eldritch beings) and the only real thing that happens is Elsa assumes "loosing what is precious to you" means her mother, nothing else. She also threatens to burn the book and kill it, and it's rightly horrified, but this means nothing to the Oracle in the long run, because it just continues to help her and her friends along whenever they need it.
I'd enjoy it more if the Oracle had a full personality, even if we never saw it entirely, and the Oracle was easily slighted and offended, and had to be bartered with to help once Elsa offends it by threatening its life. It would feel like a real character instead of a plot-contrivance designed to push the story along by giving characters hints. It feels like Gwendolyn realized she'd written herself into a corner by not giving the characters enough clues, so she created the "clue-giver9000" to fix that.
The guy in the first book who rendered himself textual - doesn't really mean anything. He's never elaborated on, mentioned once or twice, and even the mention of being rendered textual is basic, and bland in my opinion. It's only ever mentioned as a reason to not be a fascist and try to unite all of Italy. As if the only reason that it's a bad idea is the fact that if they mess up everyone in Italy will be like him, though fascism is bad for other reasons besides that.
I once again fell hard and fast for characters who ultimately meant nothing, did nothing, and kind of were nothing. In this book, a common theme is the dislike/low opinions of service staff, which is insulting as a maid named Colette was the only character that I felt like could have been good. She is Elsa's personal maid while Elsa is held hostage at Leo's family's weird castle in the mountains (why a castle, why mountains? To make escape harder? The man who brought her here literally leaves about 1/2-3/4 through the book.) Colette only tells Elsa her name because Elsa asks, and it's supposed to be a touching moment in which we see Elsa as a hero for being the only person here to care about the service staff.
Though this comradery really only allows Elsa to travel through a backdoor in the kitchen to escape and then Colette fades from the story, never to be seen from or heard of again. Sorry Colette, you will be missed.
There is just so much going on that if I tried to gather my thoughts into a more concise list, I would be here all day, I've already spent almost two hours writing this review and I still feel like I'm missing details that are important to the story (and many, many that are not. Including Alek and his dead boyfriend, and how Leo's older brother is aware of the crush his friend has on him and manipulates him with those feelings of love, while also doing the same to Elsa.)
So, I'm cutting it off here.
A poor sequel to a decent book, and in the event this becomes a trilogy, rest assured, that book will be purchased and reviewed. And I will return to these two books as well for a thorough series breakdown.
April 6, 2019
I really loved this series. It was different from anything I have read in a while. The world was creative and inventive, offerings its own quirks and magic. It combined a new magical world with out own set back in historical Italy. It a pleasant treasure to read.
In the first book Ink, Iron, and Glass, as well as this one, Mist, Metal, and Ash, I couldn't get enough of the characters. Sure there was some drama (no YA series is complete without it) but they all just as lovable as in the first book. They all have quirks that makes them all unique and stand out. And their little nuggets of humor are refreshing and hilarious. The world is one I can't get enough of. I would give anything to be a scriptologist (however, sense I can't, I will have to settle for the next best thing -- being a writer). The book has a steampunk feel, while still being something completely different and special of its own. The only way to understand is to read the book for yourself.
My only problem with it is that the ending does give off the feeling of being a little incomplete. It is good, but at first I was confused as to whether there was supposed to be another one -- I am 99.9% there is not. I would have liked a little more time of "happy" end the end with all the characters, and a little more settling of relationships and friendships. It felt like there was still some loose ends that could have been wrapped up better. The ending is still triumphant and you know everything will be okay in the end -- not to mention that the epilogue is empowering for some of the characters -- but, like I said before, it still feels a little incomplete and possibly a little rushed. I still love the series, but I do wish there was a little more at the end.
All in all, it was a really good book, and a really good series. Totally worth the read. I have never comes across a fictional world quite like Clare's and it would be a tragedy to miss out on it. Enjoy.
In the first book Ink, Iron, and Glass, as well as this one, Mist, Metal, and Ash, I couldn't get enough of the characters. Sure there was some drama (no YA series is complete without it) but they all just as lovable as in the first book. They all have quirks that makes them all unique and stand out. And their little nuggets of humor are refreshing and hilarious. The world is one I can't get enough of. I would give anything to be a scriptologist (however, sense I can't, I will have to settle for the next best thing -- being a writer). The book has a steampunk feel, while still being something completely different and special of its own. The only way to understand is to read the book for yourself.
My only problem with it is that the ending does give off the feeling of being a little incomplete. It is good, but at first I was confused as to whether there was supposed to be another one -- I am 99.9% there is not. I would have liked a little more time of "happy" end the end with all the characters, and a little more settling of relationships and friendships. It felt like there was still some loose ends that could have been wrapped up better. The ending is still triumphant and you know everything will be okay in the end -- not to mention that the epilogue is empowering for some of the characters -- but, like I said before, it still feels a little incomplete and possibly a little rushed. I still love the series, but I do wish there was a little more at the end.
All in all, it was a really good book, and a really good series. Totally worth the read. I have never comes across a fictional world quite like Clare's and it would be a tragedy to miss out on it. Enjoy.
September 26, 2019
C'est le cœur serré que je dis adieu aux personnages de cette duologie : Leo, Elsa, Porzia et Faraz vont énormément me manquer. Leur amitié est l'un des plus beaux éléments de ce 2e tome et de la série en général.
L'action suit ici un rythme sans tambour battant. Les révélations s'enchaînent, tout comme les choix difficiles et l'on ne voit pas les pages défiler.
Les personnages secondaires du 1e tome comme Revan ou Aris prennent une importance considérable ici, pour des raisons totalement différentes. On assiste ainsi à un rapprochement entre Porzia et Revan, ce qui n'est pas pour me déplaire tandis qu'Aris est parfait en génie du mal torturé.
Par ailleurs, même si on connaissait déjà les motivations de Leo à la fin du tome 1, les nombreux passages de son point de vue m'ont ravis car ils permettent de mieux le comprendre.
En fait, la seule chose que je reprocherai à ce tome est un peu le manque de suspense : on se doute bien que le monde sera sauvé (même si l'on ne sait pas comment et à quel prix) et que cela sera (presque entièrement) dû à Elsa et ses pouvoirs de polymathe, Elsa qui m'a d'ailleurs plusieurs fois tapé sur les nerfs sans que je sache trop pourquoi.
Je lis très rarement des uchronies car c'est un genre que je connais peu mais cette série m'a donné envie de lire d'autres livres du même genre. En tout cas, une chose est sûre, avec cette duologie, Gwendolyn Clare, grâce à sa plume enchanteresse, s'est faite une nouvelle fan qui n'hésitera pas à investir ses deniers dans un autre de ses romans ou une autre de ses séries !
L'action suit ici un rythme sans tambour battant. Les révélations s'enchaînent, tout comme les choix difficiles et l'on ne voit pas les pages défiler.
Les personnages secondaires du 1e tome comme Revan ou Aris prennent une importance considérable ici, pour des raisons totalement différentes. On assiste ainsi à un rapprochement entre Porzia et Revan, ce qui n'est pas pour me déplaire tandis qu'Aris est parfait en génie du mal torturé.
Par ailleurs, même si on connaissait déjà les motivations de Leo à la fin du tome 1, les nombreux passages de son point de vue m'ont ravis car ils permettent de mieux le comprendre.
En fait, la seule chose que je reprocherai à ce tome est un peu le manque de suspense : on se doute bien que le monde sera sauvé (même si l'on ne sait pas comment et à quel prix) et que cela sera (presque entièrement) dû à Elsa et ses pouvoirs de polymathe, Elsa qui m'a d'ailleurs plusieurs fois tapé sur les nerfs sans que je sache trop pourquoi.
Je lis très rarement des uchronies car c'est un genre que je connais peu mais cette série m'a donné envie de lire d'autres livres du même genre. En tout cas, une chose est sûre, avec cette duologie, Gwendolyn Clare, grâce à sa plume enchanteresse, s'est faite une nouvelle fan qui n'hésitera pas à investir ses deniers dans un autre de ses romans ou une autre de ses séries !
July 7, 2025
Well, that was an adventure. It was a pleasure to read, mostly because I loved the puzzle-like world-building and magic. SUCH a cool concept. Unfortunately, between the endless pity-parties that weren’t really my thing, and all the male characters being confined to being either clinically insane, feminine, or gay, I’ll probably not be buying this series.
If you don’t mind two sets of side characters being implied gay in the background, then I would recommend this series, though. It really is well-written. The cast of characters are all a mostly loveable mess, as I put it in my review for the first book. And Skandar the mini-kraken is the best lol.
SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
One character is Islamic; only shown once, through him praying, in this book. The fantasy-magical hamsa from book 1 shows up again.
ROMANCE/SEXUAL ELEMENTS
Main romance is clean. Just some fairly non-descriptive kissing this time. Two sets of side characters are gay couples.
SUBSTANCES
Mentions of alcohol. I don’t think anyone got drunk in this one, though.
LANGUAGE
Minor swearing. God’s name taken in vain a few times.
VIOLENCE
Typical of what you’d find in a YA fantasy.
OTHER
Just in case there’s people who care: more lying (the whole plot is built around deception and characters hiding things lol), and a faked romance between two characters while both are already supposedly in love with someone else already.
If you don’t mind two sets of side characters being implied gay in the background, then I would recommend this series, though. It really is well-written. The cast of characters are all a mostly loveable mess, as I put it in my review for the first book. And Skandar the mini-kraken is the best lol.
SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
One character is Islamic; only shown once, through him praying, in this book. The fantasy-magical hamsa from book 1 shows up again.
ROMANCE/SEXUAL ELEMENTS
Main romance is clean. Just some fairly non-descriptive kissing this time. Two sets of side characters are gay couples.
SUBSTANCES
Mentions of alcohol. I don’t think anyone got drunk in this one, though.
LANGUAGE
Minor swearing. God’s name taken in vain a few times.
VIOLENCE
Typical of what you’d find in a YA fantasy.
OTHER
Just in case there’s people who care: more lying (the whole plot is built around deception and characters hiding things lol), and a faked romance between two characters while both are already supposedly in love with someone else already.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews