Micaela Pierce

After a stunning debut with Fourth Wing, this series continues to disappoint. Onyx Storm relies on Xaden and Violet's romance to carry it but repeats scenes and dynamics without developing the plot or either character. Sadly, both characters are reduced by their relationship and it subsumes all the complexity we loved about both of them. Xaden's personality becomes entirely about his obsession with Violet; his prior motivations to the marked ones - all the things that made him an interesting independent character- are superseded.

Violet's inner monologue about their relationship is obvious and cringeworthy. It's all telling and no showing- with none of the subtlety that is intriguing for a reader. It also quickly devolves into the overprotective male trope so common in fantasy... I may be alone in this but I think we can do better. Is it too much to ask for some complex, mature, real-life relationships?

Violet and Xaden pull their ‘power card' again and again throughout the book and fail to demonstrate any real leadership, ingenuity, maturity, or coalition-building. The casual arrogance from Xaden especially feels childish and petulant. Violet plays the ‘reluctant leader' unconvincingly. Others in supposed positions of power act indignant but helpless.

In so many other areas, this book has potential but fails to deliver. I wanted more development for side characters like Jessina, Ridoc, Aaric, and Bodhi, but the side characters are almost completely neglected until Yaros abruptly changes to multiple POVs at the end of the book narrated by characters the reader can barely remember. The emotion in these scenes feels unnatural and flat without any character development to anchor it earlier in the book. I would have loved multiple POVs and expanded storylines earlier in the book, but it feels rushed and inconsistent dropped in at the end.

The plot has so much potential intrigue- we meet an order of priestesses with Violet's hair, fascinating second signets start to emerge, the Irids make an appearance, we learn more about the Venin's power, Aaric is clearly has a mysterious role to play, and Violet's dad leaves her a literary mystery and isn't who he seemed. And yet somehow none of these plot threads have any satisfying development or connection.

Will be rooting for Rebecca to recover this series in the remaining books with better character and plot development. Hopeful that we can move past dragging out Xaden and Violet's romance and give some other characters a chance to shine.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book given mixed reviews but I loved it! I also read and loved the Shepherd King duology and would say this series felt less gothic to me, despite the gargoyles.

Speaking of gargoyles- Bartholomew carries this book. I laughed out loud so many times at his grammatical misunderstandings and paradoxical wisdom mixed with naivety. SUCH a great character. I have a tender spot in my heart for him.

I also really loved Rory and Sybil and their relationship. Hard cringe on the last name Myndacious… but otherwise I found him to avoid the worst of the standard male fantasy tropes. After a short-lived period of being ‘enemies’ based mainly on feeling judged by each other, I loved how their relationship opens up. Their flirtation and chemistry stays charged throughout!

Worldbuilding was really fun with the cast of Omens who believe themselves to be Gods… or so we think. Interesting commentary on religion and beliefs through Sybil’s abrupt disillusionment with the truths she grew up in.

I loved the female bonds at the beginning of the book and wish this could have continued!

Very fun read and can’t wait for the next one!

Such a delicious second installment to Curious Tides! Stranger Skies delivers with even more intriguing, eccentric, imperfect characters and more delightful unraveling of mysteries.

The Characters

- Baz really comes into his own in Book 2 after coming to terms with some shocking realizations about his past and making peace with his Dad. With Emory off-screen, he gets his own main character energy this book. He finds himself at exclusive parties, is embarrassed to realize he’s starting to garner attention (kind of), and competes in the school’s infamous Bicentennial tournament. His surprise at his own rebelliousness, wonder at his power as he delves deeper into timeweaving, deepening relationship with Kai, plus his quirky traits like his meticulous coffee brewing make for THE BEST introvert hero arc.

- Emory finds herself back in a dynamic she’s grown out of when she’s reunited with Ro. It’s complicated but also satisfying to see our girl stand on her own. Her Tidecaller powers have some interesting interactions with the ley lines in new worlds and she enlists The Shadow to help her navigate them.

- If you loved Kai’s counterbalance to Baz in the first book- sarcastic, dark, witty, nonchalant, and impetuous, you’ll love him even more once you start to see some of his inner darkness and vulnerability in Stranger Skies.

- The side characters are also great… Nisha and Virgil are now team Eclipse, we meet Aspen in the Wychwood, and Vera is as badass as ever and along for the intergalactic ride. Emory’s mom makes an appearance and we’re thrown into the wild world of enigmatic Cornelius Clover in his glory days.

The Magic System

- The magic system evolves in such a satisfying way in book two. We enter the realm of the dreamworld or the ‘in-between’ space, the Wychwood where witches scry, and the Wastes where dragons are being tortured. Kai and Baz start to unravel unexpected truths about everyone’s favorite childhood novel and author. The Shadow makes his debut… suffice it to say, Emory is intrigued, we are intrigued and everyone is confused, but more than a little enthralled.

Plot

- The most delightful part of this series is the unexpected twists and turns in the plots. Heroes and villains are constantly turned on their head, childhood stories are not what they seemed, and history and myths are all up for questioning, more than ever in this second installment. Mysteries planted in the first book continue to connect and evolve and the constantly shifting debate of who has the moral high ground (the heroes, the gods, the Tides, the Shadow) continues.

The romances continue to keep us guessing but we finally get some satisfying match ups in Stranger Skies!

- Even though it mostly happens off-page, one of the best plot developments in this book is Jae starting to recruit and train a cohort of Collapsed Eclipse including a questionable murderous reanimator who brings people back from the dead. Hoping we get to see more of this in Book 3.

Anxiously awaiting the final installment! This is definitely one of the best series I’ve read this year.

I’ve loved so many books by V.E. Schwab but I can’t say I loved this one. So much of the book is spent telling the story of Sabine’s life who is wholly unlikable. I tried to appreciate her for her enigma, her crafty navigation of the world, and her sultry independence, but found her predominant qualities were always selfishness and indifference.

I think the only characters I felt drawn to were Matteo and his lover in Venice. I could have read a book about their story.

The whole story feels told from a distance… I never found myself caring about the characters or really feeling anything at all. The swaths of time it covers and the multi-generational cast of characters remind me a little of the narration from 100 Years of Solitude - poetic, but not gripping.

This is mystery for non-mystery lovers. You really don’t have a chance at predicting the outcome so you can enjoy just letting it unfold and the satisfaction of Anna’s savant powers of deduction in the reveal.

The dry and bizarre banter between Anna and Din is as engaging as ever and the world building is unique and fascinating. I find it interesting that the whole world is built around these leviathans but yet they never really enter into the story (at least not alive). Just a funny quirk- the setting is fantastic nonetheless. Perhaps the fact that they remain formless and unknown adds to the enigma.

The mystery is thrilling and made even more intriguing by seeing Anna up against the obsessive, brilliant, maniacal auguries. I found the auguries and their creation story so fascinating! Even better are the hints we get at Anna’s origin story and Din’s growing concern about its implications.

I feel we’ve only gotten a sliver of this world and its altered mysteries! Can’t wait for more.