dnf. the writing is solid and i can see why so many people love it, but honestly, it’s just not for me. i’m finding it really slow and like there’s not much actually happening plot-wise. i usually need a little more momentum or tension to stay hooked, and this one feels too quiet for my taste.

i have so many thoughts. what i really appreciated about this book is how it shows racism and prejudice in those “everyday” ways. the excuses, the little comments, the silence when someone should speak up. that’s what made it so uncomfortable to read at times, because it felt very real.

tom’s character drove me crazy. people constantly brushing off his behavior as “accidents” just didn’t sit right with me. he’s not some clueless kid, he’s a grown man who knows what he’s doing. it says a lot about how white supremacy quietly protects itself.

plot-wise, i would’ve never guessed that twist in a million years. and the ending… i honestly don’t even know how to describe it. it just left me sitting there, not sure what to feel.

one thing i really loved though was zain and jamie’s friendship. it was such a nice, genuine bond in the middle of such a tense story, and i kept rooting for them the whole way through.

not the easiest read, but definitely one that’s going to stick with me.

i honestly have mixed feelings about this book. the ending was really satisfying, but getting there felt way slower and not as engaging as gilded. the writing was fine, but sometimes i couldn’t really picture what the author was going for, like parts of the world just weren’t fully there.

i’ll be real, i almost dnf’d a couple of times. not just because the pacing dragged, but also because of all the animal/monster cruelty. it was rough to get through, and i wasn’t expecting a ya book to be that gory. but i’m glad i stuck with it, because the last stretch was definitely the strongest part and wrapped things up nicely.

the characters though… i wish they were fleshed out more. the side characters especially felt kind of forgotten. erlen (gild’s sister) could’ve been such an interesting addition but barely had any presence. the erlking (who did get more backstory this time) and perchta felt like they could’ve been way more layered.

the romance between serilda and gild was another thing. i really didn’t like how insta-lovey it was in gilded, but in this one it felt more natural and grounded. still not a fan of them as a couple, but i was happy that they got their happy ending.

overall, it was darker, slower, and definitely harder to push through than gilded, but the ending made it worth it. not a new favorite, but i don’t regret reading it. honestly, i think this duology could make a really great movie adaptation. the dark fairytale vibes would translate so well on screen.