Synopsis
The heart-pounding conclusion of the Dance of Thieves duology.Kazi and Jase have survived, stronger and more in love than ever. Their new life now lies before them- the Ballengers will be outlaws no longer, Tor's Watch will be a kingdom, and Kazi and Jase will meet all the challenges side by side, together at last.
But an ominous warning mars their journey back, and they soon find themselves tangled in a web of deceit woven by their greatest enemies and unlikeliest allies, a place where betrayals run deeper and more deadly than either had thought possible, and where timeless ambitions threaten to destroy them and everything they love.
Loved
- Okay I'm still obsessed with Kazi and Jase. Even more so in this book than in the first! I said this in my review of Dance of Thieves, but their relationship seems more mature than those of many other YA novels. They have both had so many layers of secrets and deceptions, but they are willing to forgive each other and work through their pasts. I love that they are both so accepting of each other's perspectives and pasts, and they want to understand each other's fears and dreams. I love how the vows they've made to each other are precious, and they both do everything they can to keep them, including being tortured, being in prison, getting hit with arrows, and being willing to sacrifice themselves for each other so many times. I love how fiercely they love each other, but I also love their banter and playfulness. I love that they trust each other completely, communicate well, and never doubt the other even when the stakes are at their highest. I kept expecting them to doubt each other and have miscommunication problems, but they just trusted each other, which was VERY refreshing.
- The plot twists! Wow this had some awesome plot twists with unlikely villains, and even more unlikely heroes. This story was much more plot-thick than the first, so we didn't get quite as much of Kazi and Jase's relationship, but we still get to see them develop through the fast-paced plot.
- The loyalty. I just love the Ballenger family and how they are so loyal to each other, and although they make mistakes, they learn to forgive each other. I love that most of the characters are fiercely loyal and will do anything to sacrifice for each other.
- The intensity! There were so many times where my heart was pounding and I had to fly through the sentences to make sure everyone was safe :) The whole book is very intense with its fear of the villain and the terrifyingly high stakes. This isn't a story where they can sit around and plan a perfect battle- they have to trust their instincts, make on-the-fly crucial decisions, and pray (literally) that they are doing the right thing and that everyone will make it home each day.
- Kazi's strength. I adore both Kazi and Jase. I feel like in this book, Kazi's strength is very highlighted. She endures pretty much every horror that could be inflicted on her, but she never breaks. She constantly thinks quick on her feet, makes crazy plans in the moment, and every decision she makes is for the safety of other people. She just constantly amazed me with her selflessness, drive, and strength. I also loved how she let people know if they hurt her, but she was also willing to work with them and forgive them. (Let's hear it for assertive communication instead of aggressive or passive aggressive, which is what we see too much of in stories). It's refreshing to have a character who is so strong, fierce and smart, but also very compassionate, selfless, and willing to forgive.
- I talked about this with Dance of Thieves too, but I just loved seeing the characters from the Remnant Chronicles. Seeing them with their families and having everyone united together just warmed my heart and *may* have brought a few tears. I just love getting closure for everyone after they've all been through so much- old and new characters alike.
Didn't Love
- Like Dance of Thieves, I completely devoured every word of this story, and I have very few complaints!
- It's always a little disturbing to me when people can slice off someone's head, kill someone with a scalpel, or stab someone and not blink an eye afterward. I wish the characters showed some reaction to killing so violently, but I guess many of them were just trained that way, especially Kazi, Wren and Synove who are trained as soldiers.
- The main villain in this story was terrifying and very interesting. However, I was surprised at how similar he is to the Komizar in the Remnant Chronicles. I felt like they were both dark, brooding, extremely narcissistic, and supposed to be somewhat sexy. The relationship between Lia and the Komizar and Kazi and this villain were extremely similar, and it felt word-for-word in some scenes. I wish they would've been more unique, but it didn't keep me from biting my nails in every scene and dying to know what happens!
Content
- Language:
- Quite a few uses of damn, hell, ass, and bastard.
- Also curses from the Remnant world, such as "devil's hell."
- Sexual content:
- The two main characters are apart for much of the book, but they both remember times when they have been together, usually described as passionate kisses and flirty banter.
- When they are together in the book, they kiss, but not nearly as much as the first book (cause they don't have time!) The kisses are usually quick- in the middle of battle- but strong and passionate.
- There is a scene described where the two main characters kiss passionately. It is clear it is a sexual encounter, but described as him kissing under her ribs and all the way to her mouth. It talks about them whispering against each other's skin and "letting their hands explore."
- ***View spoiler at the bottom for more information about their relationship****
- One of the main female characters makes flirty comments full of innuendo, none of it graphic.
- One character shares a few passionate kisses with a villain, using the kisses as distractions to gain his trust. These are described as falling on the ground together, running hands through hair, and his hands pulling her waist toward him.
- The villain makes suggestive comments and gestures to this character, including having her wear a revealing dress, and running his hands up her legs while searching for something he believes she took. He implies the search "gives him pleasure." While she is delirious, he kisses her, pretending to be someone else to get information.
- Violence:
- Like I said before, the Remnant world is vicious, so there is A LOT of violence. There's quite a bit more violence in this book than in the first.
- There are many descriptions throughout the book of characters being beheaded, stabbed, punched, choked, and shot with arrows. These are usually described with where they are stabbed, with mentions of blood "spurting" or "gushing" out.
- One character gets shot with five arrows and pain is described from the injuries.
- One character is killed with a scalpel.
- Many characters are killed by being beheaded with swords.
- There are new weapons in this story called launchers. They are like powerful guns and can cause mass destruction. There are many battles with the launchers. In one explosion, 200 people are killed. Mentions of bodies and descriptions of their injuries.
- Quite a few characters are hanged, with descriptions of their bodies and faces as they are hanging.
- One main character is tortured by being bitten by poisonous dogs. She is also stabbed, starved and beaten.
- One character is thrown off a tower and there are mentions of her broken body.
- Many detailed descriptions of sword/fist fights, usually ending with one of them being stabbed with a dagger.
- The characters go into an underground tunnel where hundreds of people died and were fossilized as they died with horrified expressions. One character is trapped in this room and dies.
- Basically A LOT of violence.
- Quite a few uses of damn, hell, ass, and bastard.
- Also curses from the Remnant world, such as "devil's hell."
- The two main characters are apart for much of the book, but they both remember times when they have been together, usually described as passionate kisses and flirty banter.
- When they are together in the book, they kiss, but not nearly as much as the first book (cause they don't have time!) The kisses are usually quick- in the middle of battle- but strong and passionate.
- There is a scene described where the two main characters kiss passionately. It is clear it is a sexual encounter, but described as him kissing under her ribs and all the way to her mouth. It talks about them whispering against each other's skin and "letting their hands explore."
- ***View spoiler at the bottom for more information about their relationship****
- One of the main female characters makes flirty comments full of innuendo, none of it graphic.
- One character shares a few passionate kisses with a villain, using the kisses as distractions to gain his trust. These are described as falling on the ground together, running hands through hair, and his hands pulling her waist toward him.
- The villain makes suggestive comments and gestures to this character, including having her wear a revealing dress, and running his hands up her legs while searching for something he believes she took. He implies the search "gives him pleasure." While she is delirious, he kisses her, pretending to be someone else to get information.
- Like I said before, the Remnant world is vicious, so there is A LOT of violence. There's quite a bit more violence in this book than in the first.
- There are many descriptions throughout the book of characters being beheaded, stabbed, punched, choked, and shot with arrows. These are usually described with where they are stabbed, with mentions of blood "spurting" or "gushing" out.
- One character gets shot with five arrows and pain is described from the injuries.
- One character is killed with a scalpel.
- Many characters are killed by being beheaded with swords.
- There are new weapons in this story called launchers. They are like powerful guns and can cause mass destruction. There are many battles with the launchers. In one explosion, 200 people are killed. Mentions of bodies and descriptions of their injuries.
- Quite a few characters are hanged, with descriptions of their bodies and faces as they are hanging.
- One main character is tortured by being bitten by poisonous dogs. She is also stabbed, starved and beaten.
- One character is thrown off a tower and there are mentions of her broken body.
- Many detailed descriptions of sword/fist fights, usually ending with one of them being stabbed with a dagger.
- The characters go into an underground tunnel where hundreds of people died and were fossilized as they died with horrified expressions. One character is trapped in this room and dies.
- Basically A LOT of violence.
Overall Thoughts
Okay I just completely adored this duology. I'm writing this a week after finishing Vow of Thieves and I still have a book hangover. I miss Kazi and Jase and the Remnant world! I've said this before, but I didn't completely love the Remnant Chronicles as much most people seem to have loved it. But this duology just hit the spot for me and I completely devoured it whole. Even if you didn't love the Remnant Chronicles, this has quite a different feel and it's definitely worth giving it a shot. It just seems to have the perfect blend of action, banter, swooniness, mystery, deception, and then add Kazi and Jase on top and it's perfect :) Definitely one of my new favorite series!
***** SPOILER********
*********************
*********************
We find out later that Kazi and Jase have been married throughout the book. It is never implied that they had any sexual encounters before they were married.
Comments
Post a Comment