Jay Kristoff
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+
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DISCLAIMER: This review might contain spoilers for Nevernight due to the nature of this being a sequel. You can read a review for Book One, here.
Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.
When it’s announced that Scaeva will be making a rare public appearance at the conclusion of the grand games in Godsgrave, Mia defies the Church and sells herself to a gladiatorial collegium for a chance to finally end him. Upon the sands of the arena, Mia finds new allies, bitter rivals, and more questions about her strange affinity for the shadows. But as conspiracies unfold within the collegium walls, and the body count rises, Mia will be forced to choose between love and revenge, and uncover a secret that could change the very face of her world.
Review
The Cover
Kerby Rosanes nailed it, didn't he? Just look at the detail on Eclipse's fur, the helm with the plume, the cat that isn't a cat. All of it. I just want to keep looking at it. I want to keep drawing out every little detail and relaying it to the contents of the book. I think that's why these covers work. They are so simple, but for a UK cover are so detailed that it forces you to see it on the table, and on the shelf.
If Nevernight featured the red sun, and Godsgrave featuring the blue, my guess is that Book 3 will contain a certain golden sun. Completing the three sun's of Aa.
*flaps arms in fangirly mess*
The Content
Jay Kristoff, I fucking hate you. In the best possible way. You utter bastard.*
Last year in my Nevernight review, I wrote these words: "This book left me broken and hurt. A double edged blade- one side left you broken and crying, the other giggling long into the night." WEEEEEEEELL... Kristoff upt'd the anti.
I would take this as broad statement as to what the whole trilogy will equate to because boy, the sarcasm humour, the stabby stab parts, the brutal Roman influences, the quick shortening of breaths as I fail to reach the end of the page in less than a minute, all of it and more is why these books have stolen what is left of my wrecked heart.
These characters you will grow very attached to, very very quickly. Which is unfortunate as there is a tendency to GRRM them. If you catch my stabby-stab drift. I even have a fondness for a certain grumpy, old tough-nut cookie of a prick, that acts like an emotionless bastard, but like a cookie has a soft and warm centre. It seems that I have a weakness. Shit. They are authentic, and several layers of complications.
Plot? Think twists and turns, now add some 'what the fu-?!!' and a little flavouring of blood. Nope, not even close. That's just your starters. Main and pudding is to follow. Although if you're anything like Mia, you'll hand it to the dog.
Something that I really love about these books is the layers. (I promise, I won't do a shrek metaphor.) It's one thing to point out the complicated plot or characters, but one thing I really admire is Kristoff's narrative voice. Flashbacks, in balance with the present storytelling and then there is the footnotes which adds humour, musings and further world building. It's storytelling, at its best!
If you want a sequel that is more ruthless than the first, isn't afraid to be savage AF both killing and sarcasm-wise and you fancy practically shitting yourself every time you turn a page, then gentlefriends, this is the book for you.
Did this review make sense? Probably not.
Did the book leave laying on the floor, feigning death? You bet your silver cigarillo case.
*Okay, I might have been a tad harsh. I don't hate you. Just a current mild distrust and dislike.
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