If you read my review for This Savage Song, you'll know that I have mixed feelings about Schwab's writing style. I find it both riveting and... boring at the exact same time. You may be wondering how is that possible? And my only way to respond to that is I have no freaking clue. Well, I felt the same about this book as I did the last couple Schwab's books I read. I couldn't put my finger on whether I was bored or extremely intrigued with the plot line. That's just how the story works.
Still, I loved seeing where Kate and August went after the events in This Savage Song. Kate quite literally went somewhere else, to another whole city, while August went somewhere different mentally. Doing the hard things so that other people don't have to.
Again in this novel, these two characters offer such an interesting contrast to each other, except for this time, the roles seemed to have been flipped. Kate seems to be (slightly) more hopeful, and optimistic, while August has left that part of him behind.
I really don't know how I felt about this book. I didn't love it, but I thought I did at some points, but I definitely don't hate it, despite the fact that at some points in time, I had no trouble just putting the book down and away. I think that's just what Schwab's writing does for me.
On that note, I also am not sure how I feel about how the story really played out either. Yeah, it provides an interesting story... But while some parts of the plot felt rushed and hurriedly hashed over, others felt arduous, like they'd never, ever end.
I think the most interesting part of this story would have to have been the relationship dynamic between Kate and August. I just love how they interact and think of each other. They're what I really had no mixed feelings about for this book. I love these characters, and they'll stick with me for a long time.
As far as conclusions go, this story is far from the worst, it's just not the best, either. I'd give this book a... 6.9/10 stars. Not quite a 7, but definitely not a 6. If you've already started the books, then why not finish them? I felt basically the same way about this book as I did about the first so... Yeah. If you liked the first then read the second. It you didn't? Then don't read it.
Sorry if this review was unhelpful
Synopsis:
THE WORLD IS BREAKING. AND SO ARE THEY.
KATE HARKER isn't afraid of monsters. She hunts them. And she's good at it.
AUGUST FLYNN once yearned to be human. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.
THE WAR HAS BEGUN.
THE MONSTERS ARE WINNING.
Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting—one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons.
Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within?
SPOILERS BELOW
When Kate and August finally met... i was so excited. That was what I had been waiting the entire book for! Also can we just comment on how Kate's fake last name was Gallager? Cause AWWW. Yeah, there's a bit of a controversy over the bit of romance in the book, some people loved it, while others didn't. I didn't actually mind the romance, I thought they'd make a good pair other than the fact you know, August would always kind of want to steal Kate's soul...
Well... On to the ending. I'm a bit disappointed that Kate died, but I'm very happy that a part of her will always live on in August. I think that's a pretty cute idea. Though, I am disappointed that we never got any closure on her friends in Prosperity, or I should say how they never got any closure on her. They might think her dead, or they might think she just decided to never come back... And that makes me sad. It's realistic, but sad all the same.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
Anj