reka111's reviews
261 reviews

I've tried this massive book several times over the years, but I never managed to finish it, and now, by some miracle, I did it.  

I can still only say that GRRM is not where he is and he is not for nothing. Everyone knows about the world of ice and fire, this is something that will be just as interesting centuries from now as it is now. After the series, I was extremely interested in seeing the original events. Rhaenyra isn't a saint and Alicent isn't a meek little woman with no power (just to say a few e. g.), so I hope — and believe — that the animated series about the conquerors will be better.

Maybe next time

Okay, you've got me me, I can't go on, it's just TERRIBLE. 

The writing is incredibly awful, FMC is terribly annoying, MMC gets a little credit, but he doesn't get much either. Both are completely empty and utterly unrealistic. I don't have a problem with the theme itself, I think it was bold that the author chose this and put it bluntly lively, but it was harder to execute for her. 

PS; why is Core's rape only mentioned when Dean ALSO went through it? It doesn't make any sense. 

Still not for me

First reading: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Second reading: ★ ★ ★ ★
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I still love this book incredibly. It was the book that pulled me into the world of crime and, frankly, it holds a very important place in my heart. 

Jude was an incredibly strong and tenacious, endlessly broken and tortured, but still lovable protagonist. She had strange things that were interesting at first, but by the end I understood why she behaved the way she did, and no one could be expected — even from her — to act and think normally after everything that happened. Uriah, my light, gave so much and asked so little. He is extremely deserving of the world and everything in it. He and Jude go well together, complementing each other like Jing and Jang. I loved their journey together. 

The plot started slowly, and although it didn't engage me as much, I still liked how events connected at the end. I liked that there were diverse characters and that there were often funny scenes, which helped a lot to abstract the reader from all the horrors because yes, this book was brutal, it's not for those with weak nerves. The wording — I have never read it in the original language — may have been the translator's fault did not appeal to me as much, but I would not call it so terrible. The ending is well concluded, a light moment after a proper emotional boost and tension.

Not now.

Well, I don't know, I wasn't particularly hooked and impressed, but I liked the flashbacks, I almost cried over Lia - my sweet girl deserves so much better.

I am glad - I am extremely pleased - that everyone is well;

Celine has become an agent, Sloane, Michael and Dean are studying for become one, and Lia and Cassie are living their lives. Briggs and Sterling got married (again) and their twins were on their their way. Laurel heals and begins to open up.

In short, the family is complete and everyone is — pretty much —  find its own peace and purpose.

And that was more than enough for me. Aye. 

Please, I loved this. I just loved every line so much, I can't tell you. It pains me terribly to have to say goodbye to this series — this series that has given me so much — but I know that everything happens for a reason and nothing lasts forever, but it will stay with me, in my heart, in my soul. Forever and ever. 

Every character has come an awfully long — infinitely long — path, and frankly, they're still not at the end, and they all (especially Cassie and Sterling) need to heal from all of this. But I know they will succeed together because they are a family — even if they wouldn't admit it. They protect each other's backs and care for each other as much as they can. They all deserve peace and rest, perhaps more than anything.

Cassie was so strong and for so long, it's incredible. She survived everything fate threw at her and never stopped licking her wounds, she kept pushing forward and yet, after everything, her heart was still in the right place. I hope she finds the comfort she need, she suffered too much, it's time to her for live. 

Dean was a bit sidelined, but that's okay, this book was Cassie's. As much as I love him terribly, he has worse days, he has weird things, but je wouldn't be like his father, he would never be like him. Perfect for Cassie, perfect for each other. That's a fact. 

Laurel, my dear little girl, is the corner of my heart, my everything. She's been through so much, so many things she doesn't understand yet — but once she grows up she will — it's incredible. My heart bleeds for her and because of her, I know Nonna (Cassie's grandmother and maybe Judd) will take good care of her. It's so strange — maybe that's the right word — that she's kind of a link, the closing of a circle.

She has not one, but two sisters (Cassie & Veronica) who I hope and believe will genuinely try to take care of her and show her what real life is like.

Michael and Lia are complex, perhaps that's the right word for them, they went through a lot of trauma when they were kids, and they are still able to laugh and live. They are simply perfect for each other, they deserve each other very much. 

Sloane, my girl, has done so much, so infinitely much, and they're finally starting to see her. I love her so bad that I can't tell you that, if she were my friend I would definitely talk to her all day long. Celine was new to me and I still really need to get used to her, but she's neutral for now

(She is Michael's sister — which is still woah)

anyway I'll give her time. 

Veronica has survived so much that it's incredible. But really. My hearts bleeds for her. She was my favourite all along, I love her personality and the fact that she was always there for everyone, I feel like she's finally starting to open up to the world, albeit cautiously.

She is not her father's daughter. She could be never become a monster.

Briggs my man, he's so tired, my poor guy has done so many laps for them and done so much for them, it's unbelievable. He deserves a holiday, far away on an island, away from them for a couple of days haha. 

Lorelai. Gods so much has happened to her — it looks like it's already running in family huh — I'm so terribly sorry she had to go through all this, no one deserves this. She was tortured and held captive for years — she even had to give birth to a child — she became a monster herself in order to survive, and yet, at the end, at the last moment, she sacrificed herself for her daughters for the last time. She has always defended them with all her remaining strength, and it's just so tragic. I hope she finds peace in the afterlife.

The plot was twisted, exciting, full of action (everything missing from the third book). I really liked that everyone was finally working and fighting to really solve the case.

(Although I foresaw — unfortunately, it's my fault — that Director Sterling would be one of the masters, the fact that Laurel is her daughter honestly surprised me.)

Its pace only slowed down occasionally, but it was fast anyway, and I really liked that. So by the end I got used to the wording, but I won't say I liked it. The end was a roller coaster, an endlessly rough roller coaster, but I survived. 

All in all; This series was everything I needed. I highly recommend it to those who liked “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson, almost certainly they will like this too. I don't even understand why everyone is silent about this, honestly, it's a wonderful book series. I would definitely like to read it again once in the future.

Okay, I suffered throughout the book. I felt like nothing was happening, it was definitely a setback from the previous two books, BUT THE END. Good Lord, my jaw is on the ground.
I don't really want — and cannot — talk much about the book, but I would like to mention a few things.

My dear, only Sloane deserves better, much, much better. She fought so hard, fought so much, and in the end everything was in vain. My heart bleeds terribly for her and because of her, and I hope — I wish — that she swill find peace because she desperately needs it.

Cassie and the others were in shape, Michael scared me for a moment (and then Briggs too), but overall, I'm glad they were there and helped the best of their ability.

Okay, so let's talk about Veronica — aka Sterling — being HAUNTED by her past.

First her kidnapping and then the loss of her friend (Scarlett)

, I just can't understand that how she hasn't broken yet, I can't.

Oh Judd, my god, I sobbed for him, so infinitely that I thought I would never stop, he deserved so much, so much better than that. And this;

“Briggs saved my life.” Judd forcibly shifted his eyes away from the man in the picture and turned to look at me. “He saved me, the day he brought me Dean.”

SHATTERED ME. KILLED ME. GUTTED ME. I just can't.

The plot wasn't great, I think it was a bit long this time — unnecessarily — and boring. The pace bothered me this time because, as I said, it was very slow and only at the end did the action start. The ending is simply woah. The wording still not my favourite.