Even when she wasn't on her way to me.Their love story was so well-resolved in the first book that all the holes punched in it in this round felt so superficial. I was always on the way to Lena, even when I wasn't. I loved her, atom by atom, one burning cell at a time.Honestly, it really felt like they were just dragging the plot along with the mini-breakup scenes and the new hot-girl. because reasons.ģ) all-encompassing true love (well, until hot-girl #2 showed up). because reasons.Ĭastors and humans can't have sex (thus fueling a whole subplot and racketing up unnecessary tension on the whole will-they-won't-they). because reasons.Ĭastor magic always claims you on your sixteenth moon except for when it doesn't. Oh Lena doesn't love you anymore and wants to bang a complete stranger. Wowee!Ĭase and point: Oh, a big final battle? Zero chance of survival? Here's your second cousin great aunt twice removed who just so happens to be uber-strong and can wipe the floor with the big bads. Suckas!Ĭase and point: Here's a clue no one in a million years could figure out? Would you look at that, your old senile aunt ISN'T actually senile - she's an expert in the obscure method needed to solve the clue. It just felt so convenient and lazy.Ĭase and point: Ancient magic designed to repel anyone attempting to break in? AHA! The ancient folks forgot to safeguard against the garden sheers.

The sheer amount of well-timed coincidences drove me mad. This book was just chock-full of 1) coincidences, 2) because reasons and 3) all-encompassing true love (well, until hot-girl #2 showed up). It was (mostly) a fun read but every time I started to get into this one, I'd run into one of my pettiest pet peeves. Big Puddle of Meh Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed (parts) of this one.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia