whimsydearest

I'll start off this review by saying that I really adored the first two book in the series. Lostetter crafted fascinating villains and a really unique emotional-based magic system. However, my enjoyment for the third book, The Teeth of Dawn , was muddled by some bizarre narrative choices. I'm kind of baffled here. First off, the beginning of the book introduces us to a futuristic version of the world and a new set of characters that feel more like they belong more in a separate spin off series than the final book. In fact, I feel like the overall cohesion and pacing of the story would’ve worked better if these POVs had been removed entirely. Then when we actually do get back to our already established characters, apparently three years have passed since the happenings of the second book. The time skip felt jarring to me and really broke the continuity of the story. Overall, I feel like this book suffered from a lack of focus. It's the core characters of Krona, Thibault, and...

It's been two years since I first read  The Helm of Midnight  by Marina J. Lostetter, and, as I started reading its sequel,  The Cage of Dark Hours , I was reminded once more how much enjoyed this series’ world--where people can buy and sell their emotions, time is a currency, and death masks retain their former owner's skills. However, while the first book dealt with a serial killer, in this one, Krona is investigating the disappearances of babies as she grapples with the death of her sister. It’s truly an emotionally-driven fantasy that artfully explores grief and trauma alongside a compelling cast of characters. Plus, it has a cult, twisty, turvy conspiracies, and plenty of scheming to go around. Overall, I found it a fantastic follow up with well set-up revelations. Honestly, it felt so satisfying to watch the plot’s puzzle pieces all fall into place, and I can’t wait to read the final in the trilogy. Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Books, for providing me with an ARC in...