aprildiamond's reviews
144 reviews

Even better than the first one, and the first one was already great.

My favorite thing about this series is the characters. Brian, Isabel, and April are new, but they integrate really well into the story. April is quiet, but delivers deadpan lines that are s o unintentionally funny. Brian is an interesting character with an interesting power, and I can’t wait to learn more about him. I don’t trust or like Isabel, but I also feel bad for her, but I also feel worse for Chloe, and this character complexity is so damn satisfying.
And the dynamics?? Chloe and Brian have, without fail, the funniest interactions ever. The chaos that is the grouping of Horace, Chloe, April, and Brian. Family dinner with Horace, Jessica, Chloe, Isabel, and Joshua which was a nightmare and ergo, highly entertaining. Neptune, Chloe, and Horace just trying to have a conversation while their brains were basically fried. Chloe’s torment over Isabel and her intentions. April wanting to be friends with Chloe and Chloe reluctantly doing so

Okay I loved Gargantis more than Malamander. Not that Malamander is bad, of course, but this one just had so much more.

Herbie and Violet absolutely sell their parts this time around. I was really confident in who they were and that was… not as prevalent in the first one, I guess? I think that allowed me to root for them a lot harder.

By introducing the conflict of the fishermen trying to capture Herbie, everything always seemed tense and the story moved faster, which I love. And the overarching mystery dug itself MUCH deeper, especially in some of those ending scenes. Like, I am READY to find out Herbie’s true backstory, how everything in the town connects, where Violet’s parents went, et cetera. Overall I think it was just way more interesting.

On that subject, the cliffhanger is kind of doing me in right now… need book 3 release date asap

A really fun sequel to Break the Universe! This book was a little more plot focused than the first, but the ending was similarly emotional.

4 star book, but 5 star ending scenes.

Overall not as great as the first two but close to the end it got wild again: Fusion, the Ro'ha, Paragons, meeting Falo, ISABEL!!, the Mothergates, the final scene in the Warren??!!, Joshua :(, the freaking Altari, honestly just everything was incredible.

this book is so god tier

1. Artemis dealing with his annoying younger self
2. the whole trial scene
3. the reveal when he falls into the pit at the end of the extinctionists' meeting
4. the absolute DROP in atmosphere when

Angeline says “LEP” and we all immediately know something’s wrong

5. time travel that actually answers more questions than it asks

uhhh... so you're telling me that i have to wait until SPRING 2021 for the next book? after that ending? the one that deconstructed my entire brain? wack

This book was kinda weird because it easily could have been the best of the series so far. Plotwise, it’s definitely the strongest. The slow crumbling of the main crew was executed perfectly. The set up of Wendel Whispers was great because it drew me, along with the characters, into the conclusion that he was the one from the Emerald Ring. The reveal of the real ventriloquist from the club was suitably wild. Theo’s internal conflict between his friends and his family, Mr. Vernon finally getting called out for his tendency to be dangerously mysterious, and the confrontation with Kalagan all round the story out to be the most interesting one yet.

But I was emotionally unfulfilled, I guess?
For some reason, the lack of consequences for bad decisions is one of my pet peeves. Like, for example, Theo bailing on the talent show the day of. Idk I just thought the others should have been a little more irritated than they were and there was just no resolution to it. Similarly, I was expecting Theo to confront his family about how they had been treating him. Honestly, they were kind of awful to him and at the end there was nothing like “oh hey Theo sorry we’ve been tearing you apart for being yourself” and I sorta needed that for my sanity. Thirdly, I understand why Mick and Emily did what they did, but again, no consequences. The things they did were still bad even if they had good intentions.

It was a good addition to the series, just not my favorite.

(but i am SO shook after decoding the secret message. i needed the 4th book yesterday.)

"You were never lost with me. Promise me you'll come back."

I think I've sufficiently recovered to finally write this review. But where do I even start?

So much happened this book, in relatively few pages. There are 4 really incredible battle/confrontation scenes, on par with the best of the previous books.
1) We learn just how much Chloe can do with her instrument while seeing her be a badass (once again)
2) How dedicated are Chloe and Horace to each other? Again, let's find out in one of the most dramatic ways possible
3) Oh, you thought Horace was always the planning guy? Think again. There's some incredible teamwork here. Also Joshua redemption arc finally. Also also, I SEE Y'ALL WITH THOSE MOMENTS

Another own voices mythology story, this time about Chinese mythology, and it's another hit! I love how books like this get me interested in the myths and I end up learning more about them on my own.

Favorite parts: I thought it was cool how basically all the stops on the quest were in different Chinatowns across the country. I also loved the characters and their arcs, especially Faryn. My younger self would have related to her a lot, both for her personality and for being a mixed kid (and the feelings of being out of place that come with that). The ending was also strong, with some good twists and a couple cliffhangers to set up the next book.

Really excited for the sequel so I can find out where the story goes!

4.5 stars

psa: stop sleeping on this book it's one of the best in the series! there's just so much chaotic energy