It has been two years since I first read this second book. And I seem to have forgotten several details. So rude. And I may have loved it even more this second time that I read it. Sigh. I am just so fully in love with this world and these sisters and their stories. I am even more desperate for book three. Not long to wait now.
This time I'm not writing such a long review, for real now. As I'm not sure what to write at all. I had forgotten many of the smaller details, despite also remembering all of it. And oh, how much I loved reading this book this second time. Maybe more than the first time I read it. The writing was, as always, perfect. So good.
I am trying so hard not to go back and read my review from two years ago. I do not want to get distracted. So I may write some of the same things. Oh, well. This book takes place right after A Crown of Ivy and Glass ends. But this time we get to read from the point of view of Farrin. The oldest of these three sisters. And she is so very much different from Gemma. And while I still love Gemma the most, I started loving Farrin even more this second time. She is more grumpy and less sweet. Yet she has such a big heart. And I do relate to her a whole lot as well. Farrin is a whole lot of broken. Yet strong, having had to run their house for so many years pretty much by herself. Farrin does not have much love in her life. And she deserved all of the love in the world.
There is so very much that I could write about this book. But I am going to try to keep it short. So I shall just mention some of my favorite things. But not all of them, as that would take forever, haha. I honestly just love these books so very much. I am so excited to finally get to read book three shortly, eee. I must know how it all ends, ack. These books are adult romance, telling the stories of three sisters in their early twenties. The romance is a big part, but there is so much story and magic and so much else. I love it all.
One of my favorite parts was the world created. I so loved reading more about it and learning all of the secrets. I love the fantasy part of this place. I love the pieces of magic. Most of all I love the three sisters of this story. Gemma and Mara and Farrin. They are not as close as they should have been, as they were when they were children. Things came between them. But they are now getting close again, which I loved reading about so much. And their love for each other was just the best. I loved all three of them together.
This second book belongs to Farrin. She was a complicated woman. Yet I loved her to pieces. It takes a little while for her to open up. And she is full of dark thoughts and feelings. She has no love for herself at all. Which is so sad and depressing. But she is trying. Somewhat. And there is love around her. There are people who care about her. Which was the best. Farrin needed all the love. And I love how she got better at it. Well, mostly. She overreacted a bit at a secret near the end of the book. That hurt. But was needed.
Another complicated thing was the relationship between Farrin and their father. He was such an idiot. And I still do not like him at all. I just cannot. But she loves him. Well, she tries to. He doesn't make it easy. He got better at the end of the book. And I do hope he continues to get better. But even so. He wasn't a nice person, honestly. But Farrin tried her best. I loved that about her. I loved how she took care of everything. But she needed a break as well. This book was a lot about Farrin. With her learning more about herself.
I'm not sure where to begin with the plot. There is too much of it. Something was happening from the very beginning to end in this second book. And I am not going to share about all of it. Farrin spends a lot more time with the Basks. Especially with Ryder. He teaches her to fight. Which I loved. He was so obviously in love with her. It took her a little longer to realize it. But oh, how much I loved them together. Ryder was a huge man. A little wild. But so soft and gentle and loving with Farrin. I just loved that the very most. Sigh.
I think I did not love the romance as much the first time I read this book. But now, two years later, I loved it much more. Their love is more gentle, especially compared to Gemma and Talan. But their love is so very good, even so. It's slow, because Farrin is so unsure of herself. Yet she wants love so badly. And I just loved reading about them together. Sigh. We get some of Gemma in this book as well, although the focus is more on Farrin. And more of Mara too, and I simply cannot wait to finally get to know her better.
There is honestly so very much going on in this book. We get to see more of the Queen, Yvaine. She is somewhat going insane. And possibly dying. It's all such a mystery. Loved it so. I loved how Farrin and Yvaine were such good friends. I loved their small moments together. And I really loved reading about this queen and getting to know her more. The sisters visit a place called Wardwell. Which messed with my head a little. Unsure how I feel about it. So very interesting, though. Some secrets about their mother.
There was a scene with a Harpy, that also bothered me. It was so dark. Yet kind of excellent too. Oops. It made me even more excited for Mara's story. Yet nervous too. I hope to love her very much. Then there was the place called Moonhollow. It is such a big part of this story, though we do not officially see it until closer to the end. And it was so dark and ohh. I loved every part of it. So exciting as well. I just loved this entire world. And these characters were the absolute best. I loved reading the story of Farrin and Ryder.
This whole second book was dark. Their world is falling apart. And they need to figure out why and then how they can save everyone. As people are disappearing. People they know and love. Which was pretty heartbreaking. But all kinds of exciting. I wanted to know what was going on. Especially the ending was so thrilling. So much was happening at once. And then it ended. How rude. I need to know what happens next. So very excited for the final book in this series. It is going to be the best one, I think. I love them all.
Of course I forgot to mention the firebird. So now I'm writing about it when I had almost finished putting my review together. I could of course not talk about it. But I have to mention it. As this firebird was both awesome and creepy. Maybe a friend, maybe an enemy. Her name is Ankaret. And oh, I loved getting to know this bird on fire so very much. Full of secrets. Full of magic and power. I loved trying to figure out if she was actually helping Farrin or maybe trying to kill her. Both could be true, ha. Such a great character.
I have already written way more than I was going to. Sigh. That always happens. Yet there is very much that I did not write about, that I probably could have. Just, oh. A Song of Ash and Moonlight was all kinds of wonderful. Such an excellent second book. With a thrilling story and a lovely romance. I so love these sisters the most. And this story is honestly so exciting. And so dark at times. Shudders. I love it so much. I can't wait to see how it all ends. You really need this series in your life as well. Claire is the best author.
