spoilerish musings for the next book: if the blood circle was cast by someone related to T, but not to I, that leaves only a few options: if C cast it, then she is not who she says she is. however, if B cast it, does that mean we've been told who T's father is? ( )

3.0 2 stars

Give me a mo' to order my thoughts.
Way too many notes, for starters. Never a good sign, that.

I liked the first half better than the later one.
The part in the desert better than the one at school.
I don't mind the cliff, but the ending... It could have done without Victorian romance "Oh Titus!" Meh. (It's not quite so bad, but you'll know what I mean if you read it)

I totally forgot the parentage bit. That was nice.

The whole Destiny thing? Too much drama, or is it 'not enough'?

I mean, normally you'd get all "I'm the hero!" and climb on a high horse (just a bit, at least) after the initial shock wears off. Then you'd get all panic-y ("I don't want all this deadly stuff!"). Then you grimly accept your Destiny and march on.

For me, it's just a matter of course (and common sense) to try and work around the limitations. I'd poke and prod and dig and research and obsess - until Destiny cries 'MERCY!' and unravels with a pitiful whimper. Or at least resigns itself to giving me some wriggle room.
Besides, come on! SEERS. Enough said. And no, I have nothing against seers, I just find them dubiously reliable.

The whole point of my mentality being completely different aside, I didn't like the way it was handled.

Then there's this Titus' magic bit. You know. I mean, research is fine and well, BUT WHO TAUGHT HIM? It's almost taboo!

Lady Wintervale was so conveniently mentally unstable. I know she's supposed to be (there's a good reason too). But it's NOT CONVINCING. Not the way it was presented.

I know they are teens, and in love (cue doves and cupids). I KNOW.
Okay, fine, I can bite the bullet in the middle of the book. But at the end? The very end?
"Oh Titus!", swoons.
No, it didn't happen QUITE like that. But comes close.

Maybe I've read too much high quality Young Adult fiction with believable romances, maybe I'm too cynical (I don't think so; some parts were so darn cute I almost squealed; so it ain't that).
Maybe it doesn't click with the characters' portrayal

As the length of my review indicates, there were things I had problems with. But overall it's a rather engaging read.

I will read the last book (oh the cliff, how do await I Resolution) but only because I want to know how things turn out in the end.

There's still lots of room for improvement. ( )

Not going to bother with a review for this, but I read it in one sitting ( )

liked the way it was written. two different story lines and two different places. ( )

I CANNOT CONTAIN MY FEELS. THIS BOOK. THIS.FREAKING.BOOK.

I am wrecked in the best way. Everything about this book was pretty darn awesome. Characters continued to develop and grow, and the plot...oh my gosh...it's getting so crazy but so good! Questions were answered, things were revealed, and more questions were posed.

I loved every minute!

And now begins the year long wait for book three. Excuse me while I go curl up in a ball of feels. ( )