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Drowned Gods #2
Stranger Skies
Ninth House meets The Hazel Wood in this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling dark academia fantasy Curious Tides, following Emory, Baz, Romie, and Kai on their desperate quests through space and time!Opening locked doors has a price—even for those who hold a key. After going through the door that called to them both in dreams, Emory and Romie find themselves in the the same verdant world written of in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit a twisted, rotting version of it. A sinister force has awoken with their arrival, intent on destruction as it spills across realms, and now Emory and Romie must stop it before it reaches their own shores. Meanwhile, Baz and Kai are desperate to follow their friends through the door to other worlds, but a mishap pulls them back in time instead—where they come face to face with Cornus Clover himself, famed author of Song of the Drowned Gods. Stuck together in the past, they must navigate a very different Aldryn as they unravel the school’s darkest secrets. Across time and worlds, Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai find their fates eerily interwoven with the heroes from Clover’s book. But when stories can’t be trusted, friendships are put to the test, and deadly enemies are not always as they seem, they must decide who gets to be a hero—and who is desperate enough to see themselves become a villain.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2024
About the author
Pascale Lacelle
3 books627 followersPascale Lacelle is a French-Canadian writer from Ottawa, Ontario. A longtime devourer of books, she started writing her own at the age of 13 and quickly became enthralled by the magic of words. After earning her bachelor’s degree in French Literature, she realized the English language is where her literary heart lies (but please don’t tell any of her French professors that). When not lost in stories, she’s most likely daydreaming about food and travel, playing with her dog Roscoe, or trying to curate the perfect playlist for every mood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
Want to read
February 8, 2024OH MY GOD ITS BEEN AN HOUR AND I AM STILL STARING AT THAT COVER! IT SO BEAUTIFUL!
-I honestly can not wait for this because book one was so good....
-I honestly can not wait for this because book one was so good....
November 17, 2024
➸ 5 stars
this book was actually insane! i’ve never been more blown away by a book than i was with this one. it was beyond amazing and, dare i say, better than the first book!!
pascale lacelle’s writing is so utterly gripping; beautiful in a way that has me appreciating each and every word that is woven into this story. everything has a meaning, everything has a purpose. this world is so intricately crafted in an otherworldly way, my imagination went wild and i pictured everything in this so clearly in my mind. the worldbuilding went beyond anything i could’ve ever expected as well as the magic. it’s insane. i truly have no words.
the plot twists were absolutely insane and there were so many things i never would have seen coming that had my jaw drop every. single. time. the revelations, the executions!!!! genius. absolutely genius. down to the very last page.
the characters?! oh my god i am in love with how they are written and their stories and each of their dynamics with each other. the complexity, the growth, the friendships!! and the emotion?!!! oh my god don’t even get me started!! everything is amazing. i didn’t like emory in the first book (for obvious reasons) but she has grown so so much from the person she was in book one and it was amazing seeing her growth through this! i love her. her friendship with virgil is one of my absolute favorites! and baz!! he’s one of my favorite characters ever!! i feel so seen in his character and his development was an absolute joy to have been able to read about. baz and kai?! oh my gosh they are everything to me!! the new characters?! i can’t wait to see more! romie had me screaming at my kindle tho, i still don’t like her!
my ship happened in this and i am SOOOO HAPPYY!!!! i was literally jumping up and down from excitement when, after so long, it finally happened! tears were in my eyes! the slow burn burned so good and the wait was so worth it oh my god i will never shut up about how much i love them!!!
anyways, this book was EVERYTHING and i am absolutely amazed at what pascale has created. i am so beyond excited for book 3 and will be waiting patiently for the final book in this story; i’ll think about this book and everything that happened in the mean time because it’s simply something i will never forget!
(sidraeus is hot, had to say it heheehhehe)
-
thank you so much to simon & schuster for the advanced readers copy!
this book was actually insane! i’ve never been more blown away by a book than i was with this one. it was beyond amazing and, dare i say, better than the first book!!
pascale lacelle’s writing is so utterly gripping; beautiful in a way that has me appreciating each and every word that is woven into this story. everything has a meaning, everything has a purpose. this world is so intricately crafted in an otherworldly way, my imagination went wild and i pictured everything in this so clearly in my mind. the worldbuilding went beyond anything i could’ve ever expected as well as the magic. it’s insane. i truly have no words.
the plot twists were absolutely insane and there were so many things i never would have seen coming that had my jaw drop every. single. time. the revelations, the executions!!!! genius. absolutely genius. down to the very last page.
the characters?! oh my god i am in love with how they are written and their stories and each of their dynamics with each other. the complexity, the growth, the friendships!! and the emotion?!!! oh my god don’t even get me started!! everything is amazing. i didn’t like emory in the first book (for obvious reasons) but she has grown so so much from the person she was in book one and it was amazing seeing her growth through this! i love her. her friendship with virgil is one of my absolute favorites! and baz!! he’s one of my favorite characters ever!! i feel so seen in his character and his development was an absolute joy to have been able to read about. baz and kai?! oh my gosh they are everything to me!! the new characters?! i can’t wait to see more! romie had me screaming at my kindle tho, i still don’t like her!
my ship happened in this and i am SOOOO HAPPYY!!!! i was literally jumping up and down from excitement when, after so long, it finally happened! tears were in my eyes! the slow burn burned so good and the wait was so worth it oh my god i will never shut up about how much i love them!!!
anyways, this book was EVERYTHING and i am absolutely amazed at what pascale has created. i am so beyond excited for book 3 and will be waiting patiently for the final book in this story; i’ll think about this book and everything that happened in the mean time because it’s simply something i will never forget!
(sidraeus is hot, had to say it heheehhehe)
-
thank you so much to simon & schuster for the advanced readers copy!
Want to read
February 16, 2024Fine! Take it 🫳🏻💸
November 27, 2024
THE ONLY PERFECT DARK ACADEMIA YA FANTASY SERIES TO EVER EXIST
ughh it was so good and written so perfectly and amazingly
the writing is just GORGEOUS and the aesthetic is so whimsical, i had to make a pinterest board for it!!
ngl i kinda saw some of the plot twists coming and i swear pascale, if emory has a romance with the 5000-year-old-god-demon-sid-something-boy-dude in the next book i will be ranting about it
i was really rooting for emory and baz but the constant reminders of emory just using baz in the last book did NOT do her justice (she's lowkey annoying now 😭 but i still sort of love her)
the chapters were also short and perfect but i hated romie's POVs (not a fan of her personally)
the cliffhanger at the end was crazy
and now the next book probably won't come out until a yeeear
i need answers NOW
overall this was perfect
(there's got to be a buzzfeed quiz to see which lunar house im in 🙏)
-------------------------
pre-review
Rtc after exams 🫶
ughh it was so good and written so perfectly and amazingly
the writing is just GORGEOUS and the aesthetic is so whimsical, i had to make a pinterest board for it!!
ngl i kinda saw some of the plot twists coming and i swear pascale, if emory has a romance with the 5000-year-old-god-demon-sid-something-boy-dude in the next book i will be ranting about it
i was really rooting for emory and baz but the constant reminders of emory just using baz in the last book did NOT do her justice (she's lowkey annoying now 😭 but i still sort of love her)
the chapters were also short and perfect but i hated romie's POVs (not a fan of her personally)
the cliffhanger at the end was crazy
and now the next book probably won't come out until a yeeear
i need answers NOW
overall this was perfect
(there's got to be a buzzfeed quiz to see which lunar house im in 🙏)
-------------------------
pre-review
Rtc after exams 🫶
Want to read
July 14, 2024A boy with a very public birth chart who would turn back time for you. A girlboss who flew too close to the moon and can't swim...
Excited to see them again!
Excited to see them again!
November 5, 2024
3.75 ★
First off, the cover is really pretty! Although I found the first book mediocre (rated it 3 stars), I was still somewhat invested in the story and wanted to see what happens next after the cliffhanger ending in book 1.
Chapters were short, which I love because I read this really slowly (took like 3ish weeks on and off) and they make it easier to get through (the book length was intimidating too, almost 600 pages). The author did well in smoothly dropping some information of the important events that happened in the first book without appearing info-dumpy, which personally helped me a lot because I didn’t really remember much about what happened previously, and these little tidbits helped in jogging my memory.
New POVs were introduced— Romie and Kai! They did help me gain more insight on their characters, however, I liked reading about Kai more than Romie (the reason I’ll get into next).
The book is dual structured, with two plotlines running parallel to each, eventually intersecting at the end. Emory and Romie’s chapters were about them travelling across the different worlds of Clover’s story Song of the Drowned Gods, while Baz and Kai’s chapters were about them ending up 200 years back in time. Like the previous book, I found this one to be slow moving as well— Emory and Romie’s chapters were boring at times. I was more interested in Baz and Kai’s storyline, and part of it has to be because the author did an amazing job writing the romantic tension between the two.
The romance subplot between Baz and Kai was so good! The slowburn was burning, and I ship them so hard (I hope they’re end game and nothing happens to them), they’re my OTP of this series. I feel they have more chemistry than Baz and Emory— something about the way how Baz and Kai’s friendship slowly transforms into a romance just gets me. I stand by that the transformation of their relationship was really well written, and I might not remember much from book 1, but I do recall feeling the tension between them then as well (though it was more subtle).
Clover lowkey reminded me of Professor Slughorn from Harry Potter; they’re both a “collector” who surround themselves with individuals they deemed talented or interesting and host parties to gain the connections.
The backstories of the main characters for each tale from Clover’s Song of the Drowned Gods were an interesting touch and are good in gaining some context, but I did find them to be boring because it took me out of the story. Especially at the beginning when I just wanted to continue from where we left off in book 1. I mainly skimmed these parts a little, but they were a fun addition alongside the story.
Regardless, I’m excited to see how the story will conclude in book 3!
🌅 I won a print ARC of this from Simon & Schuster and still decided to leave a review out of my own volition! <3
———
just received an arc of this in the mail!! (can't believe I won another giveaway from simon & schuster *insert keyboard smash*)
First off, the cover is really pretty! Although I found the first book mediocre (rated it 3 stars), I was still somewhat invested in the story and wanted to see what happens next after the cliffhanger ending in book 1.
Chapters were short, which I love because I read this really slowly (took like 3ish weeks on and off) and they make it easier to get through (the book length was intimidating too, almost 600 pages). The author did well in smoothly dropping some information of the important events that happened in the first book without appearing info-dumpy, which personally helped me a lot because I didn’t really remember much about what happened previously, and these little tidbits helped in jogging my memory.
New POVs were introduced— Romie and Kai! They did help me gain more insight on their characters, however, I liked reading about Kai more than Romie (the reason I’ll get into next).
The book is dual structured, with two plotlines running parallel to each, eventually intersecting at the end. Emory and Romie’s chapters were about them travelling across the different worlds of Clover’s story Song of the Drowned Gods, while Baz and Kai’s chapters were about them ending up 200 years back in time. Like the previous book, I found this one to be slow moving as well— Emory and Romie’s chapters were boring at times. I was more interested in Baz and Kai’s storyline, and part of it has to be because the author did an amazing job writing the romantic tension between the two.
The romance subplot between Baz and Kai was so good! The slowburn was burning, and I ship them so hard (I hope they’re end game and nothing happens to them), they’re my OTP of this series. I feel they have more chemistry than Baz and Emory— something about the way how Baz and Kai’s friendship slowly transforms into a romance just gets me. I stand by that the transformation of their relationship was really well written, and I might not remember much from book 1, but I do recall feeling the tension between them then as well (though it was more subtle).
Clover lowkey reminded me of Professor Slughorn from Harry Potter; they’re both a “collector” who surround themselves with individuals they deemed talented or interesting and host parties to gain the connections.
The backstories of the main characters for each tale from Clover’s Song of the Drowned Gods were an interesting touch and are good in gaining some context, but I did find them to be boring because it took me out of the story. Especially at the beginning when I just wanted to continue from where we left off in book 1. I mainly skimmed these parts a little, but they were a fun addition alongside the story.
Regardless, I’m excited to see how the story will conclude in book 3!
🌅 I won a print ARC of this from Simon & Schuster and still decided to leave a review out of my own volition! <3
———
just received an arc of this in the mail!! (can't believe I won another giveaway from simon & schuster *insert keyboard smash*)
December 6, 2024
I really loved book one and became obsessed with the magic system, so I was not expecting book two to be even better, but I think it was! I rated both five stars though. New magic system components and new characters are introduced, weaving seamlessly into that which we already had exposure to. Emory and Romie find themselves in the world of Song of The Drowned Gods after going through a door in their dreams. They must stop a destructive force that awakens after their arrival, if they wish to save their own world. Baz and Kai, wishing to follow them to this other world, attempt to follow through the door but get pulled back in time instead. They come into contact with the writer of Song of The Drowned Gods himself, Cornus Clover. So we have different realms, as well as time travel going on! Fates are intertwined, friendships are tested, and heroes and villains are made. I am, once again, completely blown away by both the writing and the world. Lacalle is an incredibly gifted writer, able to deliver a captivating story in such beautiful and descriptive prose. I just adore the way she writes! And on top of that, the world and magic is unique. It's a dark, lush, magical world that is original and compelling. I think it's hard to come up with something new these days and I feel like Lacalle totally delivers that. I am entranced entirely by this series so far and cannot wait for the next installment!
September 17, 2024
Back again... and ✨️WOW✨️(again)
Stranger Skies was (and I hate this word but....) unputdownable.
While some of us are back at Aldryn College, some of us are somewhere we still can't believe is real, on the other side of the door in the Wychwood.
Following the call, Romie has made it to the other side of the door, the same door from Song of The Drowned Gods, and surprise! Emory has made it too! But while they paid a steep price to get here, there is still more demanded.
Baz and Kai, are determined to reopen the door and find the girls, and with things getting bad back at Aldryn, they don't have much time. They need to save their friends, but they also need to get justice for Eclipse born, and fast. But when they do find a way, things don't go exactly as planned, and they find themselves not in another world, but another time.
This absolutely stunning sequel to Curious Tides takes place again over multiple points of view, allowing us to follow our full cast through time and worlds as they race against the clock, and darkness, to save their worlds and magic.
I absolutely love the depth to this series, taking complex concepts and tackling them in an honest and real way, even in a world so clearly beyond ours. The absolutely stunning weight of grief and fear faced in the sleepscape and the portrayal of it's toll on both those whom the experience belongs to and those who support them and pull them out. The equal parts pain and joy of a growing and evolving friendship as new experiences illicit feelings of not just joy and pride, but shame, jealousy, and hurt. And the raw truth of falling in love, not just the butterflies, but the fear, uncertainty, missed and misread emotions and rejection.
This book was so much more than I anticipated. We knew the story Song of The Drowned Gods was going to be a main plot line, but the absolute thrill (as a story lover) to see our characters fates intertwined with their own story's characters was incredible. What I was not anticipating was that our most unreliable characters would be the messengers of the Gods themselves, and how torn we would be at what truly is "Dark" and what is "Good".
Pascale Lacelle has done it again and I will 100% be here again day 0 for book 3 if the publisher will have me again! Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Stranger Skies was (and I hate this word but....) unputdownable.
While some of us are back at Aldryn College, some of us are somewhere we still can't believe is real, on the other side of the door in the Wychwood.
Following the call, Romie has made it to the other side of the door, the same door from Song of The Drowned Gods, and surprise! Emory has made it too! But while they paid a steep price to get here, there is still more demanded.
Baz and Kai, are determined to reopen the door and find the girls, and with things getting bad back at Aldryn, they don't have much time. They need to save their friends, but they also need to get justice for Eclipse born, and fast. But when they do find a way, things don't go exactly as planned, and they find themselves not in another world, but another time.
This absolutely stunning sequel to Curious Tides takes place again over multiple points of view, allowing us to follow our full cast through time and worlds as they race against the clock, and darkness, to save their worlds and magic.
I absolutely love the depth to this series, taking complex concepts and tackling them in an honest and real way, even in a world so clearly beyond ours. The absolutely stunning weight of grief and fear faced in the sleepscape and the portrayal of it's toll on both those whom the experience belongs to and those who support them and pull them out. The equal parts pain and joy of a growing and evolving friendship as new experiences illicit feelings of not just joy and pride, but shame, jealousy, and hurt. And the raw truth of falling in love, not just the butterflies, but the fear, uncertainty, missed and misread emotions and rejection.
This book was so much more than I anticipated. We knew the story Song of The Drowned Gods was going to be a main plot line, but the absolute thrill (as a story lover) to see our characters fates intertwined with their own story's characters was incredible. What I was not anticipating was that our most unreliable characters would be the messengers of the Gods themselves, and how torn we would be at what truly is "Dark" and what is "Good".
Pascale Lacelle has done it again and I will 100% be here again day 0 for book 3 if the publisher will have me again! Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
November 22, 2024
i am speechless about the ending and you best believe a review is coming soon, prolly tomorrow !!!! i was screaming “no no NO NO” at that ending like 😭 this book was incredible
November 6, 2024
I struggled getting through this one, especially the second part. I felt like there was a lot going on, but it progressed slowly. I'm not sure all the elements were needed for this story. The author added an element of time travel while exploring new worlds. I'm wondering if it would have been better to push some of the elements from this novel into the first one. I think there was a better starting off point. I like the characters, but I'm not completely won over by them. I'm not sure how much I'll actually get to see of my favorite character based on where they end up at the end of this one. I didn't love this one, and I'm not sure I'll continue the series.
September 21, 2024
I am OBSESSED!
So glad I reread Curious Tides before jumping into this one because I needed a refresher. I was slightly worried how this one would be after it was announced that this series is turning into a trilogy vs a duology. This book is most definitely NOT a filler book, but so much more expansive in the world building and the magic!!!!
Even though it has not properly been released yet, I cannot WAIT for the third book to be announced!!!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for ending me an ARC! I am forever grateful for receiving one as this is one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2024! (And it absolutely lived up to my expectations!
So glad I reread Curious Tides before jumping into this one because I needed a refresher. I was slightly worried how this one would be after it was announced that this series is turning into a trilogy vs a duology. This book is most definitely NOT a filler book, but so much more expansive in the world building and the magic!!!!
Even though it has not properly been released yet, I cannot WAIT for the third book to be announced!!!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for ending me an ARC! I am forever grateful for receiving one as this is one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2024! (And it absolutely lived up to my expectations!
November 7, 2024
Ok phew..let me catch my breath..that was an insane ride. If “don’t look away you will miss it” feeling is a book, it’d be this one! with a mad dash plot and twists constantly that constantly fire off before you could take a breather. If it isn’t apparent, I am saying I loved the book. I think I loved it more than the first book which is always a good sign, you better buckle up before you start this chunky adventure because it’s definitely worth it. Now if you are a patient person you’d reread Curios tides before jumping in(actually recommend it), but my fellow impatient readers like me fear not! The author did a great job of including key details from the first book smoothly without making it feel redundant to bring us up to the speed
The multiple POV- adding Kai and Romies’s made a world of difference for me, it expanded the world on itself allowing me to get perspective from these characters. That being said I thought the author did a brilliant job expanding the world even further, while it continues to be intricate I devoured it. It is narrated in two time lines which was super fun to read! the friction between Romie and Emory felt so realistic with how their friendship takes a hit after the events that take place in the previous book
Kai and Baz time go on a time traveling trip to 200 years the past meeting more wonderful characters(mostly) to fall in love with while Emory (my fav shade of grey) Romie traverse the different worlds mentioned in the previous books, there were more new characters introduced via them that I absolutely enjoyed reading about. The two timelines and the simultaneous plots happening in them would converge towards the end making sense of the plot as a whole. While undoubtedly it’s complex, I thought it’s pulled off quite well
There are quite a few twists and turns, you might see some while others might completely take you by surprise. There were times I felt pacing was off specifically with Romie/Emory's POV's.However, I really ended up enjoying the sequel and looking forward to the next book obviously but next time I think I’d have to reread this book in order to continue haha because it’s a lot to remember till then.
The multiple POV- adding Kai and Romies’s made a world of difference for me, it expanded the world on itself allowing me to get perspective from these characters. That being said I thought the author did a brilliant job expanding the world even further, while it continues to be intricate I devoured it. It is narrated in two time lines which was super fun to read! the friction between Romie and Emory felt so realistic with how their friendship takes a hit after the events that take place in the previous book
Kai and Baz time go on a time traveling trip to 200 years the past meeting more wonderful characters(mostly) to fall in love with while Emory (my fav shade of grey) Romie traverse the different worlds mentioned in the previous books, there were more new characters introduced via them that I absolutely enjoyed reading about. The two timelines and the simultaneous plots happening in them would converge towards the end making sense of the plot as a whole. While undoubtedly it’s complex, I thought it’s pulled off quite well
There are quite a few twists and turns, you might see some while others might completely take you by surprise. There were times I felt pacing was off specifically with Romie/Emory's POV's.However, I really ended up enjoying the sequel and looking forward to the next book obviously but next time I think I’d have to reread this book in order to continue haha because it’s a lot to remember till then.
Want to read
December 17, 2024Paused on page 231.
July 26, 2024
Dark fantasy god tier!!!
Dark fantasy + portals + time travel + original story + a unique magic system + gods + ghosts + monsters = a 5 star read!
The cliffhanger!!!
More people need to pick up this series.
Dark fantasy + portals + time travel + original story + a unique magic system + gods + ghosts + monsters = a 5 star read!
The cliffhanger!!!
More people need to pick up this series.
November 14, 2024
~ 5.0 Stars for this absolute masterpiece!!!
Pascale Lacelle, you are a literary genius and I do not say that lightly.
I absolutely loved Curious Tides, but Stranger Skies far surpassed my every expectation. It's easy to see the amount of work that went into writing this book. The web alone spreads out so wide I could never anticipate the author's next move. Every chapter seemed to end in a cliffhanger that haunted me if I didn't start the next one immediately.
The magic system alone is absolutely fascinating, and yet Lacelle creates three more worlds, all complete with their own unique magics that rendered me speechless. I was just in awe throughout this entire narrative at her sheer creativity. How did she do that?? Did she sell her soul to the devil??? (Let me know, please????)
Never have I read a book where I've found split POVs so necessary, yet Lacelle uses these to her advantage, truly stretching the story and portraying every possible angle imaginable. It's just so smart, like a puzzle forming all around you. By the time the picture was on full display, I was blown away.
And the aesthetics!! Somehow, this still weeps dark academia, no matter the setting. It's gloomy, it's alluring, it's just so damn spellbinding.
Look. It's really hard for me to review this without spoilers, and I think it's important to go into this blind. Let the artist work. If you love a multifaceted fantasy with a multitude of perspectives and extremely high stakes with a literal dreamy atmosphere, you'll love this.
Pascale Lacelle, you are a literary genius and I do not say that lightly.
I absolutely loved Curious Tides, but Stranger Skies far surpassed my every expectation. It's easy to see the amount of work that went into writing this book. The web alone spreads out so wide I could never anticipate the author's next move. Every chapter seemed to end in a cliffhanger that haunted me if I didn't start the next one immediately.
The magic system alone is absolutely fascinating, and yet Lacelle creates three more worlds, all complete with their own unique magics that rendered me speechless. I was just in awe throughout this entire narrative at her sheer creativity. How did she do that?? Did she sell her soul to the devil??? (Let me know, please????)
Never have I read a book where I've found split POVs so necessary, yet Lacelle uses these to her advantage, truly stretching the story and portraying every possible angle imaginable. It's just so smart, like a puzzle forming all around you. By the time the picture was on full display, I was blown away.
And the aesthetics!! Somehow, this still weeps dark academia, no matter the setting. It's gloomy, it's alluring, it's just so damn spellbinding.
Look. It's really hard for me to review this without spoilers, and I think it's important to go into this blind. Let the artist work. If you love a multifaceted fantasy with a multitude of perspectives and extremely high stakes with a literal dreamy atmosphere, you'll love this.
September 1, 2024
There were a few parts where it dragged, but I had the arc so they may be editted out in the finished.
So many more gods, so much more depth and plot building and SO MUCH ANGST and I loved it
So many more gods, so much more depth and plot building and SO MUCH ANGST and I loved it
November 19, 2024
4⭐️
wild and intriguing from start to finish with so many reveals and twists. this was a fantastic sequel, and i can't wait for the final book (whenever that will be)
wild and intriguing from start to finish with so many reveals and twists. this was a fantastic sequel, and i can't wait for the final book (whenever that will be)
November 27, 2024
I so badly want to love this series. But I have to face facts; it just isn’t for me.
The good stuff: The world building and magic system are well done and fascinating.
Now the other stuff:
The book felt too long. We have an excess of POVs, plus a complex plot and time jumps and… well, it was all a bit much.
In book 1, Romie and Emory were best friends. But here in book 2, they’re inexplicably at odds with each other. Both of their POVs bordered on intolerable. Neither one was the least bit likable in this book.
I listened to the audiobook, which has four narrators. Overall, it’s quite well done, but I do have to mention one thing that was an issue for me. One of the female narrators has a distinctly older voice, and it kept throwing me off when she was narrating a teenage girl’s POV. But this is my perception, and might not be a problem for anyone else.
*Thanks to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*
The good stuff: The world building and magic system are well done and fascinating.
Now the other stuff:
The book felt too long. We have an excess of POVs, plus a complex plot and time jumps and… well, it was all a bit much.
In book 1, Romie and Emory were best friends. But here in book 2, they’re inexplicably at odds with each other. Both of their POVs bordered on intolerable. Neither one was the least bit likable in this book.
I listened to the audiobook, which has four narrators. Overall, it’s quite well done, but I do have to mention one thing that was an issue for me. One of the female narrators has a distinctly older voice, and it kept throwing me off when she was narrating a teenage girl’s POV. But this is my perception, and might not be a problem for anyone else.
*Thanks to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*
October 30, 2024
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
If you have not read the first book in this series, Curious Tides, stop here. There will more than likely be spoilers for that book below. And you'll need to read that first book to understand what happens in this one.
Curious Tides was my favorite book of 2023. I will admit, when it was sent to me I was unsure I'd really want to read it. The length was intimidating but I also judged the book by its cover and it just didn't look inviting to me. Boy was I WRONG! Not only do I now love that cover, but I am in love with all the characters and the world Lacelle has built. It's a very unique magical system and the world building was amazing.
I was super excited to jump into this one seeing as the first one pretty much ended on a cliff hanger. I needed to know what happened to all the characters! This installment of The Drowned Gods series is full of action and adventure. It delves deeper into the magical system and gives a ton of history and background world.
This book is told from four points of view. Yep, two new POVs are added and I'm sure you can imagine that changed the story up quite a bit. Having Romie's POV really expanded how the story progressed. And we got a dip into Kai's POV at the end of the first book so I knew he was going to be included! Plus we still hear from Baz and Emory. It's great to watch the story unfold from all these characters who are complex, real, and very reliable. Do their emotions get involved? They sure do. But it brings just the right amount of drama and intrigue to pull the reader along. I loved seeing the two characters we got to know so well in book one through the eyes of their best friends. We're also introduced to a slew of new characters. One of which is the author of the story which started all the characters down the road of this story.
The romance takes a bit of a turn in this book. We did see it somewhat towards the end of book 1 but it ramps up much more in this book. And those you thought were pining for each other turns out to be a bit different than what we first thought. It's a very slow burn so if you're expecting it to pop out and be real early on, you're in for a surprise. Expect a build until things combust.
This book introduces time travel. Lacelle does a good job with is, as well. I'm always worried that time travel books will have too many complicated things happening and make it hard to understand but that is not the case here. I will say I was surprised at what was reveled by the characters who did travel. I was worried how it would alter the other timeline. The alternating time lines were easy to understand and keep up with. We don't really see the intersection of the timelines until the end, so I'll be interested to see how it plays out in the third book of the series.
Often times the second book of a trilogy suffers from middle books syndrome where the book becomes just filler to get you to the third book that wraps the story up. This is not that book. This book absolutely lends so much to the story. Especially because it explores more worlds than what we saw in the first book. It expands the universe so well. It gives more depth to the characters, plot, and world.
I loved the mystery and intrigue in this book. I will admit it was a long one. I am very intimidated by long books. I did have to take a few breaks. And I did find myself jumping back at times to make sure I understood what was happening as it did get complicated at times. And I love that Lacelle continued using the dark academia introduced int book one in this book. She doesn't take you away from that part of the book which really is so important to the overall story.
While I wanted to love this book as much as the first, I did feel the pacing was not quite as on point with this installment as the first. I struggled at times to understand some of what was happening. There was so much new stuff introduced, such a large expansion of the universe, I sometimes had a hard time keeping it all straight. This brought my rating down. But overall, this is a great continuation of interesting and unique lore with complex characters and time lines that keep you turning the page. Once again we're left with a cliff hanger which leave me wondering just how the author is going to solve the pickle these characters have gotten themselves into! Excited for the next book already!
4.5 stars
If you have not read the first book in this series, Curious Tides, stop here. There will more than likely be spoilers for that book below. And you'll need to read that first book to understand what happens in this one.
Curious Tides was my favorite book of 2023. I will admit, when it was sent to me I was unsure I'd really want to read it. The length was intimidating but I also judged the book by its cover and it just didn't look inviting to me. Boy was I WRONG! Not only do I now love that cover, but I am in love with all the characters and the world Lacelle has built. It's a very unique magical system and the world building was amazing.
I was super excited to jump into this one seeing as the first one pretty much ended on a cliff hanger. I needed to know what happened to all the characters! This installment of The Drowned Gods series is full of action and adventure. It delves deeper into the magical system and gives a ton of history and background world.
This book is told from four points of view. Yep, two new POVs are added and I'm sure you can imagine that changed the story up quite a bit. Having Romie's POV really expanded how the story progressed. And we got a dip into Kai's POV at the end of the first book so I knew he was going to be included! Plus we still hear from Baz and Emory. It's great to watch the story unfold from all these characters who are complex, real, and very reliable. Do their emotions get involved? They sure do. But it brings just the right amount of drama and intrigue to pull the reader along. I loved seeing the two characters we got to know so well in book one through the eyes of their best friends. We're also introduced to a slew of new characters. One of which is the author of the story which started all the characters down the road of this story.
The romance takes a bit of a turn in this book. We did see it somewhat towards the end of book 1 but it ramps up much more in this book. And those you thought were pining for each other turns out to be a bit different than what we first thought. It's a very slow burn so if you're expecting it to pop out and be real early on, you're in for a surprise. Expect a build until things combust.
This book introduces time travel. Lacelle does a good job with is, as well. I'm always worried that time travel books will have too many complicated things happening and make it hard to understand but that is not the case here. I will say I was surprised at what was reveled by the characters who did travel. I was worried how it would alter the other timeline. The alternating time lines were easy to understand and keep up with. We don't really see the intersection of the timelines until the end, so I'll be interested to see how it plays out in the third book of the series.
Often times the second book of a trilogy suffers from middle books syndrome where the book becomes just filler to get you to the third book that wraps the story up. This is not that book. This book absolutely lends so much to the story. Especially because it explores more worlds than what we saw in the first book. It expands the universe so well. It gives more depth to the characters, plot, and world.
I loved the mystery and intrigue in this book. I will admit it was a long one. I am very intimidated by long books. I did have to take a few breaks. And I did find myself jumping back at times to make sure I understood what was happening as it did get complicated at times. And I love that Lacelle continued using the dark academia introduced int book one in this book. She doesn't take you away from that part of the book which really is so important to the overall story.
While I wanted to love this book as much as the first, I did feel the pacing was not quite as on point with this installment as the first. I struggled at times to understand some of what was happening. There was so much new stuff introduced, such a large expansion of the universe, I sometimes had a hard time keeping it all straight. This brought my rating down. But overall, this is a great continuation of interesting and unique lore with complex characters and time lines that keep you turning the page. Once again we're left with a cliff hanger which leave me wondering just how the author is going to solve the pickle these characters have gotten themselves into! Excited for the next book already!
4.5 stars
October 29, 2024
✩┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄review✩•͙͙✧⃝•͙✩
Stranger Skies by Pascale Lacelle is an atmospheric and creative novel that follows Baz, Romie, Kai, and Emory. In this sequel, Lacelle expands the scope of the setting as our protagonists venture to different worlds. I found the multiple POVs to be confusing at points, especially when the author introduced readers to several new characters and places. The world that our protagonists come from wasn't explored as much as I wanted. It felt as if the world was limited to Aldryn College.
Through Baz and Kai's perspective, readers get to see Aldryn College 200 years ago. Cornus Clover and his sister, Cordie, added an intriguing element to the story. Against the backdrop of the past, Baz and Kai's relationship begins to blossom into something more. I love the progression of their relationship and the way they both grew as people. Their romance was beautiful.
Conversely, I found Romie and Emory's perspectives underwhelming. In the previous book, Curious Tides, readers learn that Emory and Romie were very close. In this book, such closeness is not that evident. Emory's character continued to disappoint. She made terrible decisions and disregarded other's emotions.
Despite my dislike of Emory, the book still had numerous positive aspects. Lacelle's vivid descriptions, detailed world-building, and unpredictable twists and turns make this book unique. The magic system continues to fascinate me. Overall, this is a great fantasy read with a captivating magic system and a huge cast of characters.
✩┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄quotes✩•͙͙✧⃝•͙✩
"It was the kind of rare moment where Kai dared to hope. When he imagined Baz finally reaching for the bruised, broken heart laid out in offering before him."
-Kai
"You intrigue me, Brysden. You always have, ever since I first stepped into that printing press nightmare of yours. You're not like anyone I've ever met. And maybe that's why I can't get away from you. Why I always end up in your mind like a damn moth to a flame."
-Kai
"And just so you know, there's nothing about you to decipher. I can read you like a Tides-damned book, Brysden."
"Is it a good book, at least?"
"The best."
-Kai and Baz
Stranger Skies by Pascale Lacelle is an atmospheric and creative novel that follows Baz, Romie, Kai, and Emory. In this sequel, Lacelle expands the scope of the setting as our protagonists venture to different worlds. I found the multiple POVs to be confusing at points, especially when the author introduced readers to several new characters and places. The world that our protagonists come from wasn't explored as much as I wanted. It felt as if the world was limited to Aldryn College.
Through Baz and Kai's perspective, readers get to see Aldryn College 200 years ago. Cornus Clover and his sister, Cordie, added an intriguing element to the story. Against the backdrop of the past, Baz and Kai's relationship begins to blossom into something more. I love the progression of their relationship and the way they both grew as people. Their romance was beautiful.
Conversely, I found Romie and Emory's perspectives underwhelming. In the previous book, Curious Tides, readers learn that Emory and Romie were very close. In this book, such closeness is not that evident. Emory's character continued to disappoint. She made terrible decisions and disregarded other's emotions.
Despite my dislike of Emory, the book still had numerous positive aspects. Lacelle's vivid descriptions, detailed world-building, and unpredictable twists and turns make this book unique. The magic system continues to fascinate me. Overall, this is a great fantasy read with a captivating magic system and a huge cast of characters.
✩┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄quotes✩•͙͙✧⃝•͙✩
"It was the kind of rare moment where Kai dared to hope. When he imagined Baz finally reaching for the bruised, broken heart laid out in offering before him."
-Kai
"You intrigue me, Brysden. You always have, ever since I first stepped into that printing press nightmare of yours. You're not like anyone I've ever met. And maybe that's why I can't get away from you. Why I always end up in your mind like a damn moth to a flame."
-Kai
"And just so you know, there's nothing about you to decipher. I can read you like a Tides-damned book, Brysden."
"Is it a good book, at least?"
"The best."
-Kai and Baz
Read
November 30, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Alcohol consumption
Pregnancy mentioned
Knife, sword & weapon violence including decapitation (monsters)
Blood, injury and minor body horror (necromancy, a secondary character being reborn after being buried alive, etc.)
Mentions of death from choking, strangulation, drowning, stabbing & explosions
Loss of autonomy (demonic possession)
Physical beating of a child recounted
Alcohol consumption
Pregnancy mentioned
Knife, sword & weapon violence including decapitation (monsters)
Blood, injury and minor body horror (necromancy, a secondary character being reborn after being buried alive, etc.)
Mentions of death from choking, strangulation, drowning, stabbing & explosions
Loss of autonomy (demonic possession)
Physical beating of a child recounted
November 10, 2024
This was such an easy 5 star read ✨ I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book and I loved that there were new complexities to the characters in the book and I enjoyed the new characters which were added. I loved reading more about the new gods and I feel as though this series is just going to grow from strength to strength.
December 7, 2024
This took a while to get through because it is one of the most complicated stories I’ve ever encountered. It is absolutely amazing- like you wonder how did someone create something to rich and vast?!! I said Curious Tides had one of the most unique magic systems Ive ever encountered and this took it to a whole other level- it was incredible- the complexity and unpredictably are next level. A true literary wonder- I would genuinely put it in the same league as Tolkien, CS Lewis and Philip Pullman- Absolutely 💯 recommend this series! I need to know how it ends!
Want to read
July 17, 2024over 600 pages i don't know if i can do this gang
December 2, 2024
okay how am i supposed to wait a year for the next one🤨
December 5, 2024
I was so bored the entire time. I honestly would rate it lower but I think reading Rhythm of War at the same time just made this one draaaaaaag.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
December 16, 2024
I-
I'm speechless
(Can't believe I gotta wait to know how this is going to unfold)
I'm speechless
(Can't believe I gotta wait to know how this is going to unfold)
November 28, 2024
This is a duology, right? But it just ends. What happens now? I need answers! There has to be a third book.
Edit: phew, it is a trilogy.
Edit: phew, it is a trilogy.
November 17, 2024
This was a much more developed story than the first, but the writer packed a lot of continued worldbuilding in that could’ve been developed better in Book 1.
Emory and Romie’s relationship is confusingly toxic after such intense love built into Book 1. It’s hard to make sense of Romie’s extreme animosity. The highlight of the book was the Baz and Kai plot.
I look forward to seeing where the next book goes and if the trajectory of the story and its execution continues upward.
Emory and Romie’s relationship is confusingly toxic after such intense love built into Book 1. It’s hard to make sense of Romie’s extreme animosity. The highlight of the book was the Baz and Kai plot.
I look forward to seeing where the next book goes and if the trajectory of the story and its execution continues upward.
August 20, 2024
I was quite surprised by the multiple POVs in this second installment. I never felt disconnected from the characters even with changing perspectives. I welcomed these new insights into Romie and Kai. The thing that shines the most here is the character development, it is quite obvious now that Emory is not the same person as when we first start reading the series. And she’s slowly coming to terms with who she is and eventually who she is becoming. But even with that, my favorite is for sure Baz. Another great character development but Baz’s is more diverse than Emory’s. Not only is he helping the eclipse-born movement, he is also saving his family and then he is also going after his friends. He has gone way out of his comfort zone and I like that he realizes he quite likes it.
All in all, the lore in this book is so original and complex. It might not be for everyone but I loved it. The traveling and the cultures they experience everytime they go to another ley line portal. Definitely a high fantasy book to read since it will keep you entertained the whole time
All in all, the lore in this book is so original and complex. It might not be for everyone but I loved it. The traveling and the cultures they experience everytime they go to another ley line portal. Definitely a high fantasy book to read since it will keep you entertained the whole time
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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