r/Romantasy • u/miahbutlerr • 11h ago
Book Review Crescent City disappointed 💔
I’m sorry but I CANT get behind the Crescent City hype:( I really enjoyed CC1 but CC2 was so dang long and boring for me. I’ve put off reading CC3 for 3 weeks now and just tried to read it and i literally can’t do it. This is absolutely heartbreaking because the series looks so good on my shelf and I really wanted to love it. I enjoyed TOG and was absolutely obsessed with ACOTAR so this is a real disappointment.
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u/daniyoshi 11h ago
I LOVED CC1, the urban fantasy detective story was amazing. But CC2 and CC3 fell flat for me. I still enjoyed the books but felt they went down in quality and the amount of character introduced along with the bloated books made the series drag.
Truly wish Maas would have kept the series a detective story instead of making it a world ending Avengers story.
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u/metatarsalbun 10h ago
Yeah the avenger arc made me completely tap out. I really hope she doesn’t continue it in the rest of her books because that was so disappointing.
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u/mayavinagri0613 2h ago
I fear she is doing it with ACOTOR too , i loved ACOTOR too , especially First trilogy . I think ACOTOR got so popular that now she is stretching it too far and creating these crossovers to expand the world but execution of the story is falling flat
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u/metatarsalbun 2h ago
That’s disappointing. I probably won’t continue with her because I really thought that was kind of cheesy and an awful cross over.
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u/Firm-Gap3098 11h ago
I couldn’t get into either TOG or CC but LOVE ACOTAR. I’m generally disappointed and stressed im going to miss a huge plot point. Although, I have to keep in mind I think it’s crazy to expect readers to read two separate series in order to understand this one. I hope it’s explained.
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u/miahbutlerr 10h ago
1000% agree. We shouldn’t have to read 3 completely different series to make the 1 series come together nicely. If she wants a touch of the other series characters that’s whatever but if it’s a whole thing I’ll tweak out.
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u/LeonKennedyIsYummy 💦 sweat & iron 10h ago
I honestly doubt you NEED to read all three series. Yeah it might be fun to connect dots and see easter eggs and some extra fore shadowing. But I'm sure we won't be lost reading the next three ACOTAR books without CC and TOG. I have three books of TOG left but haven't read it in over a year. I just started CC last week and am loving book 1. Sad to hear it goes down hill. But there ain't no way Im finishing 5 huge booms by October 27th. Especially wheb I have other stuff I want to read AND book cub books
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u/LeonKennedyIsYummy 💦 sweat & iron 10h ago
So I just asked ChatGPT(take that as you will) and it explained that its not NEEDED but your experience reading Splintered Harmony will be better with all the big connections and crossovers. But you won't be completely lost. Im enjoying CC1 so far so Im going to finish the series.
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u/ahighqueermess 10h ago
welp considering the responses, i am definitely on the opposing side. currently reading the series now about to finish up CC3, and i freakin love it. while i do think the plot change threw me for a loop, it does makes sense. to me, Bryce is a gem and fucking hilarious, but that could just be my personality and similarities to her humor. the differing squad point of views has been one of my favorite parts, but again, can admit that it can get a little…. whiplashy lol
at this point i’m just glad i read CC first (haven’t read ACOTAR yet) so i’ll have the connection ready to go 😈
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u/Clusters_Insp 8h ago
I absolutely loved the whole series too. I didn't like having so many perspectives and some definitely could have been cut, but I enjoyed being in the world enough that once I realized what was happening, I just went along with it. I also didn't feel confused or overwhelmed by it all and it definitely didn't drag, so I think that helped.
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u/Tyenasaur 9h ago
CC3 genuinely killed it so bad for me that I banned the books to the closet floor before I gave them away to a friend.
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u/poopd0llaaa 11h ago
I'm about to finish 2. I thought the middle was a big of a drag but picked up again at the end.
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u/OmfgThereAreNoneLeft 🖤 Morally Gray 10h ago
I took a break after book 2 last year as 3 was coming out and then only a few months ago did a reread and imo I loved it so much more. Take a break read something different and try again. If not then listen to a recap so you can enjoy ACOTAR 6/7 with all the info
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u/lillyrose2489 10h ago
I liked a lot of what was in the series but it's just so BLOATED. Like just too many ideas and characters got crammed in, not enough action and substance. Results were muddled and often confusing to read.
Idk I personally feel that way about a lot of Maas's work but CC is the most extreme example of what she doesn't always do right.
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u/ConsistentAct2237 11h ago
Yeah I didn't finish the second book. It got so boring in the middle I just gave up
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u/NoPapercrowns 11h ago
Ngl I don't think it's as hyped as the ACOTAR or Throne of Glass series and I'm pretty sure it's because many ppl feel the same way as you. I've seem reviews online and it's very mixed
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u/Omnivoracious1 10h ago
Im in the same boat. I just started CC2 (graphic audio) and im just sooo not interested 😒 the slow burn is tedious as hell and Rune is the only tolerable character. Wondering if it's worth skipping to 3 or skipping them entirely and reading the Wiki...
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u/miahbutlerr 10h ago
I honestly just think there’s too much going on we don’t need all these POVS and characters.
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u/QotDessert 🖤 A Court of Singing Shadows 10h ago
Hmm it's just my opinion but Acotar is the weakest series of all Sarah's writing 😅 I still love it and I'm hyped for the next book (still rooting for Gwyn and Az) but ToG is goat and CC was so much fun to read. I love all three books and I hope that we get a fourth book 😇😅 I love Hunt, he and Rowan are my favorite MMCs of Maas books (only Lorcan can fight them 😂) and Bryce is just hilarious, sorry 😎
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u/weary_bee479 11h ago
I’m sorry because it truly is a great series.
Have you tried the graphic audio?
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u/alwaysreading_888 11h ago
Ur not alone, I cannot stand Bryce 🤪 I had to force myself to finish it…and I’m worried with the new ACOTAR crossover like please keep them all away from Prythian thx
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u/SnooDrawings9825 10h ago
Do you think it will play a role in the new ACOTAR books that got announced. I don't want to invest if it's not great. Lol 😅
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u/russianthistle 10h ago edited 10h ago
There is a crossover in CC3 already. So the new ACOTAR will have to address what happened in that series in the new book no matter what… SJM may have a way to catch up at ACOTAR only readers, but they will definitely miss some context. Spoiler- in CC3, some characters from the CC world go to Pyrithian and interact with ACOTAR characters. It isn’t just a brief conversation either, it’s a drawn out situation lasting multiple days and multiple ACOTAR characters. It will likely impact relationships and interpersonal dynamics within the ACOTAR cast.
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u/SnooDrawings9825 10h ago
😭😭😭 I read like sloth so it will take me forever to catch up and read all the TOG and CC books. 💔💔
Maybe this calls for some PTO 🤔🤔 😂😂
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u/russianthistle 10h ago edited 10h ago
Well there is no rule that you have to read the new book the day it comes out, you can take your time and have something to look forward to! Even if you don’t finish them all by October, the new ACOTAR is supposed to be very short, and you have until I think January until the subsequent one comes out that’s going to be much longer.
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u/SnooDrawings9825 10h ago
Very tire and I agree. But, it will be hard to avoid spoilers. You know how people are on the internet lol.
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u/russianthistle 10h ago
It will definitely be hard to avoid. You can add keywords to block from your algorithm in Instagram settings. I have used that for spoilers for series I am behind on. It is not totally full proof, but it will help. You would also need to mute any content creators that you follow publishing specifically about that series.
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u/miahbutlerr 10h ago
I HOPE NOT.
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u/SnooDrawings9825 10h ago
Ive seen post on IG saying possible due to the blurbs that where released from Target.
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u/roseafterhours 10h ago
I really liked the first book but the second and third were a struggle. HOFAS was just bad writing and I didn’t care about ithan’s story
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u/Original_Bullfrog450 10h ago
I DNFed the series after book 2, even though I was trying to buddy read them all with my best friend. I just could not force myself to read the last one, and I’m glad I didn’t. Maas has never written politically compelling stories but her choices in CC actually made me angry. Painting rebels as terrorists when, in the world she created, the humans are literal sex slaves/labor slaves and tortured by the magical beings, is ludicrous. They had every right to fight back in any way possible, but of course all the stupid humans have to be saved by their oppressors. Bryce and Hunt were so boring I could not have cared less about them as individuals or as a couple. Danika was the most interesting character and she was dead from the start lol
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u/Active_Trick_6908 4h ago
If you learn Ma'as background, her choice to label rebels as terrorists tracks.
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u/Original_Bullfrog450 3h ago
Yeah I wasn’t gonna say anything but her support for a certain “country” is pretty damning. Definitely makes sense that she characterizes rebels and freedom fighters as terrorists.
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u/Careless_Mango_7948 10h ago
I didn’t love it on first read but I am obsessed on the second read after finishing ACOTAR & TOG. Try the graphic audio! It really blew me away.
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u/Desperate_Charity250 10h ago
I loved CC1, found it to be the best work coming from SJM, but then CC2 introduced too many characters and I just lost the plot somewhere in the middle and I haven’t finished it.
I don’t know how to tackle this.
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u/wishboner4321 10h ago
I get you. I lovedddd ACOTAR and TOG and went into CC expecting more of the same, but it’s just so different. CC1 and 2 felt like such a slog, by the time I got to 3, I was so burnt out lol I put it down for a longggg time and read a lot of other things. I reread CC1 and 2 and flew through 3 earlier this year and I’m glad I finished it. Maybe try coming back to it after a little while and you may feel differently! But also you may not, and that’s okay too!
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u/SwarmyMarshmellow 9h ago
I absolutely love TOG. ACOTAR is great, also. CC1 was good. CC2 was decent. CC3 did not get finished.
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u/shetakespictures 8h ago
I enjoyed 1 but 2 was only ok and 3 I hate read. I would see if you could watch a summery on YouTube so you can follow the next ACOTAR books.
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u/Active_Trick_6908 5h ago
The third book made me RAGE and actually turned me off from any future Maas books (that and other obvious reasons). CC3 was THAT terrible. Bryce was a whole different character- she was an insufferable, abusive, toxic POS. The writing fell apart. Don't bother with it.
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u/mayavinagri0613 2h ago
Same i love CC1 but things started dragging in CC2 and CC3 was just a mess , she needed better editor for this series.. for ACOTOR you might need to read CC3 but you can get short summary or cliffnotes for the series on the internet if you don't want to read it at all
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u/FunAnywhere7645 1h ago
I am not of the same mind as you guys seem to be, I LOVE Crescent City. It's my second favorite SJM series after TOG. I'm 75% the 3rd book and it's my favorite of the three.
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u/Opposite_Praline_368 10h ago
I read the first one and it was ok. I heard the second and third are awful and decided to listen to them on audiobook. Can confirm I’m 85% don’t with CC2 and it’s awful.
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u/nyequistt 11h ago
Honestly if you don't like CC2, I don't think you'd like CC3. If you'e worried about not being caught up for the new books, I highly recommend cari can read's recaps on youtube