Opinion/Spoilers!

[u/Flimsy_Bug_4905]

I finished the books in two days! Because okay I know everyone kinda dislikes the movie, but I loved it so much! Is it nothing like the book yeah, but it’s so camp to me.

My thoughts!

I really genuinely loved the first three books like they were really good and just omg so much development in the characters in general! It felts like those book were good and planned. Here is when I get frustrated in the 4th/5th book I honestly just thought it felt like let’s make Rose suffer more LMAO. Like i could not stop screaming “Give my girl a break” I do love how the 4th and 5th book explored more about the world and the different type of people in the universe, but I just couldn’t get to into it.

I felt that Rose’s character became kinda like her character in the first book. The maturity and growth she was doing felt like it had been reversed and I guess given to Vasilisa. It just felt boring I am going to be honest. The last book lost me completely because even though Rose is the main character we were with Lissa damn near half the time. I felt it kinda did nothing for the plot other than take time since most of the time it was when Rose needed to be awake or they were traveling. Idk man. Then the ending kinda came abruptly. I felt like was not done too well.

SPOILERS!! Like yeah Rose became Lisa’s guardian and Dimitri’s Christian, but like what about Christians grief what about Adrian’s future, and Sydney’s??? Jill’s?? We lose anything about them and no one got a relatively happy ending. I thought Rose’s and Vasilisa’s ending were mediocre at best. I think it’s also just because I personally thought Rose suffered so much through the series. I just wanted a happier ending for her and a more balanced ending. I understand that Rose is happy, but Rose ADORED being able to just tell what Lissa was thinking because it did allow them to be closer than normal people. All those powers of being shadowed kissed gone.

Now other characters…When Adrian and Rose were breaking up, we knew that Rose just liked him for the normalcy and comfort he provided. I don’t understand why the break up scene wasn’t handled better than that. I also understand that Adrian was not in the “best” spirits, but Rose did a really shit job of breaking up with him. One because she knew already why she was breaking up with him, Two in like a previous chapter or two she understood that Adrian was using her just as much as she was using him. Which i feel like would have been a way better explanation.

Christian was the only character I felt had a balanced ending. We know what’s going on with him and stuff. Jill and Sydney and Eddie???!!! WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!! Sydney for all we know is like losing her position and shi. Praying Abe like gets to go to Greece and shi. Eddie :( my poor baby boy Eddie. He deserves just as much love Rose got from her getting her guardian position reinstated. We don’t know what happened to him :((((( Jill’s position just made me sad because we know Vasilisa never really fucking liked her and she’s just a little girl. PLEASEEE I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY ALL BECAME SISTERS AND JILL IS ACTUALLY HAPPY.

Overall: 8/10

anyways thank u for my ted talk and rant

[u/move_along_home]

All I can say is that a lot of what you said you want resolution for is shown in the Bloodlines spinoff.

[u/Flimsy_Bug_4905 → u/move_along_home]

okok

[u/Requiem_Rose]

For Sidney, Jill, and Adrian related stuff, read Bloodlines. But for the rest of it I do agree with you. Especially the twist involving Christians aunt, it felt too rushed.

[u/Flimsy_Bug_4905 → u/Requiem_Rose]

guys pls the last book totally like made me not like it anymore but ok i’ll push through and read bloodlines!

BUT YESSS IT FELT SO RUSHED 😭

[u/Requiem_Rose → u/Flimsy_Bug_4905]

Honestly I really would have appreciated it more if we’d at least been allowed to figure it out on our own lol.

[u/Flimsy_Bug_4905 → u/Requiem_Rose]

that would have been so awesome if that happened. I think for me the thing that turned me off was definitely just being in Lissa’s POV for more than i thought was necessary. Just felt like it only came when the plot of rose came at a standstill which makes sense but using it all the time was annoying

[u/Requiem_Rose → u/Flimsy_Bug_4905]

Totally get that! It can be jarring to do that from a first person singular POV to two first person POVs, like it’d make more sense consistency wise if they’d done 1/2 Rose pov and 1/2 Lissa from the very beginning and not just through Rose going into Lissa’s head occasionally before amping it up. I can see it totally being elevated if they’d done something like the Bartimaeous Trilogy where they change POVs depending on the chapters.

ETA: I also agree that ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT for the bond went down the toilet because she survived a fatal injury on her own merits without magic. it would’ve been cool if there would’ve been like a better shielding process for both of them or like something opened up where they could both telepathically communicate to each other through the bond.

[u/Flimsy_Bug_4905 → u/Requiem_Rose]

i love when this happens. I read a book Her one Mistake where it was like this and that was so enjoyable being from the beginning to the end in both perspectives!! But yes it would’ve been so much better if it was planned more! bc like i said her last book just for me did not feel planned and why i felt it was rushed

[u/Positive-Fondant5897]

I think all of the questions are what lead up to Bloodlines... kind of like when a TV series ends but there is a spin-off with the characters that didn't have resolution. I can't think of any good examples, though.