I'm currently 49% through the first book, and... Bryce has officially become my favorite SJM FMC. (Alongside Nesta? Maybe even above her? I don't know I just love Nesta so much.)
Some thoughts so far:
• Bryce feels like the perfect balance between Feyre and Aelin. Feyre is too dependent on Rhys (just my opinion, please don't come after me ), while Aelin always keep every plan a secret until the very last second. Bryce is independent and does what she believes is right, but she still keeps the people around her informed and treats them like partners.
• She is so badass funny and feminist
• I still can't believe Danika died. I refuse to accept it. Part of me is convinced she's going to come back at some point.
• Is it just me, or is the way the kill the Kristallos (driving a sword through its head) really similar to how Tamlin killed Amarantha in the first ACOTAR book?
• Micah is such an interesting character. It feels like he's hiding far more than he's letting on. I actually kind of like him... for now.
• Even though all the evidence points toward Sabine as the main suspect, I have this weird feeling she's innocent. My instincts keep telling me that Micah is the real culprit. I have zero proof. Just feeling and vibes.
• Is it normal that I'm genuinely scared of Sandriel even though she's fictional? Somehow she feels even more terrifying than Amarantha or Maeve.
⋆✮⋆ Gods, Bryce is SUCH A GOOD ROMANTACY CHARACTER. She has an interesting dynamic to her that people crave these days in their romantacy heroines. People are sick of shy girls petite girls. The girls, gays, and theys want someone who is reckless, imperfect, and unapologetically kickass. I am SO EXCITED to see where SJM takes B's character, and I just know her and Nesta would get along; they are like foils of each other. I hope they get to meet soon.
⋆✮⋆ Hunt X Bryce is what kept me from going crazy irl. I'm serious, this book has been a light in my life and gives me something to look forward to. Not to be dramatic, but my entire happiness was dependent on them kissing, holding hands, SOMETHING. So, when we finally got there, I was so excited. I am seriously awed by Sera's ability to create characters who develop such strong bonds after going through so much trauma. I will keep eating it up till she gets tired of the trope. I could go on forever about them, but for now lets move on LOL.
⋆✮⋆ Hunt Athalar, I would die for you, bestie. Throne of Glass was my first SJM book, so I’m a softie for my kickass hot assassins. One thing I would nitpick about Hunt's story arc is the scene where Bryce sees him at the synth deal on the boat. Everyone seems shocked that Hunt wants to rebel against the Asteri again, and it feels like they're shaming him for it. That really rubbed me the wrong way. I love a rebellion, both in fantasy and in real life. I think Hunt's desire to use the synth to gain freedom is completely justified. Just like Aelin in ToG, he knows what it’s like to be free, having lived that way before the fall. Having that freedom taken away? Of course, he’s going to want to take another chance to fight back! I don’t know; everyone was annoying me in that scene. BUT ATHY, ILYSM!
⋆✮⋆ Let's talk about the villains in this story because there were a lot of them. I really like how we get to sit with each one for a bit and learn about them. The one we knew least about, of course, is Governor Micah and Sandriel. Which, btw, Micah was a very interesting villain to me because the whole time I thought he was gonna be pretty neutral. Could have fooled me LOL. Because there were times when he showed pity to Hunt, sorta? Idk if you would call it that haha. Like, honestly, up until a certain point, I thought Jesiba was going to be the villain of it all. Anyway, it's nice to see SJM back on her villain game. My least favorite villain was Sabine; her villain type is an aggressor, and I find that archetype quite annoying, so I was not a fan of her and couldn't care less when she was on the page tbh. We still don't even know that much about why she is so bitter lol. Also, she got Hunt's wings cut off, so fuck her lmaooo.
⋆✮⋆This book has a bit of discourse I've noticed in other reviews about the length and the lore info dump in the first few hundred pages. But I just finished Lord of the Rings for the first time, which is holy mother info overload in my opinion, and I would disagree that the pacing is too quick. I think it's juuust right, especially if you're not new to fantasy reading. I think SJM was trying to focus on quick world-building to fully tell this story and deliver on its potential. It was a lot, and it can be a lot, but looking back, it was still enjoyable. When she went on Call Me Daddy and spoke about her writing process, the info dump made sense, 'cause I write the same way. Sometimes it's a lot inside your head, so it takes a lot of explanation to get it all on paper, but it makes sense in the long run, and it all came together beautifully in my opinion.
⋆✮⋆ All the main and side characters are so beautifully written, and I am excited to see what's going to happen with Bryce and Ruhn as well. Their sibling bond is a chef kiss. It is very interesting to me to relate all of this back to ACOTAR, my beloved, and theorize about the Danann's and their potential heritage to Rhysand. I mean Star-Born? Come on. I was also thinking that he could be a daemati as well, or he can just read minds, who knows!!
Overall, I am slapping myself for putting off this series for so long. Turns out I don't mind Urban Fantasy, I guess. I didnt cry until the end where Bryce is making the drop with Danika's soul. To be reunited with your literal twin flame? The one person you had ever truly loved. I was instantly sobbing. What a beautiful scene!!!
And rip Lehaba my queen. Glad that wasn't spoiled for me after all these years.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading, big preesh, and stay tuned as I start House of Sky and Breath!
(finally, I've been putting it off for months because of how huge these books are.)
I'm about 16% in now, and I totally understand why people say it takes around 200 pages to really get into it.
First, Bryce already feels so different. Not just from Aelin and Feyre as an sjm FMC, but from most fantasy FMCs in general. I actually like that. She somehow feels like a girl from our present time
loved how Connor told Bryce to message him when she got home. It's such a small detail. It's such girl's girl thing to do from him.
Ruhn also seems really protective of Bryce. He really gives beautiful big brother vibes. I don't really understand why she dislikes him... at least not yet.
And finally...I REFUSE to believe Danika and her pack are just... dead. 😭 I genuinely thought she was going to be one of the main characters, so I never expected something like that to happen at the very beginning of the book.
