From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

Crown of Crimson (Underworld Gods, #2)

Karina Halle

Start date: May 23, 2022

Finish date: May 27, 2022

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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What Members Thought

May 22, 2022 CC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, arc, dirty-f-in-talkers, oozing-sex-appeal, paranormal-gothic-vampy-steampunk, favorites, dark-romance, my-anti-heroes-and-alphas, bbs-challenge, kinkery

4.5 ★

Though Hanna’s purpose for traveling to Tuonela was to ensure her father’s safety, she must deal with the repercussions of her actions. As Hanna begins to learn more about what is at stake, she slowly begins to realize her true self. With Death strategizing to save his people against an uprising, he must determine the true prophesy and just what his fairy girl may be.

“Feeling worthy of something and being powerful are too very different things. Perhaps true power is knowing your worth.
...more

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May 26, 2022 Stacie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bad-boys, pnr, dark, fantasy, touch-of-magic, enemies-to-lovers, marrige-of-convenience, demons

3 1/2 "Death becomes her." Stars!

Well, to keep this short, I liked this but didn't love it. Dar I say, there was too much sex at the wrong time. Chapter 19 was certainly hot, but for me the emotions were missing. Now, will I read the next book? Yes! If it's not too long a wait. Happy reading! ...more

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May 27, 2022 Delle rated it liked it

I’m going to give it to you straight.

Hanna got some ~~more~~ dick and completely forgot about her family. Death threw her in an oubliette for running away, promptly blaming her for betraying him…as if seeking out her father is a betrayal. She stayed mad at him for all of two seconds before being rescued out of the oubliette and deciding “oh well, might as well marry him and continue fucking him”. Never once did she bring up returning back to her father (who she didn’t have the best relationship wit I’m going to give it to you straight.

Hanna got some ~~more~~ dick and completely forgot about her family. Death threw her in an oubliette for running away, promptly blaming her for betraying him…as if seeking out her father is a betrayal. She stayed mad at him for all of two seconds before being rescued out of the oubliette and deciding “oh well, might as well marry him and continue fucking him”. Never once did she bring up returning back to her father (who she didn’t have the best relationship with in the past, mind you) or even rescuing Rasmus, the man who has helped her along the way. It honestly annoyed me. Hanna’s motivations were skewed completely to the left compared to the first book. In “River of Shadows”, despite being in a sexual (I won’t even call it romantic because let’s be real, it wasn’t) relationship with Death, she usually didn’t lose sight of her goal of returning back to her father. I don’t know, it just felt like Hanna got sucked in by the allure of being “Queen” and being powerful that she completely lost her previous motivations. Even her desire to become an all-powerful queen felt misplaced. Not a lot of time has passed between the events of the first and second book so how is it that she’s suddenly switched to wanting to be down in Tuonela ruling alongside Tuoni? There was no catalyst…nothing. I couldn’t buy the sudden mindset switch, especially since it happened so soon after Death threw his new bride into an underground prison to rot.

I never thought I’d find sex scenes gratuitous yet here we are. I’m the last woman to complain about too many sex scenes. I genuinely don’t care. What I do care about, is balance and progression. In the first book, Death and Hanna’s relationship is a mixture of genuine curiosity and animosity which turned into passion. Fine. I thought with readers getting Death’s perspective on his feelings for Hanna and her betrayal as well Hanna’s new marriage to Death, we’d get more sentimental moments because you know what that is?

Growth.

There didn't seem to be any progression whatsoever in Death and Hanna's relationship. Their relationship didn't change, even when it regressed a little bit. There was the betrayal in the beginning, a little bit of anger, and then back to sex. In the last two chapters or so, there is talk of love and it made no sense to me.

I can stand insta-lust. It happens. What I don’t care for is insta-love. I wanted more moments where Hanna and Death got to know each other outside of the bedroom. Moments where they spoke about the lives they lived before meeting each other. How is it that Hanna still really hasn’t spoken about her life in California? Even just seeing them spend time together would’ve been nice.

The positive, as always, was the world building. Halle continued to build on the mystical land of Tuonela from the first book. Somehow, I still found myself awed at the new details and enjoyed learning more about the world and the gods and goddesses that inhabit it. The family dynamics between the gods was intriguing and I wish I received more of a peek into their dynamics. Inmost lived up to my expectations completely! It was creepy and unsettling and I found myself squirming as I was reading. I thought the description of half-dead animals and servants was as bad as things could get but the author’s descriptions of Inmost and its inhabitants beat that by a mile and a half.

Chapter 19 was a fun and unique chapter although Death really did all of that for nothing, ha! I wouldn’t be surprised if his “actions” in chapter 19 allowed for the betrayal later on in the book.
I don’t think this sequel was as good as the first but not nearly that bad either. It was very middle of the road but the ending and the world building saved it.

You know what, Karina Halle? Brava. Brava. She really lost me for a solid 3/4 of the book yet managed to reel me back in around 75-80 percent into the book. The cliffhanger is one you’ll both see coming and not see coming. If you know, you know.

Side note: I don’t know how Hanna doesn’t strangle every time Death says something along the lines of “look at you fly” or “I want to see you fly” as she’s climaxing. The corniest thing to say in that moment.

Check out more of my reviews on my blog litandlee.com. ...more

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May 24, 2022 Kalie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022

I have been dying to read this since River of Shadows left us hanging and it was definitely worth the wait!!

Crown of Crinson picks up right where River of Shadows left off, and the the story is action packed from the start and every bit as addicting as it’s predecessor.

Karina has created such an incredible world I could easily visualize everything as if I was truly there. I loved watching Hanna come into her own and start to become the badass I knew she was all along! I especially loved what s ...more

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