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2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/05/25/...Ultimately, my second foray into the Dominion of the Fallen did not turn out the way I’d hoped, though to be fair, I did have a lot riding on this sequel. It’s true that the first book left me with mixed feelings, but I found the premise intriguing enough that I wanted to see where things would lead, and maybe give this series a another chance to sweep me off my feet. Regrettably, this did not quite happen—despite The Ho...
The House of Binding Thorns is the the opposite of second book syndrome.I really liked The House of Shattered Wings, but this was on a completely other level, and it cemented Dominion of the Fallen's place in my favorite fantasy series.The House of Binding Thorns is a story about life in a city ruined by angels' greed, with an ugly colonial history, in which the characters have to make terrible bargains to survive. It's a story about compromises that, in a fairer world, wouldn't be necessary; ab...
Any book that has me struggling not to squeak on public transport and then has me nearly miss my bus stop is going to get a big thumbs-up. I loved Aliette de Bodard’s introduction to her vision of a blasted, magic-torn Paris in The House of Shattered Wings and I delighted in the chance to return to it and peer into one of the darker Fallen Houses.Madeleine is back in House Hawthorn, terrified of her future and unable to move on from her past. When Asmodeus makes it clear she can choose to die bu...
*Source* Publisher*Genre* Fantasy, Paranormal*Rating* 3.5*MY Thoughts*The House of Binding Thorns is the second installment in author Aliette de Bodard's Dominion of the Fallen series. In a Paris that never was, a city of magicians, alchemists and Fallen angels struggles to recover from a devastating magical war that left the city in shambles. The House of Hawthorn, led by a Fallen Angel named Asmodeus, is where this story begins. But, it also includes the Dragon Kingdom, which is an under the S...
The House of Shattered Wings is a beautifully written book set in a fascinating world, but I was on the fence about reading the standalone sequel since it was also bogged down by so much narrative introspection that didn't add much to the story or characterization. However, I decided to continue after discovering The House of Binding Thorns had more Asmodeus--and I'm so glad I did because it's a far superior novel with more Asmodeus and more of the dragon kingdom!Like its predecessor, the charac...
Managed to weave evocative with sinister and beautiful in a wonderful way. Political stories aren’t usually my thing, but this had plenty of tension and magic - plus Asmodeus. So a definite win!
This was a marked improvement over its predecessor, The House of Shattered Wings. Shattered Wings had a somewhat confusing plot, and only a handful of its characters really interested me, but it had such a great setting that it elevated it to 4/5 stars. Not that the characters and plot were BAD, they just didn't really grab me. The House of Binding Thorns improves on both, and the setting managed to be even better.So Binding Thorns is a semi-standalone sequel. It follows after the events of Shat...
...I generally enjoy De Bodard's work, both stylistically and because of the themes she uses, and this novel is no exception. I thought the plot of this novel flowed a bit more smoothly than that of the House of Shattered Wings. It is dark and desperate, full of characters overreaching in an effort to prevent what little they have managed to salvage from destruction slipping from their grasp. It tackles some of the problems of today's society with a touch of Victor Hugo and a bit of magic. It bl...
Not leaving a rating because this is my book, but here's what you can expect: focused on the House of Hawthorn and the dragon kingdom. Like its predecessor, standalone, though characters from the first book will obviously be around!Major characters: angel essence addict Madeleine, Houseless Annamite Françoise (who wields rather peculiar and powerful Fallen magic), dragon prince Thuan (with a talent for getting into major trouble), and ex-Immortal/exile Philippe on his quest to resurrect his frie...
Reread: Completely worth a second read. Gripping, intense, and beautiful. Original review: I loved this book so much! The House of Binding Thorns takes all of the things I really enjoyed in The House of Shattered Wings and intensifies them. I like Aliette de Bodard's writing style a lot, and I adore how queer her books are - this one even more than the previous. I think the biggest difference between the two (and probably the thing that raised this above the first for me) was that the plot shift...
This book works as a standalone and also as a companion novel to The House of Shattered Wings. The House of Shattered WingsBodard writes with an intricate and intense style and is able to explore the way conflicts both within the heart and those of external politics collide with and influence each other. Vivid and emotional. Recommended.
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A powerful conspiracy aimed not only at the houses but the dragon kingdom threatens to destroy them all.Opening Sentence: In the House of Hawthorn all the days blurred and merged into one another, like teardrops sliding down a pane of glass.The Review:Madeline has finally been detoxed from the angel essence, but no one is really sure she will survive since no one has successfully broken and essence addiction before. However, when Asmodeus gives
This book was amazing in context and plot line. I love the way it lets you know how everyone fits in without giving too much away so that you can predict the ending. I would not use as a tutorial for my younger kids that I tutor but would recommend for 8th grade to adults. This is mostly because of the complexity of the writing. There is no vulgarity which makes it a good read for higher level school kids.