#and now marcella and june? i don't like them but I don't like any of these characters but i love them ahhhh

[typingwithmyhandstied]

On a random note, my favorite dynamic in ADSOM is probably Alucard and Kell or Maxim and Kell or Holland and Kell or Rhy and Kell. Wait, or Lila and Alucard or Rhy and Lila.

[soundsempressive-blog]

when –– june second, late at night. where –– in the hotel garden, toronto.

This little Canadian garden is sweet, very orderly and crisp, not a place of magic like the one back home. Yet, somehow, the air feels charged with life. Down a little garden path, partially obstructed from passing onlookers and hotel guests, is an arbor covered in flowering roses. Under its shade stands a woman, her hair glossy and dark, her spine proud and straight, her shoulders relaxed. Her head is crowned in pink and white begonias. She belongs right here in this garden, though really, she carries herself like she belongs everywhere. She turns to see Eve, and her smile is an uncanny replica of Eve’s. If it weren’t for her elegant evening gown and the sheer confidence in her eyes, she would be Eve’s perfect mirror image. “Oh, you sweet thing,” she says, and the affection and pride in her voice is overwhelming. She holds out her hands to greet Eve. A diamond glimmers on her left hand. “Look at you, Eve. You are so amazing.” She laughs like she is discovering a long lost, beloved thing, and the sound tinkles in the air like tiny bells. “Do you recognize me? Can you tell what I am?”

Her breath is stolen, and she can't quite place why. It's the garden, it's the beauty of it. No –– it's the beauty in it. For once, Eve thinks to herself that there is something more stunning than nature at its prettiest. She goes to say something, because she's wrapped in need; she wants to know the sound of this woman's voice and all she has to say. And then her breath is still gone, and she almost chokes on the missing air. The woman, so beautiful she wanted to lean in, is her. But she isn't. It's impossible; it doesn't make any sense. And yet the heavy humidity, the distant calls of birds before they settle, tells her this is real. She almost falls to her knees in prayer. This woman, her mirror image, should be worshipped. She feels it, she knows it. "I––" the words die. Any logic dies with them. Slowly, she reaches out her hand to touch her. "––how?"

Her smile is dazzling as she watches Eve. With one hand she takes Eve's, and with the other she reaches up to cup her cheek, her touch warm and gentle and so, so loving. "How is a complicated question, sweet thing," she says with all the tenderness in the world. "One I can answer, but not just yet. There is much you will need to do to get to this." Her forehead creases almost imperceptibly with a gentle pain. "Feiyan is still missing, after all, and that is what you need to focus on. That, and making sure your fellow Councilors don't trip down the wrong path. Especially Marcella." She shakes her head, her smile betraying the severity of her tone. "She can be so single-minded. It's what we love about her though, isn't it? When she focuses on what she wants..." Her eyes drift to the ring on her finger, fondness assuming control over her every movement and syllable. "She'll seek it without ever being stopped. But sometimes she has to be redirected, like many in our family."

Her lips part, eyes shine, as the woman takes her hand, touches her cheek. Real. This is real. It nearly sends a tremble through her body. She can't process it. And yet she knows she should. This is happening and this is real and a part of her knows she needs to grasp at the moment before it slides through her fingertips and she loses it. A wild desperation claws at her chest, telling her she never wants this woman to go. Everything about her is soothing, like sinking into the heat of a bath. Even as Eve has to remind herself to breathe, it's easier to. The air tastes of flowers and honey and she knows it's because of this version of herself before her. "Can you tell me?" She whispers, hope lifting her voices, eyes pleading. "Can you tell me how I can find her? And I don't–– I don't understand––Marcella isn't interested. I don't think she'd listen, even if I tried but––" it's foolish to talk like that, she realises. It's foolish because there's nothing she wouldn't do for her reflection, standing in front of her. "How do I protect them?"

"I wish I could tell you where she is or how to find her," she says, the pain in her face heartbreaking. "Unfortunately, that I cannot do. But I'm here to show you how many possibilities you have, that you don't even know about yet. There is so much more to your magic than you know, Eve. More to your role, more to your strength. We were once rulers, after all." She tucks a lock of Eve's hair behind her ear, motherly in her affection. "I can show you how to find that again." Her eyes twinkle at the sound of Marcella's name on Eve's lips. "She'll listen, my love, don't you worry. You're her queen. She looks to you like the moon in the sky. More often than not you know best, and she knows it. How can she not listen?" She leans in, places a soft kiss on Eve's forehead. "You have to assert yourself more. Take on the mantle you've long forgotten. We were once beloved by our subjects, and you can do that again, so long as you take the reins with a firm hand. It worked for me. They listen, even the ones who are stubborn. Even the ones who never thought much of me. Now? They know to listen." Pain flashes, and for a second they are indistinguishable in their grief. And then it flickers, ripples breaking through the surface of water as her uncertainty creeps in. I've trained for years she wants to say, because she wants to impress herself. But she bites down on the insecurity and listens, childlike in her awe. For the first time, a smile pulls at her lips at the kiss. She smiles, but she feels the sting of tears. Don't leave, she nearly asks. Don't leave. It's hard enough with Feiyan gone. A small part of her remembers Salma saying they need someone in charge. It surprises her, to remember that now, while the woman reminds her of what she once was. "By asserting myself," she tries, looking at her reflection, feeling so much shorter despite them being perfectly matched. "Will that -- is that what's going to help me with my magic? With... realising my potential? Do you really think I can get them to listen?"

The vines around them shift, and a rose in full bloom lowers itself to the reflection's waiting hand. She plucks it with a quick twist of her wrist and tucks it behind Eve's ear. "That's exactly right," she says with an encouraging smile. There's something more focused in her eyes as she looks into Eve's. "It will help you, and everyone else, too. Some of them just need a steady hand guiding them." She turns to Eve's side, looping her arm through Eve's and leading her off on a gentle stroll under the roses. "How can they not listen to you? You're sweet, loving Eve. You know what's best for everyone. And with Marcella at your side, it's not like they can really refuse, anyway." She laughs, carefree. "You'd never do anything that wasn't in their best interests, so why wouldn't you be right to take charge?"

Her smile widens, the flower tucking behind her ear chasing away the sting in her eyes. She's done the same before. Perhaps she's more like her reflection than she thought. A voice whispers in the back of her mind, a small worry that she ignores. She lets the woman start to walk them, following her like a puppy. "With Marcella..." Eve murmurs, tasting the words and liking them. "I'd never hurt them," she vows, meaning it completely. Her family. She'd been raised with the knowledge of what they would become. "Yeah, you know, I never really thought about it. Feiyan was always in charge and now that she's missing it's all I've been thinking of. But we need to band together and find her." The idea warms her. The image of finding Feiyan, of telling her how she had brought the council together... With Marcella "Will you help me? Will you visit again?"

"Banding together is important," she agrees with a regal dip of her chin. "But so is keeping everyone on track. Coordinated. You need to make sure every action, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is controlled, so that nothing goes awry. Marcella knows how to do that when you find yourself at a loss, and she'll always support you. That I can promise." Her smile turns conspiratorial for a moment. "We always were her weakest point. You'll see, soon enough. She'll do anything you command to show you how much she needs you." She sighs, the sound both melancholy and pleased. "I wish I didn't have to go now, but I will be back very soon. I still have to show you how much power is yet at your fingertips, after all. You were a ruler once, a conqueror. You can be that again, if you want. I'll show you. But you have to really want it." She lifts Eve's chin with her fingers, her grip steady. "You can decide when I come back if that is the case. If you really want to do whatever it takes to seize what is rightfully yours. How does that sound?" She smiles, knowing and elegant, a picture-perfect Empress.

A ruler, a conqueror. She's memorised poems, read stories hundreds of times, desperate to remember the days long gone. Her eyes stare into her reflection's. Her breath escapes her again. You have to really want it. The whispers returns, louder this time. She ignores it again, intoxicated by the sweet smell of honeysuckle. Everything melts away with that smile. "That sounds wonderful," she breathes, voice nearly gone. "How do I get you to come back?"

She places another kiss on her mirror image's forehead. "You simply go about your business, sweet one. I'll find you soon. It will be wonderful, I promise." She smiles one last time, stepping away from Eve's side. Her gaze lingers on Eve as the vines around them shift, their thorns sliding against one another. Then she dips her head in farewell and turns, striding down the path as if a mantle spreads from her shoulders, all grace and sophistication. She turns at the end of the path and disappears from view behind a hedge, and just beyond, slides into the shadows and vanishes completely.

[lonewolfshayu]

Vengeful by VE Schwab book review. I first reviewed Vengeful on my currently deleted Tumblr account, Spaniard Seer. And I can't remember if I posted a review of Vengeful on this account, so I'm making sure to do it now.

First of all, I have to say I hated Vengeful. But I loved Vicious, the first book, so much.

Second of all, VE Schwab still has my respect. I just don't like this sequel at all.

Third of all, please understand that this is my opinion of Vengeful. I'm not trying to hate on this book just to hate on it.

Okay.

2 out of 5 stars is what I rated Vengeful.

It's not 1 out of 5 stars, because this novel still kept me a bit entertained. I just didn't like it, ultimately.

1 This book read like a really bad fanfic written by someone who isn't even VE Schwab. That's how I can describe Vengeful in one sentence.

2 Marcella bored me to tears. Not literal tears, but reading her POVs was horrible stressful. After I read this novel, I never wanted to hear another mention of high heels or fingernails ever again. The repetition of high heels and fingernails in Marcella's chapters was EXTREME. It was awful.

3 Marcella's sex scene mentions with her husband was so cringe. I can't even describe how bad it was. You really got to read it for yourself.

4 Slut shaming from Marcella. Sigh.

5 It might not be obvious, but Marcella was a huge reason why I hated this book. Seriously, there was nothing interesting about her. She wasn't even a villain I could despise. She was annoying more than anything. Meanwhile, my hatred for Eli is OBVIOUS in my posts about this series. You can't even love to hate Marcella. She wasn't a good villain at all. Just a waste of a character.

6 Hallelujah. It's sweet how I have so many more reasons why I despise this novel. I HATED VICTOR IN THIS BOOK. Victor was likable in the first book, but he was so sociopathic that even that was hard to do. Still, the dude was practically a hero. In the first book, that is. In VENGEFUL, he starts murdering innocent EOs. Just like Eli. He became too dark. Slipped too much into black morality. I couldn't root for him anymore. Without a doubt, this is the main reason why I hated this novel. The biggest reason. Everyone becomes pure villains in this. And if they're not a pure villain, then they helped the pure villains(Mitch and Sydney helping Victor, like some minions or something)

7 Before I forget, I need to say that June's fondness of Sydney was random and creepy in a child predator type of way. If June was a man, imagine how creepy this would be. The woman even meets Sydney at a park, for God's sake. We don't know a damn thing about June's past. And we can't care about her motivations because of that. We don't even know her motivations. June was even more of a waste of a character than Marcella. Schwab really should have given her more depth and history. Because I really couldn't care about June. She was a total waste. There's such thing as too much mystery.

8 Eli Ever. I genuinely wish Eli did a face heel turn in this book. You know, become good. Go from "evil" to "good". Because Eli was genuinely my last hope. I couldn't care about Victor anymore. Or Sydney. Or Mitch. Didn't even like June or Marcella in any way. Didn't find them interesting. Eli Ever becoming a character to root for would have been great. But no, Eli is still evil Eli from the first book. And yet, I really loved his POVs. You know you effed up when I actually WANT to hear from Eli Ever. For comparison, I hated him so much in the first book. In this one, it was easier to root for him. Now that he wasn't killing innocent people. I still hated him, but hated him less. If he became a good guy, regretted his past murder of the innocent EOs, and fought against all the villains (villains like Victor) MAYBE I would have given this book three stars. Maybe.

9 I couldn't care about anyone in this book, simply put. That made for boring reading.

10 I genuinely forgot there was one character I did care about. Dom. Dominick freaking Rusher. The ex-soldier from book one who can stop time and teleport this way. Dude was golden. And Victor being mean to him and calling him a fool after Dom SAVED his life was just terrible. And out of character. Victor is prone to being stoic and aloof, but he wouldn't straight up insult someone like that. See? Even that shows how much of a villain he became. Victor in this book and Victor from book one might as well be two different characters. They didn't even feel like the same guy. Plus, Victor can suddenly control people's bodies via their nerves? Seriously? Cringe. Just cringe. Cringe and a stupid power upgrade.

11 BTW June randomly bumping into Victor at the strip club was an awful meeting. Seemed so cliché and convenient.

12 I hated Vengeful. Absolutely despised it. I still do. I highly recommend not reading it. There are no characters to root for. No "good" aligned characters to care about. No "villains" to love to hate. And everyone else in-between aren't interesting at all. Things in this book was so contrived and convenient for the sake of plot. And that's not to mention there are loads of cringe and out of character moments.

2 out of 5 stars.