Shadows of Perl by J. Elle
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Web ID: 1987597512 reviews
Fun Sequel With More Action
The magical story continues, following Quell on the run once again following the events of the first book. She finds herself at House of Perl, hoping to find her mother, but not all is as it seems, despite the welcoming she receives. Will she find the answers she seeks and survive the war brewing between the houses? This was certainly quite the sequel. It felt like there was definitely more action in this one, which I did enjoy. It was interesting getting to see more point of views in this one as well. I enjoyed seeing Quell becoming more fierce and more in tune with her toushana after becoming bound to it. The magic in this series is definitely intriguing. All in all if you enjoyed the first book to this series, I think you’ll enjoy this one too! Thank you NetGalley and Penguin House Group,Penguin Young Readers Group and Razorbill for the chance to read this!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Loved it!
This second book in the series is even better than the first. You get to know Jordan more in this book and follow his journey and get to finally understand himself. The story gets more intense and the characters again are interesting. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the last book in the series
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Exciting, twisty sequel for this underrated series
The House of Marionne series is absolutely and completely underrated! Confession: I now own two copies of this book because I wanted the signed Goldberg SE, and I must have the US first printing naked hardcover on my shelf! J Elle has a unique writing style in that she unspools plot threads from various characters' POVs and not necessarily in order. This has a similar effect to the "unreliable narrator" form of storytelling. The reader is forced to be comfortable with a sense of confusion and suspense throughout the narrative, trusting that in the end, everything that the author has thrown into the wind will make sense. For me as a reader, I enjoy being immersed in the world-building, knowing that I am viewing the storyline through a prism and that the payoff is going to bring everything into sharp relief. There is a huge twist right in Chapter 1 that made me jump up and down. It is fantastic, and gives Yagrin's story completely unexpected stakes. I love the partnership that he formed with Quell, and that they were both on the run from Jordan at the same time. I also loved spending so much time at Hartsboro and Dlaminaugh Estate, and getting to know the other heiresses, Nore and Adola. We also get the chance to see Jordan advance further into the Dragun brotherhood, as well as learn his and Yagrin's backstories. There is a lot happening in this second book and sometimes it can get overwhelming, but like the first book, everything comes together beautifully and with an action-packed climax. Also like the first book, I will enjoy it even more when I re-read it because I will be able to see the end from the beginning and catch all the clues and foreshadowing that I missed the first run through. It is just such a fun YA read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Solid second book in series
Quell’s life has been upended again. Those she thought were allies and friends are now gone. As a last resort she turns to the House of Perl where her darkness is, at least, not an instant death penalty. Nore is looking for revenge and a way to finally be rid of the Order. She despises her own mother but seeks another headmistress for help. Jordan strives to balance what feels right with what is right with what seems to be right. His heart is being pulled in several directions but none seems to be easy. As the Sphere continues to deteriorate and magic as they know it is on the line, what will these young leaders do in the face of life altering decisions? This was a good second book in the series. We are following three young, but very influential people as they navigate some major, life altering decisions. Decisions that could completely change magic and the world as they know it. With that, we see some character growth that sets us up for the next novel. It is really interesting to see how each balances the other and progresses the overall story arc. Looking forward to the next installment. 4 stars. Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Penguin Teen - Razorbill and NetGalley. Thank you!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Book 2 Review
Shadows of Perl (House of Marionne #2) by J. Elle A Young Adult Fantasy filled with murder, broken hearts, vengeance, and a race to save magic from disappearing forever. Book two continues to follow FMC Quell Marionne’s after her unexpected final Rite of Induction to House Marionne run by her grandmother she fled with one mission in mind; find her mother. Although she finally feels like she belongs and can use her magic, the type of magic she wields is toushana which is dark and people like her are hunted and killed. It was the reason why her mother fled from House Marionne when she was little. To protect Quell from the Dragun's they were constantly on the move. Unbeknownst to Quell, her grandmother has been holding secrets. Now that the truth was out that Quell's magic was toushana, she lost a young man she loved, and when Jordan found out she held dark magic, his hatred, and disgust were evident and broke her heart. Now she is being hunted again, but instead of running and hiding with her mother, she is on her own. She knows few people she can trust to aid her on her quest to find her mother until she discovers that everyone at her House Marionne who witnessed her defiant explosive act at the Rite, no one remembers what she did. Now that the stunt she played at the Rite has been washed away, she can move a bit more freely but must stay hidden from Jordan and the Dragun's. She is surprised when she travels to Chateau Soleil for the House of Perl and that the head of that house (Jordan's aunt) welcomes her and her dark magic. The more Quell looks into these magical houses, the more secrets start to be unveiled. Can she find her mother and finally live how she has always dreamed of, or be on the run forever? Who can she trust to help her? MMC : The man Quell loves is Dragun Assassin Jordan Wexton, who is now promoted to what he has worked so hard for; Second-in-command of the Dragun brotherhood. Jordan's job, above all else, is to protect the source of all magic, the Sphere. He has been taught his whole life that the dark magic wielders should be destroyed because it's the use of their toushana is the cause of the breaking of the sphere. Now that he knows the young woman he fell in love with could be the biggest threat to the Sphere, he has to battle with his feelings of what he was taught as right and what he feels for Quell. As the Sphere continues to crack, a war is brewing among the Houses and Jordan has to face his fears. If he has to murder the woman he loves to save magic, will that also break his heart? I bury my face in her hair and inhale, and it's like taking my first breath in a long time. She has darkness, but somehow she warms me like the sun Book two is left on quite the brutal cliffhanger and I can't wait for book 3 to release to see what happens after the chaos. Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first (House of Marionne) I still liked it. There was more information about some of the houses and how this world worked also following other people and their connections to the storyline that were mentioned in book 1. What to expect from this series: Forbidden Dark Magic Lovers to Enemies Enemies to lovers Family Secrets Broken Hearts Deception Slowburn Romance Morally gray Characters Bromance Corrupt Magical Politics
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A darker plot, with more secrets and twists
3.5 stars Shadows of Perl is the much-anticipated sequel to House of Marionne. It vastly differs from the glittering world shown in its predecessor, instead exposing the darker underbelly of the order and its work. This book was very slow to start for me, especially because I was having trouble remembering events and themes from the first book. While the author does recall major plot points throughout the story, I continue to be confused about the difference between the Dragun’s toushana use and Quell’s. There was also a lot of speculation in the first half of this story, but little to no action. The plot finally picked up about two-thirds of the way through, just in time to set the stage for the third book. I enjoyed Jordan’s POV the most, and thought the author did a great job showing his internal struggle between duty and what he knew to be right. I think Nore’s POV and character arc has a lot of promise, but the quick cut to and from her chapters made it hard for me to fully engage in her story. Overall, Shadows of Perl advances the plot and I continue to be in awe of the incredibly unique fantasy world the author has built. I look forward to the action sure to come in the third novel. Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Excellent Sequel!!
Thank you to @penguinteen for the #gifted Netgalley widget of Shadows of Perl along with the physical ARC. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions based on the early copies I read. *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ I have a lot of thoughts upon turning the final page of this story and they all boil down to 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜. If you thought House of Marionne was good. You're not ready for how much J.Elle has increased the stakes and expanded on her world in Shadows of Perl. Sequels always have the rough job of living up to the first book 𝘢𝘯𝘥 keeping readers thoroughly invested in continuing to read the series. J.Elle has succeeded in both regards with 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘭. This book was impossible to put down. Quell has become a force to be reckoned with after the events of 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦. She's found her voice and she is sure as hell not going to let anyone keep her from her goals. Jordan, on the other hand, has mired himself deep into the Order, with an almost shake-less faith in the righteousness of the Dragun Brotherhood. Of the two, I found Jordan's character ARC to be more intriguing as events begin to shake his faith. Quell, I felt, was a bit one note through the whole of the book, She was anger and rage and vengeance for the vast majority of the book with only a couple quieter moments of vulnerability. I honestly didn't mind it too much. Girl deserves to express all that rage. I am very intrigued to see where she goes character arc wise, in the next installment. World building, J.Elle did a wonderful job building on the bricks of what she made in 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦. We get to dive deeper into the truths about the past wielders of toushana. We get to look deeper into the political machinations of The Order and the Houses, especially the Dragun Brotherhood. Overall, this is a stellar addition to the 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦 series! J.Elle continues to be a favorite author of mine and this book shows why! *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄: ☆ Multi-POVs ☆ Female RAGE ☆ Lovers to Enemies ☆ Who needs Shadow Daddies when you can have a Shadow Queen ☆ Political Intrigue ☆ Who can you trust? ☆ He's chasing her
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
More Yearning and More Dark Magic
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review Shadows of Perl by J. Elle is a mixed third and first person-POV YA contemporary romantic fantasy continuation of House of Marionne. Since Quell embraced her toushana, deadly, dark magic, she's been on the run from the rest of the magical world while looking for her mother. The House of Perl takes her in, but there's a lotof secrets laying under the surface. Meanwhile, Jordan, the biy she found herself falling for, is now hunting her down. The worldbuilding is really expanded upon in this book, particularly the Houses, Toushana and the Draguns. Jordan is made the Dragunheart, who is second-in-command to the Dragunhead, and that gives him a lot of responsibility and forces him to test his loyalty to his family or to Quell. Toushana is revealed to be something some Houses actually do dabble in and the black and white worldbuilding of the first book is a lot more gray. Quell and Jordan's romantic arc is defined more by pining and denial than it was last time. There was yearning in the first book, but Quell at least seemed to think she could have him and Jordan was leaning into it. This time around, they often refer to each other as ‘the boy/girl I used to love’ and push away their feelings as much as possible despite other people seeing the truth. Jordan claims he's willing to bring Quell in, but when push comes to shove, he's a lot more hesitant. Nore is a new character and my favorite POV. She opens the book with a bang: a young woman from a House who cannot do magic so her mother injected her with toushana. Nore is looking for revenge and she's looking to be free of the magic that is slowly killing her. She has to hide around magical society in plain sight as her mother’s heir, wearing a fake diadem and pretending that all is well. Sometimes her chapters felt like reading a spy thriller and I'd love to read a fantasy spy thriller in a debutante setting. That sounds so fun. I would recommend this to fans of the lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic and readers of House of Marionne who loved the worldbuilding
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com