Overall I liked the story, but like a lot of stories, the second half felt weaker imo. I wasn't fond of the direction it chose to go.
I kind of think they could have dropped the demon subplot. If Erez was just a regular human who turned back time, it wouldn't change much. But I recognize Demon-Cosette needed to be a thing to explain why that 6 timeline was awful.
That said, Raganbach just being a solo instigator to start a war "just because" was kind of a bland motivation. I think just being evil for the sake of evil would've been more believable. Maybe it actually be real-Cosette wanting to stir chaos would've been more compelling.
I kind of wished the first duchess was a bigger character too in that regard considering how badly she was wronged (I know real-Cosette saying her mother's side we'd terrible people too was suppose to give Keira an out for the guilt at what happened, but for real, that lady was so badly wronged, my god)
I was wondering if there was supposed to be something more about the grandfather saying he controlled his daughter so completely. Like, not sexually, but to imply the second wife didn't love the Duke at all (tho tbh I didn't get the impression he loved either wife, he was just fulfilling his duty to have kids for the sake of an Elementalist being born).
I personally was more interested in the familial aspect of the story, so I wanted to know more about the grandfather and Keira's mother and Cosette's family, but alas.
As for romance, I still stan Joseph lol, but I recognize he's been written to be so pure and safe that he could be rejected safely (actually I don't think Keira ever actually rejected him, he was never even in consideration. Poor guy...)
Erez is...fine. Like, he objectively is the reason why Keira got her second chance and made changes to save the world. That's pretty strong pedigree to be the ML. I just didn't appreciate his callous attitude towards the humans that were brainwashed into thinking he was family. Rather than erase that history, he could've thanked them or something for allowing him to be part of their lives. Something to show his feelings for Keira had some foundation (but again, it's her that made him feel things I guess...)
By the end everything just got wrapped up neat and tidy-and that's fine. No hate, but I don't think I'll be rereading this any time soon.
Overall I liked the story, but like a lot of stories, the second half felt weaker imo. I wasn't fond of the direction it chose to go.
I kind of think they could have dropped the demon subplot. If Erez was just a regular human who turned back time, it wouldn't change much. But I recognize Demon-Cosette needed to be a thing to explain why that 6 timeline was awful.
That said, Raganbach just being a solo instigator to start a war "just because" was kind of a bland motivation. I think just being evil for the sake of evil would've been more believable. Maybe it actually be real-Cosette wanting to stir chaos would've been more compelling.
I kind of wished the first duchess was a bigger character too in that regard considering how badly she was wronged (I know real-Cosette saying her mother's side we'd terrible people too was suppose to give Keira an out for the guilt at what happened, but for real, that lady was so badly wronged, my god)
I was wondering if there was supposed to be something more about the grandfather saying he controlled his daughter so completely. Like, not sexually, but to imply the second wife didn't love the Duke at all (tho tbh I didn't get the impression he loved either wife, he was just fulfilling his duty to have kids for the sake of an Elementalist being born).
I personally was more interested in the familial aspect of the story, so I wanted to know more about the grandfather and Keira's mother and Cosette's family, but alas.
As for romance, I still stan Joseph lol, but I recognize he's been written to be so pure and safe that he could be rejected safely (actually I don't think Keira ever actually rejected him, he was never even in consideration. Poor guy...)
Erez is...fine. Like, he objectively is the reason why Keira got her second chance and made changes to save the world. That's pretty strong pedigree to be the ML. I just didn't appreciate his callous attitude towards the humans that were brainwashed into thinking he was family. Rather than erase that history, he could've thanked them or something for allowing him to be part of their lives. Something to show his feelings for Keira had some foundation (but again, it's her that made him feel things I guess...)
By the end everything just got wrapped up neat and tidy-and that's fine. No hate, but I don't think I'll be rereading this any time soon.