Dish

The Red Necklace: 5/5
The Silver Blade: 5/5

• very atmospheric
  - an incredible follow up to the prequel
  - beautiful writing, as expected
  - a little confusing in the first third, but the build-up to the climax is phenomenal
  - highly conducive to a re-read, as with gideon

• wonderfully realised and well-developed characters
  - very moving and utterly devastating
  - funny and sombre at exactly the right times
  - morally exasperating but only occasionally, and is pretty self-aware
  - sweet and tender friendships, romance, and relationships throughout

paused at 48%

a very fast-paced, tense, and innovative story — an incredible introduction to a fascinating world and powerful main character, though not very forthcoming with explanations