Helpful Score: 6
This is is the continuation of the story of what happens in Doppleganger. A lot of theory and questioning about the witches beliefs occur. There is a lot of upheaval in the customs of the witches because of Miryo and Mirage, and not everyone agrees with what happened. While most of the witches now believe dopplegangers should not be killed, many believe them to be abominations and disagree. A faction of witches leaves the witch stronghold of Starfall and attack it from outside. War amongst the witches begins. I thought that illustrating the frustrations of both sides in the war was a huge strength of the book, but the writing lacked something. I think the emotional ties between characters felt a little off, and while the writing was very solid, it needed more of that bonding and relationship element between the characters to add depth and give it kick.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed the first book, Doppleganger, and felt it had a solid & satisfying conclusion. This book somehow lacked the charm of the first for me. The plot was a lot slower moving.
Mirei (the new combo Miryo/Mirage) herds other doppleganger girls toward safety, taking them from various hunter schools to have them better guarded by witches. The Starfall witches are plagued by traitors and double-agents who believe that all such children, as abomination, should be destroyed. There's basically a lot of plotting & minor politicking between the rebel faction (kill 'em) and Starfall witches (keep 'em).
The best part of this novel was that there's finally some explanation about the cousins...Why they fail the test to become witches and lose their memories. However, other interesting questions are raised, but not answered (I'll assume the author is hoping to stretch the series to a trilogy), such as why only women are witches? Can men be opened to the magic and have dopplegangers? That sort of thing.
They spend some time doing cursory research into the nature of Mirei's void-magic. I would have enjoyed a more thorough exploration of her new powers, instead the author is pretty vague about it. In addition, there are two major events the author mentions, but then doesn't expand on (more evidence of sequel planning) - something that should have killed Mirei, but doesn't...why? And what happens if a Doppleganger kills her witch, instead of the other way around?
CONCLUSION: I'm not SORRY I read it exactly, its just that frankly, the first book did a fine job of tying everything up and its not as if warring factions are a surprise, right? So, I think I'll keep the first book, it was good as a stand-alone, and forget about the 2nd. I definitely got the feel it was a sort of transition book leading to a third title in the franchise.
Mirei (the new combo Miryo/Mirage) herds other doppleganger girls toward safety, taking them from various hunter schools to have them better guarded by witches. The Starfall witches are plagued by traitors and double-agents who believe that all such children, as abomination, should be destroyed. There's basically a lot of plotting & minor politicking between the rebel faction (kill 'em) and Starfall witches (keep 'em).
The best part of this novel was that there's finally some explanation about the cousins...Why they fail the test to become witches and lose their memories. However, other interesting questions are raised, but not answered (I'll assume the author is hoping to stretch the series to a trilogy), such as why only women are witches? Can men be opened to the magic and have dopplegangers? That sort of thing.
They spend some time doing cursory research into the nature of Mirei's void-magic. I would have enjoyed a more thorough exploration of her new powers, instead the author is pretty vague about it. In addition, there are two major events the author mentions, but then doesn't expand on (more evidence of sequel planning) - something that should have killed Mirei, but doesn't...why? And what happens if a Doppleganger kills her witch, instead of the other way around?
CONCLUSION: I'm not SORRY I read it exactly, its just that frankly, the first book did a fine job of tying everything up and its not as if warring factions are a surprise, right? So, I think I'll keep the first book, it was good as a stand-alone, and forget about the 2nd. I definitely got the feel it was a sort of transition book leading to a third title in the franchise.
