It’s a very passionate relationship, but because the two spend so much time in the bedroom together to the point where their identities boil down to ‘I love this person, end of story’ this becomes a relationship I can only view as having potential but right now is in a toxic place. They also continue to have a lack of communication where there really is no need for it (Aldrik deliberately keeps painful memories about crystals away from Vhalla, while she in turn keeps her knowledge of the crystal axe a secret) and promises are made that no one can keep. The two have become very co-dependent, which means their friendships suffer: Vhalla at one point feels suffocated from being inside with her prince for too long and goes outside very briefly to friends. I still see what Vhalla sees in him, and vice versa, but there is more to Aldrik than being Vhalla’s beau and I don’t get to see that. Aldrik having a drinking vice is merely thrown in and anything interesting about him he keeps closely guarded. The complexities of before have been reduced to a silver tongue prince who has some anger problems and who constantly fawns over Vhalla. I admire characters getting stronger, but not at the expense of others.Īs for Aldrik, well… This is not the same Aldrik. However, Vhalla does become close to a Mary Sue: while she was too much of a wreck before, here it seems she can do no wrong and those against her are jerks. She holds promises dearly and keeps them with the same heart.

Vhalla does have development again, becoming a soldier who no longer relies on a fake persona to be battle worthy, her skills with Channeling and the wind heighten and she no longer gives up. Girl, even you should know by now that he isn’t going to listen to that in that state! There are others as well, some of them life-risking, and it leaves me conflicted about Vhalla. One of these was complaining to Aldrik about his drinking habits… while he’s drunk. The last were decisions that were downright awful. A lot of these were to do with Aldrik, especially in the final chapters where she lets her emotions get the better of her. Give advice on war strategy to the Majors because she is finally utilising her book smarts mentioned from book one? Do that too! The second were decisions I didn’t necessarily agree with but understood why she made them. Vhalla decides to risk angering the Emperor to save her love and the heir? Yeah, do it. The first were decisions that I was completely on board with. Vhalla’s decision making was a big focus for me after talking to my reading buddy, and they became split in three ways.

Earth's End by Elise Kova