I’ve been looking forward to this sequel since I finished The Good Luck Girls. And while I enjoyed the action, the pacing was really hard for me to get into. Doesn’t that just break your heart? Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
The Good Luck Girls are free. Aster’s sister and friends have new lives across the border in Ferron, while Aster remains in Arketta, helping more girls escape. But news of a new welcome house opening fills Aster with a need to do more than just help individual girls. And an unexpected reunion gives her an idea of how to do it. From there, grows a wildly ambitious plan to free all dustbloods, who live as prisoners to Arketta’s landmasters and debt slavery.
When Clementine and the others return from Ferron, they become the heart of a vibrant group of fearless fighters, working to unite the various underclasses and convince them to join in the fight. Along the way, friendships will be forged, lives will be lost, and love will take root even in the harshest of circumstances, between the most unexpected of lovers.
But will Arketta’s dustbloods finally come into power and freedom, or will the resistance just open them up to a new sort of danger?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Initially, I was so excited for this sequel. I felt like The Good Luck Girls was one of the most unique world I’ve read in a while. Electricity guns, post-apocalyptic Mad Max vibes, and dystopia. That’s kind of all the things I love. And I sincerely enjoyed the first one, but The Sisters of Reckoning pace was hard for me. I felt like so much of it felt like start and stop. Like I would get into the action and feel this lull, and this kind of went on through 80%.
I was determined to make it to the end, but it kept pulling me out of reading. I feel like most sequels have this current that pulls you through, and this one just lulled a bit too much sometimes. Besides the pacing, I like the general overall movement of the story. It felt right, even if it was a bit of a journey to get there. The Sisters of Reckoning asks us how responsible we are for the consequences of change. Revolution is going to crack a few eggs. There has to be a line between knowing that we have to make a stand, and also not letting our fear control us.
That last 20% almost made the entire time before worth it though. In some ways The Sisters of Reckoning feels more epic – because it bites off a lot of systemic issues – but the pacing just made it seems slower than it was. Thematic wise, and even character growth wise, it was definitely satisfying, it just felt hard to get there. Find The Sisters of Reckoning on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.