This is the second book in the Rhapsody series written by Elizabeth Haydon. I will write about the first one, but I have such strong feelings about this one that I need to get it out of my system first.

The second book in this series focuses, in a long-winded fashion, on the prophecies about the three main characters. Sort of an intermittent progression that will lead to the ‘final’ book (she writes several books after what is supposed to be the trilogy). Rhapsody is trying to understand her destiny, Achmed and Grunthor are mainly living the good life while actually working toward the goal of saving the world no thanks to Rhapsody. The mysterious stranger from the first book makes an appearance once more intertwining himself in the destinies of the main characters.

Without spoilers: I give the book a two. For over inflated writing, unnecessary exposition that threatens to kill, and increasingly unlikeable characters.

SPOILERS:

First, to the writing. As I stated, Haydon in this 700-plus-word book has taken long-winded, exposition to a whole new level. There is a difference between description and just filling up pages with useless information that no one needs to know. I’m sorry to be so harsh, but I had to really work at finishing this book and I’m a speed reader. Granted, it’s important to give information to create a picture and continue the story, but there is no reason for there to be several paragraphs just detailing how someone rode a horse somewhere or about characters or places that they travel to maybe once. She also has this very annoying habit of reiterating information that has already been said in almost equal measure over and over again… in the same book.

Secondly, the character of Rhapsody. Oh, God, this one makes me sick honestly. Rhapsody, in the first book, or at least for the most part in the first half, was an awesome character, then after leaving the Root becomes this increasingly, obnoxious naive idiot. In this second book, she abandons her friends constantly, adopts every child she finds as her grandchildren, ignores the warnings of Achmed of the dangers in the world and just acts a fool. Her trusting nature is just gross and makes her a singularly unlikeable character. She doesn’t care if it makes the world burn she’s going to just trust everyone and everything while ignoring her destiny to save the world. She is a horrible person honestly. For instance, she is too busy schtupping the random guy in her little grotto to find out that her ‘sister’ has been raped by an evil demon and had her soul taken over. I mean her inate selfishness in the book is just… I honestly feel angry, like legit wrathful.

Thirdly, the romance. So, in the first book, Ashe/Gwydion gets thrown back in time at 14 and meets a young Rhapsody. They get it on which is just a little bit gross and unrealistic for the sort of adult emotions that Haydon tries to portray and then they are like forever in love after like two hours. It’s one of those romance novel tropes that really needs to stop. Presently, Ashe starts falling in love with Rhapsody which really isn’t anything special since every man who meets her falls in love with her and nothing about how the love is described claims to be any different than any other creep who wants her. He’s maybe not a bad person, but he’s possessive and jealous. He doesn’t want Rhapsody to spend time with anyone else except him and I think if he had the option would just lock her away for his sole possession. The fact that Rhapsody even likes him just shows how damaged she is, she was a prostitute after all. The whole romance just has a level of ick.

Thirdly, Haydon pushes away at the one thing that made the whole book great: the Three. The whole book Rhapsody causes problems and is honestly just rude to Achmed and Grunthor. She ignores them, puts them down, and just in general seems to treat them like less than nothing for her own selfish desires. I mean, they literally have devil spawn causing horrible things in the world and she either hides away or goes off on her own adventures to solve her petty problems. Half the stuff that happened wouldn’t have if she had just listened to them. I mean, the first half of the book she goes off with Ashe who is completely suspect to return some dragon item and really solves pretty much nothing, except to ensure that Ashe comes off as instable, unlikeable and creepy.

I am so tired of books like these with the unstable relationships. Too many women read books like this and think Ashe is an ideal even though he is the exact type that you should stay as far away from as possible. I’m sorry, but Achmed would have been the better relationship. Maybe he’s not attractive, but he honestly cares about Rhapsody even though it goes against his nature. When she’s hurt he doesn’t leave her side, he sits with her as she mourns after Jo’s death (which is totally her fault in every way possible), and he loves her despite her faults. He isn’t afraid to call her on her bullcrap and would have been a real stable relationship.

At this point, I don’t think I can continue on with the third one, because honestly it just makes me sick. In some ways, Rhapsody is more the villain then the hero.