Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 07/03/2025
Published by: Audible Studios
ISBN: B0CB9886MW
‘Only Good Enemies’ follows a similar structure to the first book, with a clunky start that soon leads to an entertaining mix of action and romance.
Cover:
Writing:
Storyline:
Main character(s):
Secondary characters:
Romance:
Narration & Audio:
The initial chapters of this sequel are packed with background information as detailed recaps and updates set the scene. While this wasn’t a gripping start, the story soon gained momentum, and the high-stakes storyline was engaging despite a few convenient moments. I especially enjoyed the constant bursts of action, which were well-written and vividly described. Also, the advanced, imaginative technology kept the world interesting, although the galactic setting wasn’t dramatically expanded, and some concepts felt over-explained.
everything truly was better with a cup of tea
Vesper’s journey in this book is just as rough as the first book, even with her change in status. Through it all, her fierce determination, nerdy charm, and resilience kept her character easy to like and root for. I also appreciated the deeper dive into her fear of abandonment, which brought about some character growth. In contrast, Kyrion remains true to his arrogant and guarded personality. This often made me want to shake him for being so cagey about his feelings! Still, his dynamic with Vesper was even more compelling in this sequel, as their growing feelings are reflected in their actions and vulnerability. This meant that while their romance and fated bond received more focus in this book, it remained believable and adorable.
The supporting characters are given more attention in this sequel, with key characters from the previous book taking on larger roles and new characters being introduced. It was great to see Vesper and Kyrion lean on their friends for support, and even the antagonists are further fleshed out, adding depth to the plot. Besides, the loose ends surrounding some characters make me eager to see what’s next in the series!
It only takes a small thing to change your whole perspective, your whole life, your whole world.
The narrators—Lauren Fortgang, James Fouhey, and Max Roll— also deserve praise. Their natural, emotive performances fit the characters and brought them to life. They even adapted slight character voices, and their narration of “pew pew” during the action scenes always made me chuckle!
Discussion Questions (Contains spoilers!):
Q: Have you ever trained consistently in a combat sport?
I haven’t and do not plan to since most combat sports seem painful. However, the action scenes in this book and my obsession with the TV show Cobra Kai make me wish I had some martial arts training.
Q: What did you think about Zain’s role in this book?
At first, it felt a bit too convenient that Zain was helping Vesper and Kyrion, as that did not quite fit with how he was portrayed before. However, the bonus chapters from his point of view shed light on his motives and added depth to his character. I am genuinely curious to see his journey in the rest of the series, especially with the mysteries surrounding his powers and ultimate goal.
Q: Which scene stood out most to you?
Without a doubt, it is the moment when Vesper and Kyrion reach for each other’s hands, and there is an explosive release of power! This was such a cinematic moment that I began to picture this series as a movie. The emotional weight of the scene also made it even more memorable.
Q: What did you think about the solution to prevent Holloway from stealing the powers of the main characters?
Resolving the massive conflict of Holloway siphoning their powers with a lack of fear felt underwhelming. However, I’m glad Vesper and Kyrion have a way to combat Holloway’s greed, and I’m excited to see how this will impact the series going forward!
Q: Do you have any similar recommendations?
While they aren’t sci-fi books, The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black, Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody, and Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep are similar romantasy reads.
See my other reviews for Jennifer Estep:
Galactic Bonds:
Crown of Shards Series:
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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