Review of Redamancy (Fated Fixation, #2) by HC Dolores
You know that feeling when you finish the first book in a series, absolutely buzzing with anticipation for what’s next? Well, that was me after reading Limerence, the first book in HC Dolores’s Fated Fixation series. Poppy and Adrian’s turbulent relationship had me on the edge of my seat, convinced that the second installment would deliver even more of the heat, emotional depth, and dark twistiness that initially drew me in. Fast forward to Redamancy, and let’s just say I was a little… perplexed.
From the get-go, it’s clear that HC Dolores is not one to coddle her characters or her readers. However, what I hoped would enrich the story instead made me feel like I was trapped in an alternate universe where character growth and motivations went out the window. Poppy, who once wielded chaos as effortlessly as a weapon, is now… doodling in cafes while failing to pay rent. I mean, “thriving in New York City” usually suggests more than just finding questionable cafés to sketch in, right? The disconnect between the Poppy we fell in love with and the Poppy in Redamancy left me scratching my head.
Adrian, the sociopath with a heart so twisted yet captivating, also felt off. The blurb hints at his determination to reclaim what’s his, but what I encountered was more of a soggy napkin than a thunderstorm of intent. After a decade of separation, his actions were less about truly claiming Poppy and more about confusing plot devices. Seriously, ten years in the wind and suddenly he’s back in her life, stalking her? Talk about an unhealthy relationship dynamic!
The pacing was another struggle for me. The plot twist—oh, that infamous plot twist—laid out like a poorly wrapped gift at the back of the story. We’re trekking through nearly 80% of the book before anything of consequence truly unfolds. The climax felt rushed, almost as if HC Dolores had a quota to meet and decided to cram everything into a single chapter. I was left wishing I could have had more than a flimsy, rushed monologue to digest between Adrian and Poppy.
Yet amidst the chaos, Dolores’s humor shines. Some lines genuinely made me chuckle, especially when Poppy compares her prison stay to a digital detox. That humor feels so deftly placed in an otherwise dark story, providing brief moments of levity that ultimately kept me flipping pages.
As I wrap up my thoughts on Redamancy, I have to acknowledge that the themes of obsession, survival, and twisted love are still present, albeit in a way that left me questioning who these characters really were. Would I recommend this book? If you’re a die-hard fan of the first installment and like your romances laced with a hint of chaos, give it a try. Just remember to leave your preconceptions at the door.
In the end, while Redamancy expressed a tale I wanted more from, it also forced me to confront the nuances of character arcs and narrative consistency. Perhaps sometimes, the path to redemption is paved with unexpected turns—or maybe, just maybe, Adrian and Poppy took a wrong exit altogether! Happy reading, my fellow book lovers!
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