Things made a lot more sense in this sequel, though it was a little too late.
But I have a feeling that we were made to feel confused while reading the story and getting sucked into the characters' emotions... I just wished the author would have explained a little more every time something is revealed. Overall it was a solid gripping read, unlike its first book and I liked it more. ( )

3.5 stars

If Alice smoked opium in Wonderland and wrote a book, this would be it.
Must read book one to know what is going on and not care if a story has an open ending. ( )

The book was not as good as the first, often making the characters run around aimlessly looking for brodie. The writing style still made me continue, but I often found myself stopping most of the time during the story.

And gives us a conclusion that does not fix all the ends and has more to be desired. ( )

Alright since I enjoyed the first book I really wanted to keep following the story. For me the story was okay but it didn’t catch me the way the first book did.

Plot: The plot of this book pretty much was the same as the first with some slight difference. The love interest has left and the main character Violet spends her day thinking and pining away for him of course till he makes an appearance. I didn’t really like the plot cause it was what was in the first book. I was hoping to have a bit more detail but this book seems to be nothing but relationship drama.

Relationships: Because this book focuses more on Violet, the reader does get to know her more. I have to say that I’m a bit upset at this girl. She starts to questions her every emotion and even starts to like a new guy. For which she begins to say she doesn’t like him but still kisses him, thinks about him, etc. Really she was going back and forth with her emotions making me annoyed.

Ending: In the end, the reader is left with more questions and Violet still has not made up her mind. She is like in limbo and that ending is not very settling to me. I expected more action.

Overall, this book is not what I expected. It’s still a good story, but I was hoping for more growth of the plot/character development. ( )

This book is the final book in the Between duology. It was a beautifully written book that is written in such a unique style. I really enjoyed it.

Violet is determined to find River despite to turmoil he caused in the last book. Her search leads her through sleepy towns, searching out clues on River’s whereabouts by listening to a late night occult radio show. Some of the towns they journey through are enslaved by Brodie's spark. One of them is rumored to harbor a God of the Sea. The hunt for River and Brodie leads Violet and Neely to a save a young boy named Finch and stay in an old seaside house on an island with a sweet stubborn girl named Canto.

This was a beautifully written sequel to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. The book is written in a lyrical style that is really unique. The whole thing comes off as a bit dreamy and ambiguous, but the scenes really come alive. You can taste and feel the atmosphere in the book.

Many of the chapters start with an except from Vi’s late grandmother Freddie. Through this we learn about the events in Freddie’s past and how they tie in with what Vi is experiencing.

Violet is a very unique heroine. She lives a carefree life that is rich with artistic things, but poor on money and stability. Still in contrast to Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, in this book Violet is surrounded by friends who want to help her find River. Violet knows River and his family are bad news, she even admits this. However she also admits that she likes being part of the beautifully dark danger they represent.

Neely is in this book a ton and we really get to know and love him. He is supposedly the brother without any spark or burn, but in this book he finds his spark. He is steadfast and supportive of Violet in a way that Violet has never had in her life. It makes him an interesting traveling companion for Vi.

River isn’t in the book as much as I had hoped, but that makes sense considering they are searching for him. A new character is added that I really enjoyed, her name is Canto and they meet her in one of the small towns they journey through.

The whole journey is a bit surreal with gothic overtones to it and haunting scenes on lonely seashores. The ending is open and a big vague, which normally would bug me, but it totally fits with the tone of this story.

Overall I really loved this book and found it to be a unique and enchanting read. The writing is beautiful and the scenes really come alive. I love the whole “beauty in tragedy” type of theme to the story and the gothic feel to it. I really enjoy the characters and the somewhat ambiguous ending. I would recommend to those who enjoy gothic dreamy paranormal stories and don’t mind some ambiguity in their story. ( )