Hi everyone
The Bitter Twins is the second book in Jen Williams’ The Winnowing Flame Trilogy, and I picked up my copy from Bol.com. After loving The Ninth Rain, I was eager to dive back into this world.
"The Ninth Rain has fallen, the Jure'lia have returned, and with Ebora a shadow of its former self, the old enemy are closer to conquering Sarn than ever.
Tormalin the Oathless and the Fell-Witch Noon have their hands full dealing with the first war-beasts to be born in Ebora for nearly three hundred years. But these are not the great mythological warriors of old; hatched too early and with no link to their past lives, the war-beasts have no memory of the many battles they have fought and won, and no concept of how they can possibly do it again. The key to uniting them, according to the scholar Vintage, may lie in a part of Sarn no one really believes exists, but finding it will mean a dangerous journey at a time of war...
Meanwhile, Hestillion is trapped on board the corpse moon, forced into a strange and uneasy alliance with the Jure'lia queen. Something terrifying is growing up there, in the heart of the Behemoth, and the people of Sarn will have no defence against these new monsters."
The Bitter Twins was good but not as good as The Ninth Rain, the first book in The Winnowing Flame Trilogy.
The plot in The Bitter Twins felt less tight than in The Ninth Rain. There were a few moments where events felt too perfectly timed, too coincidental, or just too obvious, which pulled me out of the story. It lacked the seamless flow that made the first book so gripping.
Another issue was Tor’s characterization. In The Ninth Rain, he was caring, funny, and layered, but here, he felt reduced to a moping, one-dimensional figure. It was disappointing to see such a vibrant character become so flat.
And a minor but aggravating detail: the number of times Noon, Tor, or others held up Vintage as some kind of moral compass. She’s not a saint, and the repetitive praise felt unearned and irritating after a while.
Despite those issues, I flew through this book and I enjoyed it a lot. Jen Williams’ writing is effortless to read, and I love the world and magic she’s created. The warbeasts are fantastic, each with unique personalities that make them stand out. Noon grew on me in this book, and I appreciate her development as a character.
Hestillion’s character arc was a highlight. She owns her choices and understands her motivations, which makes her one of the most compelling characters in the series. I also loved the distinct voices of all the characters; each one feels unique and fully realized.
The history revelations were surprising and intriguing, and I’m curious to see how they’ll impact everyone in the next book.
And the action scenes? Absolutely fantastic. Williams delivers when it comes to tense, exciting battles and high-stakes moments.
The Bitter Twins wasn’t as strong as The Ninth Rain, but it still kept me hooked. The world, magic, and action are as captivating as ever, and I’m excited to see how everything wraps up in the final book. If you loved the first book in the series, this one is still very much worth reading; just be prepared for a book that's definitely not as good as the previous one.
Have you read The Bitter Twins? Did you feel the same way, or did it grab you more than it did me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
Helena
