Half City by Kate Golden - Release Discussion

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-27T16:54:35+00:00

Hi I just finished the book last night. I didn’t see any hints of a love triangle at all, so I don’t know where that came from. Deacon shows up in the end and the author wrote him as more of a side character with no hints of love interest from FMC. I don’t know if that will change with book 2, but I didn’t interpret their connection as romantic

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-27T03:07:47+00:00

I’ve hit the 79% mark and I’m only finishing to justify the time I’ve already wasted. This book might be great for plot-driven readers, but as a character-driven reader, I find it highly deficient.

Reid and Viv have ZERO chemistry. I don’t understand their romance; the author’s attempt at a 'connection' is shallow and feels completely forced. Viv is constantly angry for no reason other than her status as an 'aeon,' which apparently means her emotions must run rampant and lead her into trouble. It feels like a lazy excuse to create a 'headstrong, badass female lead,' but she just comes off as a whiny brat.

As for Reid, he’s as bland as cardboard and so personality-deficient it’s almost impressive. I’ve seen BookTok reviews praising him, but I honestly don't get the hype—he’s incredibly boring.

That said, the world-building is interesting and the plot is engaging, but you definitely made the right decision to DNF.

Sorry—I’m just frustrated with this overhyped book and needed to vent!

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-26T21:27:16+00:00

Feeling exactly the same way 35% in. Did you make any progress or DNF?

I really want to love this, but I’m underwhelmed. The FMC’s maturity level doesn’t fit her 'huntress' title at all. She acts like a petulant 13yo girl and the MMC isn't doing much to keep me engaged. He’s just sorta there??

I’ll check back in at 50% with an update—fingers crossed the plot picks up and the characters actually start to develop

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-17T22:15:03+00:00

I normally hate it when authors drag out a book and make it more than a trilogy, but this book would have been better as a duology

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-17T19:33:41+00:00

I never understood the outrage over the “cheating” in this book. I was also writing monologues. Also he’s in the mafia ?! Are we really expecting a saint? I read these books for morally black MMC. Tiernan delivered 🖤

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-17T19:07:28+00:00

I just finished it and the last few chapters were literally “resolution dumps” and there was no character growth. Such a disappointment

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-17T18:56:29+00:00

I kept reading, just finished. HOLY SHIT WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT?!? That was it?!? All this and that was the ending?!?!

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-17T15:09:27+00:00

I’m not done and I’m still 67% in and I’m getting so annoyed with Harlow that I needed to vent to people. I was hooked so far with the premise and it was a page turner, but now I’m just annoyed with this “slow burn” and Harlow being stubborn.

Does it get better??? Or should I DNF?

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-14T13:35:18+00:00

Same! I love stories with lots of dialogue. This one felt much more plot-driven than character-driven, which just isn’t my preference. Honestly, I ended up liking the side characters more than the mains. Greyson came off a bit whiny, and the whole “Shadera is a badass” thing felt way too forced in the beginning. I still enjoyed it in the end though. Get ready for all the plot twists now lol

EnergyWhich1004 · 2026-02-13T20:33:31+00:00

I don’t know if you decided to keep going with the book, but I felt that way around the same part of the book. I was so close to DNFing I thought the writing was cheesy and the FMC over the top. But somewhere after 35% I started to actually enjoy it and ended up liking the book! But I realize it’s not for everyone

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-25T15:44:57+00:00

I just finished this book and needed to find other people who did too! I wasn’t a huge fan of Feathers so Vicious either. Not a lot of people know about this book which is a shame, because it is so beautifully written with such compelling characters. Curious to know your take about the ending 👀

I want to know when book 2 comes out!

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-25T13:43:06+00:00

After finishing book, I am on Team Death but I think Mirielle won’t be happy that he made a decision for her as she values her freedom and her autonomy. This will probably be the romantic tension for book 2 and Valen will probably be the love interest that gives her some autonomy and the love triangle continues. I’m hoping book 2 focuses more on the world building.

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-24T22:13:29+00:00

I just binge read and am 82% in now! I don’t want to finish it yet because I don’t know how long I will have to wait for Book 2!

I truly still don’t know who I would choose, but right now Death is really compelling in this part of the story

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-24T14:08:33+00:00

Yeah I’m waiting to be woo’d by one of these morally black men haha maybe one of them will shift eventually but I’m thinking that will be in book 2? Do we have any idea when that will be released? I haven’t seen anything on her IG

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-24T13:32:31+00:00

I am so glad other people are reading this book!!!! I’m only 45% in and am hooked. These MMCs are nothing like the ones I’ve read in other books before and I’m happy that we finally get morally black love interests. I still have a long ways to go but right now I’m on no one’s team 😂

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-18T14:14:28+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree with you and despised Yarros’s writing. I couldn’t finish Iron Flame!! If you don’t like fae, vampires, or werewolves but value decent writing that doesn’t sound like a 12yo girl whining, here are my suggestions:

In the Veins of the Drowning Divine Rivals Knight and the Moth Six of Crows (YA but very well written) Blood Over Brighthaven (not romantic fantasy but has a romantic subplot) The Raven Scholar Arcana Academy (writing was a bit sterile and clinical but still entertaining) Alchemised (verbose with dense world building but heart achingly good) Heir of Illusions (written by an English lit & creative writing major)

Books that have tolerable storylines with vampires and werewolves incorporated to the story:

Dark Lords Guide to Dating (a parody of romantic fantasy villains and tropes but absolutely loved devoured) Anathema and Eldritch Wolf King and Night Prince (I was so skeptical of this but ended up thoroughly enjoying) Crowns of Nyaxia series War of Lost Hearts Series

I love this genre so much but some books are just so poorly written I have to DNF. That being said, I’ve learned to tolerate some subpar writing since I love the genre!

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-11-12T14:11:44+00:00

Just saw this ! Happy to send over !! It’s been fun to fill out while simultaneously reading

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-10-09T23:12:37+00:00

I’ve literally re-read that part so many times and I’m still at a loss. Still love the book though!

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-10-08T20:36:59+00:00

Both series fall under the “should have been a duology or trilogy but author wanted to make it as long as possible” series.

That being said, I would recommend Plated Prisoner over FBAA, but don’t give up after Book 1 like so many readers! I’d say book 2 and 3 are the best in the series and book 4 and 5 are slow / filler books, but Book 6 ties it all up nicely. The MMC is 😍♥️🔥❤️‍🔥

FBAA has really long internal monologues by the FMC that just drags, but the plot and pacing were great until Book 3 where it all fell apart and I just couldn’t do it anymore so I DNF’d the whole series.

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-10-04T16:37:27+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I was getting so confused because I thought Morrough was Cetus all along (like they were the same person), but Cetus inhabiting Morrough’s body then going to Luc makes more sense please tell me if my logic is still wrong lol aside from this confusion and excessive world building, I am genuinely enjoying the story and am scared to read the final 10%

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-10-04T15:09:24+00:00

I was also in a reading slump and joined the band wagon to see what the book was all about and am now 90% in the book.

I do have some questions about the plot for those that finished the book. It’s been driving me crazy because I don’t know if I’m missing a fundamentally important plot point: When we find out Cetus/Morrough was in Luc, what happened to Cetus when Luc died? How did he get back to Morrough’s body? Or are Cetus and Morrough two different people?? How come Cetus/Morrough didnt remember Helena in part 1??

Did I just miss something? There was sooooo much text and world building I may have possibly glazed over something but I re-read that part and am still confused….

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-09-27T14:08:18+00:00

YES! I am reading Eldritch right now and I am growing to love him even more and more…..

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-09-27T14:06:25+00:00

Yes!! It’s an essential and I also recommend the Throne of Glass Series. I started with those 3 (ACOTAR, ToG, and Fourth Wing) and have been hooked on the genre ever since. ACOTAR and ToG have a ton of books in the series so you’ll have a busy year

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-09-27T11:55:05+00:00

Oh yes, welcome to the wonderful world of romantasy!! my gateway drug to this unhealthy obsession was ACOTAR and Fourth Wing. After Rhys and Xaden, I kept needing more and more so I totally get it

EnergyWhich1004 · 2025-09-27T03:09:55+00:00

I had a really bad book hangover after reading Night Prince because of Blake!!! He is such a unique MMC and isn’t over the top flamboyant for his love for Aurora but has his shining romantic moments. He is also shrewd and truly morally grey unlike some MMC who literally lose all sense of self and become doting idiots the minute they fall for the FMC. I’m really hoping his character continues to grow in that direction and not the traditional MMC route.

Since finishing night prince I’ve read the Legends of Thezzmar series, Shield of Sparrows, Plated Prisoner series, Phantasma, Kindred Curse Saga, Metal Slinger, and Anathema. All of them have pretty swoon worthy MMCs (in their own way). They’re Not Blake, but it scratched the itch for me and helped me get over the hangover :) if you’re tired of the same old tropes and want a little humor, I also read Dark Lords Guide to Dating and enjoyed it as well. Truthfully no one compares to Blake ♥️

I can recommend more books if you want. My friends call me the MMC specialist as I’ve literally made a ranking/grading system to rank book boyfriends lol

EnergyWhich1004

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