Book Review: Redamancy (Fated Fixation, #2) by hc dolores
When I picked up Redamancy, the second installment in hc dolores’s Fated Fixation series, I was eager to dive into the tangled web of obsession and redemption that the first book, Limerence, brilliantly wove. The blurb promised a suspenseful exploration of love and moral ambiguity—two elements that usually pull me right in. However, what unfolded felt more like a chaotic detour without a map, leaving me both baffled and slightly unmoored.
Let’s dive into the characters first. Poppy Davis, once an intriguing antiheroine who navigated a world of machinations and conflicts, felt almost unrecognizable in this sequel. Described as "thriving in New York City," her reality consisted of doodling in cafes and struggling to pay rent, painting a much different picture than the ambitious woman I had come to know. The evolution—or perhaps devolution—of her character left me bewildered. Did the fierce girl who was willing to poison a classmate to secure her future board the wrong flight to this narrative? The dissonance between her past and present made me question everything I thought I knew about her.
Then there’s Adrian, who is presented in the blurb as a “sociopath determined to take back what’s his.” Yet, his ten-year absence made him feel more like a damp napkin in a thunderstorm than a determined force. The shock of realization hit me when Poppy discovers his unsettling obsession with her—he has a “stalker binder” filled with private details, which Poppy only reacts to with a casual shrug. Seriously? The narrative’s lack of urgency and Poppy’s seemingly casual dismissal left me rolling my eyes.
As for the pacing, dear readers, it was all over the place. We reached high stakes by the 80% mark, but it felt rushed and unearned—like serving dessert before the main course. The climax arrived not with a bang but a letdown, featuring a monologue from Adrian that was more DC villain cliché than heartfelt declaration. As I turned the page to see their wedding rushed through in the next chapter, I wondered, “Was I supposed to be moved?”
While Redamancy features moments of dark humor and absurdity, particularly in Poppy’s witty comparisons of prison life to a digital detox (hands up if you laughed), I found myself yearning for a coherent storyline that tied back to the thrilling exploits of Limerence. Instead, we were left with a chaotic conclusion that introduced new characters and conflicts—only to leave them unexplored, culminating in a bloody and abrupt finale that felt jarring.
Despite these critiques, I can see how the book might find a home among readers who enjoy unpredictable plot twists and character arcs that defy expectations. If you relish stories punctuated by dark humor and thrill-packed twists, this could scratch that itch. I had hoped for a nuanced exploration of love and obsession but came away feeling disoriented instead.
In conclusion, while Redamancy had the potential to delve deeper into its complex themes, it ultimately left me longing for the gripping narrative that Limerence promised. For now, I’ll be contemplating whether I’ll embark on any further adventures with Poppy and Adrian—or if it’s time to say goodbye to characters who feel just a little too distant from their original selves. #NOTMYADRIANPOPPY
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