Random Reader Thoughts (Multiple POVs)

So wanted to make a quick post to share my thoughts on the book series I just finished which was the Sunbearer duology by Aiden Thomas. I loved the first book the Sunbearer Trials but was left feeling underwhelmed by the second book Celestial Monsters. I knew going into Book 2 that it was going to be a very different book from the first based on the cliffhanger we were left on. We still pick up where we leave off with Teo, our main character, but then we also get to have a second POV in the outsider turned villain Xio.

This is one of the reasons I did not like the book, and I have definitely had this happen before. I am more than ok with a book having multiple points of view, however you cannot have the main character be sidelined while you flesh out the new character. I am all for characters having depth and not being completely black and white, but sometimes people are just evil. It felt a bit cliche to have it because, SPOILER ALERT, Xio has a change of heart and helps Teo free the trapped heroes.

I felt the exact same way after reading Judy Lin's Tea Duology, the first book was amazing but then the second book included the dual POV with the love interest from the first book. I just wanted to share this because this is the second time I have seen this happen, and these are both YA duologies so maybe this is a common occurrence within the YA space of books. I'll have to read more to see if my theory is correct.

Thanks for stopping by the Nest, be sure to stop back soon as I will be posting some book reviews soon!