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mel_reads1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Looking forward to reading the second book. Book 1 is a slow burn. It starts with the main character at a young age and we see the main events that lead to who she is as an adult some 20 years later. It helps explain her motivations and reactions later on in the story. Without that background, I'm not sure that I would have found the MC likeable. That did slow the pace of the book however I am hopeful that book 2 will pick things up.
nicole_thereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Infertility, and Pedophilia
lexy_sj18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mrskingisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Love a good retelling!
The beginning definitely dragged. Like… 100 pages too long dragged. But once it started going, I was hooked. I def hate Trek- he’s just TOO much- but somehow I’m still rooting for them?
The beginning definitely dragged. Like… 100 pages too long dragged. But once it started going, I was hooked. I def hate Trek- he’s just TOO much- but somehow I’m still rooting for them?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Adult/minor relationship
bookgroundmel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
If you love a slow burn this book is the embodiment for it. It's dark and has lots of tension. Love the dual pov from the FMC and mmc it gives so much backstory and insight to why things are happening. Adelais inner monologue is a little repetitive but she's finding herself and rebuilding her life. As for terek is he the definition of broody moral gray romance. The side characters of the twins is the nice counterbalance to the dark 2. Can't wait for the ending!
jadedfrrog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
linzeeslittlelibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
2.5
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions in this review are ultimately my own and shouldn’t dissuade you from giving the story a try. You might enjoy it more than I did!
This is a solid ⭐️⭐️.5 stars for me. I love this author so giving this book a less than positive review is hard—but I gotta be honest.
For part one of a duet, this book was way too long for me. Nearly 700 pages, and pacing was a HUGE detriment to my enjoyment. When things were happening my interest was peaked and I was engaged with the story, but in between it was a slog. It felt like not much happened over all. The intro chapters went on too long. I understand the idea of introducing the Upside vs. Underland and how Adelais travels between, I understand wanting to make it so we are really rooting for Adelais to leave and stay in the Underland. But it felt like we focused far too much on her abuse etc while also getting confusing world building smattered in.
Also the choice to have Adelais’ story set in what I am assuming is like late 1800’s-early 1900’s (England?) but have modern phrasing etc was a bit of a jarring decision that pulled me out. that’s me being nitpicky but if the setting of the Upside was modern I wouldn’t have batted an eye.
The world building of the Underland was cool at the surface but I feel like it falls apart a bit. Some of the elements didn’t really make a ton of sense to me given its Afterlife/Purgatory like state and so things were a tad—weird. Idk.
Also Terek was a bit too much. I get it, he’s angry and broody and obsessive but I felt like his lack of communication was just a bit of a lazy way of just dragging the plot on for longer than neccesary . He should have just told Adelais what she needed to know. She also should have acted like her 27 years of age and not been so frustrating in making silly decisions that got her in trouble.
She’s been controlled all her life, yes, and she traumatized by her abuse(of course she is) but her naïveté was used as too much a crutch for me and so it made her actions really frustrating as she kept being wishy washy. Again though, Terek not just calming the heck down and telling her vital info could have solved that. Also I would have liked more of a softer side to him. I like an angry broody MMC as much as the next girl, but it felt like we didn’t get anything other than one side of him so his character felt really flat.
I could go on, but again it would feel like me nitpicking and while I enjoyed the bones of the story the meat just wasn’t cooked like I’d prefer.
All opinions in this review are ultimately my own and shouldn’t dissuade you from giving the story a try. You might enjoy it more than I did!
This is a solid ⭐️⭐️.5 stars for me. I love this author so giving this book a less than positive review is hard—but I gotta be honest.
For part one of a duet, this book was way too long for me. Nearly 700 pages, and pacing was a HUGE detriment to my enjoyment. When things were happening my interest was peaked and I was engaged with the story, but in between it was a slog. It felt like not much happened over all. The intro chapters went on too long. I understand the idea of introducing the Upside vs. Underland and how Adelais travels between, I understand wanting to make it so we are really rooting for Adelais to leave and stay in the Underland. But it felt like we focused far too much on her abuse etc while also getting confusing world building smattered in.
Also the choice to have Adelais’ story set in what I am assuming is like late 1800’s-early 1900’s (England?) but have modern phrasing etc was a bit of a jarring decision that pulled me out. that’s me being nitpicky but if the setting of the Upside was modern I wouldn’t have batted an eye.
The world building of the Underland was cool at the surface but I feel like it falls apart a bit. Some of the elements didn’t really make a ton of sense to me given its Afterlife/Purgatory like state and so things were a tad—weird. Idk.
Also Terek was a bit too much. I get it, he’s angry and broody and obsessive but I felt like his lack of communication was just a bit of a lazy way of just dragging the plot on for longer than neccesary . He should have just told Adelais what she needed to know. She also should have acted like her 27 years of age and not been so frustrating in making silly decisions that got her in trouble.
She’s been controlled all her life, yes, and she traumatized by her abuse(of course she is) but her naïveté was used as too much a crutch for me and so it made her actions really frustrating as she kept being wishy washy. Again though, Terek not just calming the heck down and telling her vital info could have solved that. Also I would have liked more of a softer side to him. I like an angry broody MMC as much as the next girl, but it felt like we didn’t get anything other than one side of him so his character felt really flat.
I could go on, but again it would feel like me nitpicking and while I enjoyed the bones of the story the meat just wasn’t cooked like I’d prefer.
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