Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Wild and Wicked Things

To be honest, I doubt I would have finished the read if I hadn't started it for a book club. The concept really appealed to me when I read the short summary, but from the very start, the first-person pov switching between two characters made it hard for me to connect to either of them. I also didn't find these characters very likeable or interesting, and in the beginning of the book the question of what Annie’s father had been hiding was dragged out for a long time. I think the intention was to build a sense of mystery, but the problem was

that it was very easy to figure out what his big secret would be in this context, and I was simply waiting to be proven right.

Then there was a “love at first sight” situation, which at the best of times is difficult for me as an aro ace reader to relate to, but after that point, I didn’t really have the feeling that the reader was made to fall in love with the characters along with them. All we knew was that Emmeline looked great in her “man’s suits”, but none of the characters really seemed to be good people. They were constantly ready to blame everything and everyone else, rather than taking responsibility for their own actions. And many of the bad decisions didn’t feel like there was a good reason for them in-story—they only furthered the plot.

The best part of the story, to me, were the flashbacks. The story of the younger versions of the characters rebelling against their "saviour" was empowering, even if they're going through horrible things, and made me wish the book had focused on that particular tale instead. However, I’m also quite confused by Emmeline’s arc in these flashbacks. A large point is made of her suits and the fact she feels more comfortable in them, and in the fact that a (debatably) “less feminine” name felt better for her, but in the end all this seems to serve is

the reveal that the Lilith in the flashbacks is really her.

The gender journey I expected for her never comes.

The worldbuilding, the magic system, the queer representation: there was so much potential in all these concepts, but it never quite hit the spot for me.

I want to give a special shoutout to the artist who created the cover, as that one is a piece of art in itself. Absolutely gorgeous!

List of content warnings under the following spoiler cut:

CW self-harm, manipulation, sexual abuse, unvoluntary sex work, alcohol, death, murder, domestic abuse, violence, blood, psychological torture, body fluids, necromancy, mentions of abortion, mentions of using children’s blood for magical purposes.

Content Warnings

gothbaby's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I started this book hoping that it would be a 5 star read based on the cover, the blurb, and the writing in the first few chapters. I felt like the story was building on itself quite nicely so I was very disappointed when it fell flat.

I will start with the plot, since that was my biggest source of frustration. I was so happy to pick up a sapphic adult fantasy book. The fact that it was about witches felt like a true lottery win for me. However, the plot was so flat that I kept having to ask myself whether or not I was expecting too much of certain plot points.

The first being the constant allusion to Emmeline’s “darkness.” I put that in quotations because there was nothing indicative of that in the book… she was perfectly kind if not moody. I expected her to literally bathe in blood and perform salacious spells based on the way Annie described her. Instead, the actual magic factor was almost inexistent.

Based on Annie’s visions and the tether, I also expected her to come to great power but there was nothing of the sort. She was meek and showed no interest in actually practicing magic. I found it strange that the author kept referring to all of her senses and the pull of the tether but never had her explore any of it. It felt like a really underdeveloped magic system and plot overall.

Personally, I wanted the crows to have a larger significance. I expected the book to be darker and more intense, more thrilling, but there was none of that. Along with the whole Bea/Arthur blood debt thing (which I found boring and a weak conflict), this was my main source of apathy towards the whole book.

The sapphic subplot was engaging until it wasn’t. I feel like the author relied too much on

Annie’s and Emmeline’s tether to construct a believable relationship between the two.

I wanted Emmeline to be mysterious and for that plot point to feel physically real to me, but instead the book

ended with me feeling like Emmeline would leave Annie because she didn’t love her as much.

The author’s choice to reiterate people’s magic scent was very repetitive. I started to anticipate it any time characters interacted and it seemed like the author had nothing else to use in terms of describing the character’s presence. Again, it felt shallow.

I’m so disappointed by the feeling that this book just wasn’t executed to its fullest potential. That the story wasn’t exciting to me.

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ellenigrace's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense

4.5

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aoifeonpaper's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Wild and Wicked Things has my heart. It's one of those books you come across and just know it's going to stick with you for a long while, overpowering you with the urge to recommend it to anyone and everyone regardless of their favoured genres.

If you've heard of this book at all, you'll know it's a Gatsby inspired sapphic romance, casting Gatsby as a powerful, enigmatic witch and Carraway as a doe eyed girl with a hidden fire.

If you haven't heard of it - you're in for a treat.

The first half of the book was atmospheric, with lush and vivid writing - if a little slower paced than I normally go for. I'll be honest, at one point I started to doubt how much I wanted to invest in a 400+ page book for vibes alone. But it was SO worth sticking around on Crow Island! The tender, electric romance, the mystery and tension, and OH, everything about the witches of Cross House, all combined to make this one of my favourite books of the year so far.

I'm expecting to see this Wild & Wicked Things absolutely everywhere this summer. An easy 5 stars!

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