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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Us Dark Few by Alexis Patton
-Us Dark Few, Book 1-
3.75/5⭐️
🚪(spice: heavy make out)
1/3🦋 (swoon)
•My Thoughts•
I’ve been hearing people rave about this one and so naturally I had to see for myself! In some ways I understand what they saw…it’s gritty, the dystopian world set up is very cool and the setting of most of the book takes place in an underground prison. The writing is poetic and descriptive and our female main character has some intense mental health struggles that brought a lot of emotion to the writing. However, I think I would have benefitted form the male main character’s POV or at the very least, more conversation. He was such a mystery and I needed more “behind-the-scenes” reasoning for some of his choices. A few things felt too convenient or unbelievable and they bothered me. The romance had a few really great moments but it was not the focus of the story and I questioned whether this was really a slow burn or if just not much happened (in the romance, not the overall story)? We are told our MCs spend chunks of time together but we only got details a few times. I wanted more conversations! There was some beautiful developing found family but other moments where the relationships seemed forgotten. Sigh. All of this to say, I read this so fast, I was engaged the whole time AND its book 1 in a trilogy so I will absolutely acknowledge that some information and development is still coming. Pretty much I’m just a mixed bag of feelings - this had moments I loved and moments I didn’t and I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series but I’m also not opposed. Someone else read this so we can chat!
-Us Dark Few, Book 1-
3.75/5⭐️
🚪(spice: heavy make out)
1/3🦋 (swoon)
•My Thoughts•
I’ve been hearing people rave about this one and so naturally I had to see for myself! In some ways I understand what they saw…it’s gritty, the dystopian world set up is very cool and the setting of most of the book takes place in an underground prison. The writing is poetic and descriptive and our female main character has some intense mental health struggles that brought a lot of emotion to the writing. However, I think I would have benefitted form the male main character’s POV or at the very least, more conversation. He was such a mystery and I needed more “behind-the-scenes” reasoning for some of his choices. A few things felt too convenient or unbelievable and they bothered me. The romance had a few really great moments but it was not the focus of the story and I questioned whether this was really a slow burn or if just not much happened (in the romance, not the overall story)? We are told our MCs spend chunks of time together but we only got details a few times. I wanted more conversations! There was some beautiful developing found family but other moments where the relationships seemed forgotten. Sigh. All of this to say, I read this so fast, I was engaged the whole time AND its book 1 in a trilogy so I will absolutely acknowledge that some information and development is still coming. Pretty much I’m just a mixed bag of feelings - this had moments I loved and moments I didn’t and I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series but I’m also not opposed. Someone else read this so we can chat!
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The romance was fell very flat and I couldn’t emphasise with any character. The poetic writing felt forced at some points and made me cringe a little.
The concept and world building is nice though.
The concept and world building is nice though.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Overall Rating: 3.50/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
Listen. This book was.. okay. I kept wanting to like it more than I did. I loved elements of it but in other ways it felt unoriginal. I can’t really compare it to anything else I’ve read though so… I’m not sure.
The FMC is a well off girl who is sentenced to life in an underground prison because she was in possession of contraband (poetry). She meets the MMC who happens to be the captain of the guard for the prison.
This The 100 when they were living in the bunkers. Food is scarce, they all think the surface is uninhabitable due to radiation but no one knows. In addition to the bunker like underground prison there’s Apollo which is where “most” people live - Omega where the rich and famous live and than the surface which no one lives.
I had a hard time with it, I ended up getting the audiobook and haven’t decided if I’ll continue or not.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are many things I really enjoyed in this debut novel - the plot, the dystopian setting and some beautiful poetry. I see the potential in this series and the author so I'm definitely jumping into book 2.
What fell a bit flat for me was the romance between the MCs, while I appreciate the enemies to lovers and slow burn vibes i just wasn't feeling their connection and some of the diaglogue felt off while other parts I loved.
What fell a bit flat for me was the romance between the MCs, while I appreciate the enemies to lovers and slow burn vibes i just wasn't feeling their connection and some of the diaglogue felt off while other parts I loved.