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brookevol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
crhurlbert's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shaeanna's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
nemonade's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rainbowsandbookshelves's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
sdloomer's review against another edition
1.0
What was even the plot of this? It seemed like the author mashed every horrible thing into this book and hoped it would get by on shock value alone instead of developed characters, relationships, and worldbuilding. Ghosts, zombies, vampires, creepy cults, deadly environmental hazards, you name it, it's in here--and none of them contribute to the plot in any way, except for a laundry list of things the characters must fix.
Which brings me to the cast and their relationships with each other. I don't know anything about any of these characters, except that they're full of tropes. Rovan comes off as whiny, cruel, and petulant when she doesn't get her way. Japha only seems to be there for comedic relief. Ivrilos is the broody bad boy with a soft heart. Lydea is...I don't even know, because nothing was said about her except that she hates men. The villain is evil just for the sake of being evil with no real motive, and Rovan needed someone to justify her hatred against. Instalove was so prevalent in this book and I almost had to pick my eyes up off of the floor from rolling them so hard.
The magic system(s) could have been interesting enough to save me from boredom, but it was wholly underdeveloped and for the most part, I had no true understanding of how it worked. It seemed like the "rules" were only there for them to be broken in the end by a deus ex machina like solution, which led me to believe the author also had no idea how these systems worked either. That's not to say I dislike "soft" magic systems; it's that I'd prefer if things were a little more explained than "wave your arms in the air with some blood and something happens"--especially since the author gave us a huge infodump about the so-called rules of bloodmagic in the beginning chapters.
All in all, this had great potential, but fell utterly short of my expectations, even with the diversity of the cast.
Which brings me to the cast and their relationships with each other. I don't know anything about any of these characters, except that they're full of tropes. Rovan comes off as whiny, cruel, and petulant when she doesn't get her way. Japha only seems to be there for comedic relief. Ivrilos is the broody bad boy with a soft heart. Lydea is...I don't even know, because nothing was said about her except that she hates men. The villain is evil just for the sake of being evil with no real motive, and Rovan needed someone to justify her hatred against. Instalove was so prevalent in this book and I almost had to pick my eyes up off of the floor from rolling them so hard.
The magic system(s) could have been interesting enough to save me from boredom, but it was wholly underdeveloped and for the most part, I had no true understanding of how it worked. It seemed like the "rules" were only there for them to be broken in the end by a deus ex machina like solution, which led me to believe the author also had no idea how these systems worked either. That's not to say I dislike "soft" magic systems; it's that I'd prefer if things were a little more explained than "wave your arms in the air with some blood and something happens"--especially since the author gave us a huge infodump about the so-called rules of bloodmagic in the beginning chapters.
All in all, this had great potential, but fell utterly short of my expectations, even with the diversity of the cast.
thereadernthebeast's review
2.0
2.5☆ La construcción del mundo y el sistema de magia me atraparon inmediatamente, los personajes interesantes y creíbles cerraron el contrato. Mis expectativas se dispararon... pero nunca imaginé que una trama tan prometedora sería tan mal llevada. La historia se vino cuesta abajo. DNFed al 76%.
smellymiche's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Classism, and Alcoholism
marieintheraw's review
5.0
With a premise promising a pansexual and polyamorous blood-mage, I was both really excited and, to be honest, nervous. A book that sounds so up my alley? How can it end? Well friends, this one has the found family trope we know that I love. AND a really stinking cool magic system. Do not mind me, I'll be over here swooning still.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.