You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
oz2021's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
emmirosereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I can definitely see and understand why so many people loved this book! There was a lot of potential and a lot that I did like. I loved the vibes. I loved the two main characters and the eventual opposites attract relationship they formed. They had good chemistry and it developed in a really sweet way. I loved the themes of female rage throughout the book, especially at the end. Unfortunately, I just could not connect and love this story as vividly as everyone else seemed to. I'm not sure if it just wasn't the right time for me to read this as I'm a huge mood reader or if it was something with the book itself that I inherently had a problem with that I can't quite identify.
My biggest gripe with the book was its pacing. I attempted to read this on my Kindle but couldn't get into it so I tried the audiobook which was better but it still took me till about 50% of the way through the really be invested and even then I wasn't completely invested. I also had some issues with the worldbuilding. I don't know if lackluster is the right description because the foundation is there and good but I almost wish there were more fantasy elements to it. The book is on the shorter side so it is a bit hard to give a full lush world in that amount of time.
I liked it well enough but didn't love it and was a little bored for most of it I hate to admit but I definitely think this is worth giving a try if you think you might enjoy it!
My biggest gripe with the book was its pacing. I attempted to read this on my Kindle but couldn't get into it so I tried the audiobook which was better but it still took me till about 50% of the way through the really be invested and even then I wasn't completely invested. I also had some issues with the worldbuilding. I don't know if lackluster is the right description because the foundation is there and good but I almost wish there were more fantasy elements to it. The book is on the shorter side so it is a bit hard to give a full lush world in that amount of time.
I liked it well enough but didn't love it and was a little bored for most of it I hate to admit but I definitely think this is worth giving a try if you think you might enjoy it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
katialena's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
artmuseam's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
this book had everything i love in a romantasy: magic, academia, two misunderstood people who fell in love, and historical fantasy. i would say this was honestly pretty good for a ya debut novel, but i think the ending was very predictable, which made this book fall short. the pacing and world building was really well done throughout the beginning and middle parts, and i loved the slow but steady unraveling of the mystery. the ending ended up being exactly what i predicted, though, which left me feeling slightly disappointed. i wanted some sort of shocking plot twist after such a large buildup happening from the start, but i think the author decided to leave plot extravagance away from the focus. still, it was an enjoyable read and i loved the aesthetic and deep metaphors behind the story. 3.75/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
p2evavaras's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really-really liked this story! It was comforting for my soul and the characters were well constructed, even tho it's quite a short book I felt like there was something to be learned about them at every page-turn. Effy was quite clearly mentally troubled but I liked the author's representation of her anxieties, as in they felt true to life. I also loved the small romance between Preston and Effy, it worked great as a subplot and gave the story a more lighthearted tone, also their banter was -chefs kiss-!! The only reason why the book didn't get 5 stars from me is the very-very ending - it wasnt a bad ending by any means but something about it left me feeling like it was a tad bit rushed and somehow didn't feel as well thought-out and put-together as the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
aleilvandrea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this book starts a bit slowly but man did I soon feel like I was imprisoned in a rotting house on the sea… “mad” wives locked away… sublime climatological events… the Gothic TM!!!! Reid took NOTES on gothic classics and passed this practical with flying colors methinks
Effy is deeply, sadly relatable: scared, often cowed by the incredibly shitty hand she is dealt, but empowered by genuine love and support, and her commitment to never backing down from her dreams. Preston was almost uncannily perfect as a love interest, and frankly I need me a literature freak like dat. hinge isn’t working so maybe i gotta start hanging out in the bookstore looking ready to Have Discourse
I liked this a lot, and am very interested in reading Reid’s other work. I didn’t realize this was YA until I’d already started it, but I would call this a really good example of YA writing, maybe towards the end of YA and into New Adult (is that still a thing)? the themes are very timely imo for 17-20 year olds moving into higher ed and the workforce, and something I think would’ve really resonated with me at that time. as a 26 year old, they still ring quite true for me as a person a bit beyond those years, but still able to remember the simultaneous freedom and fear inherent in being a newly “adult” woman. you’re on your own! but that means you’re on your own. a terrifying and exhilarating time of life, and a vulnerable time to those with power over you or your future. great read
Effy is deeply, sadly relatable: scared, often cowed by the incredibly shitty hand she is dealt, but empowered by genuine love and support, and her commitment to never backing down from her dreams. Preston was almost uncannily perfect as a love interest, and frankly I need me a literature freak like dat. hinge isn’t working so maybe i gotta start hanging out in the bookstore looking ready to Have Discourse
I liked this a lot, and am very interested in reading Reid’s other work. I didn’t realize this was YA until I’d already started it, but I would call this a really good example of YA writing, maybe towards the end of YA and into New Adult (is that still a thing)? the themes are very timely imo for 17-20 year olds moving into higher ed and the workforce, and something I think would’ve really resonated with me at that time. as a 26 year old, they still ring quite true for me as a person a bit beyond those years, but still able to remember the simultaneous freedom and fear inherent in being a newly “adult” woman. you’re on your own! but that means you’re on your own. a terrifying and exhilarating time of life, and a vulnerable time to those with power over you or your future. great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault and Xenophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
wooblatoober's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this review is littered with spoilers so do not read it if you haven’t read the book yet. i’m spoiler tagging the most major spoilers but i am leaving things unspoilered that might or might not be considered spoilers depending on the reader
i really loved some aspects of this book but was really bothered by others—i loved the imagery & the metaphors really made me feel the way i believe the author wanted me to feel. parts were very cozy in ways i haven’t felt since i was probably 14. i LOVED the love interest & i had a huge crush on him because he’s so perfect. whenever there was a scene without him, i wanted him to come back, & i believe reid did a good job of making him incredibly caring while still empowering the female lead. the book covered serious topics regarding misogyny & sexual assault very well,& the way effy was able to bond with angharad & angharad was able to get some sort of justice was really touching to me, not to mention how the symbolism of angharad (who lived much of her life under an entity that seems to represent, as a whole, misogyny, patriarchy, & predation) being able to help effy break out of that cycle for herself. i also liked that even though angharad is old, it’s not treated like she lost her entire life under the repression of a man twice her age who was also sometimes the fairy king. very empowering that it was treated like, despite what was taken from her, she still had life in front of her to live, & be strong, & be free. lastly, i could identify with effy’s sexual trauma in poignant ways. i really enjoyed reading this book for most of my time reading it & i liked it enough that i’ll likely reread it, which i don’t often do.
my complaint is this: effy’s fucking racist. & i love a problematic character who grows & learns lessons & changes, BUT SHE FUCKING DOESN’T!!! it’s just not dealt with well & leaves a bad taste in my mouth. she even calls him slurs at one point and i don’t think she ever took accountability for that at all??? like it seems like she got an argantian boyfriend so she’s absolved of all racism against argantians. it really just gives, “i can’t be racist because my boyfriend’s argantian (or insert any race/ethnicity/nationality in place of that).” book is also hypnotically caucasian, which, like, i know it’s set in a fictional place based on wales & england, but it’s a FICTIONAL PLACE so do all these characters really gotta be beans and toast ass motherfuckers?? last complaint, she throws her long blonde hair into a messy bun 👎
i really loved some aspects of this book but was really bothered by others—i loved the imagery & the metaphors really made me feel the way i believe the author wanted me to feel. parts were very cozy in ways i haven’t felt since i was probably 14. i LOVED the love interest & i had a huge crush on him because he’s so perfect. whenever there was a scene without him, i wanted him to come back, & i believe reid did a good job of making him incredibly caring while still empowering the female lead. the book covered serious topics regarding misogyny & sexual assault very well,
my complaint is this: effy’s fucking racist. & i love a problematic character who grows & learns lessons & changes, BUT SHE FUCKING DOESN’T!!! it’s just not dealt with well & leaves a bad taste in my mouth. she even calls him slurs at one point and i don’t think she ever took accountability for that at all??? like it seems like she got an argantian boyfriend so she’s absolved of all racism against argantians. it really just gives, “i can’t be racist because my boyfriend’s argantian (or insert any race/ethnicity/nationality in place of that).” book is also hypnotically caucasian, which, like, i know it’s set in a fictional place based on wales & england, but it’s a FICTIONAL PLACE so do all these characters really gotta be beans and toast ass motherfuckers?? last complaint, she throws her long blonde hair into a messy bun 👎
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, and War
basil_blastname's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
pandromeda's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
Read as Audiobook; very easy to listen to, and the world soaks into your skin like ink on a page
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders