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jesm's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
This was a really fun read. Such nice world building and action. I really loved the characters and mystery
tiombaby's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
I want to live in this world! I want to live with these characters, I want to be in House Transcendence, I want to work at Nightingale’s, all of it. Amanda weaves a vivid world with vivid and diverse characters and I want to be apart of it. Zora, our main character, has a problem most people can identify with, magic aside. She is ashamed of herself, of her power, of who she is because it is not the norm in her community. She finds the courage to push through in her new home and embrace her power and solve a murder all while being a kick ass burlesque dancer. Her story was magical, and I need more!
falon's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Update Jan 21, 2023
Because I can never let sleeping dogs lie, I went back and finished the book. Pretty much everything I said when I decided to DNF holds true to the end of the book. The reveals and the ending felt rushed too. Ah, I really need to learn how to DNF properly.
Jan 20, 2023
DNF @ 67%
The characters never clicked for me, unfortunately. Everyones motivations and actions felt like they were in service to the plot instead of a result of their personality.
I’m positive this is something other people can overlook, choosing instead to focus on the good things like the magic system, but it was quite jarring to read :/
Because I can never let sleeping dogs lie, I went back and finished the book. Pretty much everything I said when I decided to DNF holds true to the end of the book. The reveals and the ending felt rushed too. Ah, I really need to learn how to DNF properly.
Jan 20, 2023
DNF @ 67%
The characters never clicked for me, unfortunately. Everyones motivations and actions felt like they were in service to the plot instead of a result of their personality.
I’m positive this is something other people can overlook, choosing instead to focus on the good things like the magic system, but it was quite jarring to read :/
_tomeraider's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readwithmoniqua's review
4.0
First, I want to thank the author for this ARC. This story follows Zora as she’s left her home due to an unforgivable act of her father. She winds up in Savannah where she meets Birdie, and later on Whitley, the new love of her life. While there, she embarks on this journey to solve a murder mystery and becomes a burlesque dancer at Birdie’s club.
I wasn’t surprised that MK had something to do with the murder. I mean she was a raging b!tch from the beginning. Jabari came on too strong and arrogant, but he was the last person I suspected when he should’ve been the first.
Zora really came into her own and made some life long friends. I loved that for her. I also love the queer representation as I am a queer reader and author.
I wanted to see more magic being used. I wanted to be completely absorbed into the book.
I wasn’t surprised that MK had something to do with the murder. I mean she was a raging b!tch from the beginning. Jabari came on too strong and arrogant, but he was the last person I suspected when he should’ve been the first.
Zora really came into her own and made some life long friends. I loved that for her. I also love the queer representation as I am a queer reader and author.
I wanted to see more magic being used. I wanted to be completely absorbed into the book.
amandadevoursbooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Zora is a necromancer. Disowned by her mother, manipulated by her father, she arrives in Savannah the most haunted city in the US to try to reconcile with her mom. When that plan fails, a chance meeting connects Zora with Savannah's witch community.
Birdie, the witch who brings Zora in, has a motive beyond helping the 21 year old. She wants Zora to find out who murdered her fiance.
We've got burlesque, magic rituals, saphicc love story, and mystery. It's the best type of found family, and there's a sweetness to the peripheral relationships.
I found I wanted to spend more time with some of the characters. Some felt a little bit one sided and like they were there for the plot. Occasionally, the drama didn't quite feel resolved from scene to scene.
All that said, I devoured this book and Amanda Ross is now an autobuy author for me.
Birdie, the witch who brings Zora in, has a motive beyond helping the 21 year old. She wants Zora to find out who murdered her fiance.
We've got burlesque, magic rituals, saphicc love story, and mystery. It's the best type of found family, and there's a sweetness to the peripheral relationships.
I found I wanted to spend more time with some of the characters. Some felt a little bit one sided and like they were there for the plot. Occasionally, the drama didn't quite feel resolved from scene to scene.
All that said, I devoured this book and Amanda Ross is now an autobuy author for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
locdbooktician's review
challenging
dark
funny
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? Yes
5.0
This was everything and MORE!!!!!
Catch the replay of me interviewing Amanda Ross.
In the House of Transcendence | Author Interview Amanda Ross
https://youtu.be/5Dml195HnNU
Catch the replay of me interviewing Amanda Ross.
In the House of Transcendence | Author Interview Amanda Ross
https://youtu.be/5Dml195HnNU
booktribe's review
adventurous
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
This was such a wonderful book! It started off great and kept me consistently interested throughout. I’m the type of reader who reads multiple books at once, but while reading this book, I didn’t pick up anything else! I just had to finish it.
I loved so much about this book. I am IN LOVE with the Black, magical burlesque club! The movie Burlesque is one of my favorite movies, so making it Black and witchy was like a dream come true. I wanna go there, I wanna work there, it’s just perfection. The characters were very interesting. You either loved them or hated them, but no one was forgettable! I really enjoyed watching our main character, Zora, grow as a person and as a witch. The fashion descriptions in this book were everything! And the author really knew how to set the tone and describe everything you’re reading, from outfits to detailed scene descriptions, without it feeling like info dumping or getting boring.
I just have so many wonderful things to say about this book! My only complaint was that I found the reveal of the murder mystery to be kinda obvious. It’s like the person you most suspect is the one who did it. I wish the reveal had been more of a twist. But, I loved everything else about this book. It’s Black, Queer, and witchy, what else do you need? More! That’s what else I need, more! I will definitely be reading more from Amanda Ross ASAP!
cameo's review
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Murder
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