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adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Well-written & engrossing. I haven’t gotten through a book this big this fast in quite awhile. The Graphic Audio audiobooks were also an enjoyable way to get into this story, worth checking out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood
Minor: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Is all of media conspiring to groom its young femme readers? Yet another teen girl manipulated into a romantic relationship with an immortal 500 year old man. . Ick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I kinda like that bat man
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, War
Moderate: Slavery, Vomit, Trafficking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, War
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was the second-worst book I’ve read in years. The characters’ motivations were entirely unbelievable, purely convenient to drive the plot forward. I found myself strongly disliking the insipid, self-absorbed main characters and preferring the “despicable” minor characters who at least had some spice and grit. It was also badly written - every phrase and sentence trite and expected, nothing lovely about it. I finished the book merely out of dull fascination that this schlock is so popular — There are much better retold fairytales, romances, adventure stories, whatever aspect of this you might be seeking, there’s a better option out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Purportedly feminist but I found it to be quite unfeminist and disempowering of women
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I give the audio book version .5 more stars because the narrator breathed some life into some tf the otherwise weak lines.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
I was warned going into this that the first book of the series spent A LOT of time world-building but it picks up in the second book… that makes sense. It also isn’t spicy until it IS. that hallway scene?? I was listening to it in audiobook format GASPING and blushing so hard. Immediately started book 2 bc wtf was that ending? You’re gunna end on a v sweet high-note??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started this book and HATED the main character and questioned the hype surrounding this story. Essentially, the main character, Feyre, starts a woman willing to make herself small and quiet for the benefit of her (very ungrateful) family. A meek female main character is not one that catches my interest.
But as the book goes on, the better parts of her personality come out and I begin to root for her. Feyre is bold, stubborn and commits wholeheartedly to any goal before her.
Feyre’s love interest, Tamlin, is a complexity. BookTok has definitely ruined him a bit for me with all the commentary I have seen regarding his character in future books, so I may be prematurely critical. But there is nothing about Tamlin that makes me swoon (and I am fairly susceptible to book boyfriends). Besides being a nice character, there is no part of the story where I’m cheering for Tamlin or their love. Tamlin, from start to finish, comes across as fairly weak and complacent. Weak, clearly, is not a character trait I like to read.
Lucien, Tamlin’s best friend and emissary, is a character who is complex in the best ways. I am more excited to read about Lucien than Tamlin and am excited to see what the future holds for him.
Rhysand - both hate and love him. But at least he is ruthless and not weak.
Although a bit of a slow start, the plot itself is pure adventure, especially the ending. Learning and exploring the new fairy world with Feyre is an exciting journey. At times, a bit confusing - is ash required to kill a fairy? How can Feyre kill fairies without using ash in certain situations? I definitely got caught up in some of the confusing details. But overall the story unfolds relatively seamlessly.
The ending is what made this book worthwhile, and everything comes together in an amazing way. This is definitely the kind of book you re read just to recognize all the foreshadowing and details missed.
The ending plot is chef’s kiss. The motive of all of Feyre’s actions being for love and dying for her purpose is frankly inspiring. Although, I definitely questioned whether Tamlin individually was worth it. The ending was strangely realistic - the challenges Feyre faces do not come easily and it’s only from significant intervention that she succeeds at all. Mentally and physically, Feyre barely makes it through. She does not easily “win” and in fact dies, only with the help of others making it through. I had a feeling her being/becoming a fae was coming, and it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out.
All in all, I’m definitely very excited to continue on through the rest of the series.
But as the book goes on, the better parts of her personality come out and I begin to root for her. Feyre is bold, stubborn and commits wholeheartedly to any goal before her.
Feyre’s love interest, Tamlin, is a complexity. BookTok has definitely ruined him a bit for me with all the commentary I have seen regarding his character in future books, so I may be prematurely critical. But there is nothing about Tamlin that makes me swoon (and I am fairly susceptible to book boyfriends). Besides being a nice character, there is no part of the story where I’m cheering for Tamlin or their love. Tamlin, from start to finish, comes across as fairly weak and complacent. Weak, clearly, is not a character trait I like to read.
Lucien, Tamlin’s best friend and emissary, is a character who is complex in the best ways. I am more excited to read about Lucien than Tamlin and am excited to see what the future holds for him.
Rhysand - both hate and love him. But at least he is ruthless and not weak.
Although a bit of a slow start, the plot itself is pure adventure, especially the ending. Learning and exploring the new fairy world with Feyre is an exciting journey. At times, a bit confusing - is ash required to kill a fairy? How can Feyre kill fairies without using ash in certain situations? I definitely got caught up in some of the confusing details. But overall the story unfolds relatively seamlessly.
The ending is what made this book worthwhile, and everything comes together in an amazing way. This is definitely the kind of book you re read just to recognize all the foreshadowing and details missed.
All in all, I’m definitely very excited to continue on through the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THIS WAS AMAZING. best book I’ve read in actual YEARS honestly. engaging, of course, and so interesting I could not stop reading at allllllll
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Slavery, War