Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Instead, it is a dully published book, with the writing of a middle grader, and insufferable main character.
I liked the idea, though.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Violence
Minor: Animal death
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
TW: mentions of non consensual sexual advances
long story short: I’m literally nursing a headache as I read the last few chapters. why I’m having a headache, you might ask? well… (ellipsis totally intended)
(nah jk my toothache is making my headache but damn did this book make the pain worse)
the book was a difficult read in so many different aspects. the writing style was so bad, the plot was too predictable, and the characters were extremely flat.
- writing style -
MY GOD the amount of ellipses and em-dashes in this book is so??????????? like why???? SJM has an editor but why are there… so… many… ellipses—and even more em-dashes that don’t make sense!!!!! maaaan this would NEVER pass a basic creative writing class in my uni. it’s unbearable. I swear every time I see an ellipsis or em-dash aged me. why does SJM use it so much? for emphasis? jeez everything is emphasised then. for suspense? it’s just too predictable.
also, “parameter” instead of “perimeter”? really? AND WATERY BOWELS? girl is your stomach ok?
- plot -
“it’s a modern retelling of beauty and the beast.” retelling? you mean a poorly paraphrased beauty and the beast???
another thing that annoyed me is how everything was just so easy for Feyre (more on this later).
LAST THING UNDER THIS! the plot is slower than my brain when faced by a math problem. my work friend asked me about the book when she found out I was reading it. I told her “I’m around 50% but nothing major yet.” and then I realised that dang I’m already halfway and there’s nothing cool happening yet?!
- characters -
yep, the characters are flatter than a plywood. Feyre is dumb (everyone: “Feyre, don’t do this.” Feyre: “sorry can’t hear you!”) Tamlin is manipulative and lowkey a sexual predator??? so is Rhysand.
I also feel like Isaac Hale is not needed.
I already scheduled the rest of the series for my august tbr but uhhh……….. idk.
wow this is the longest review I’ve ever done (not counting the papers I had to write for my lit classes lol). I didn’t like this book but would totally recommend so I can have more ppl I can rant to about this book 😆
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
that is to say, i was kind of surprised by how much of a slow burn this was. and when i say slow burn, i mean slow. the last third of the book is where most of the action happens, but that’s to be expected in the first novel of a series. personally i think it does a good job setting up the world we’re in and the stakes and you try to figure out everyone’s motives along with feyre because we’re seeing things unfold through her.
everyone raves about the world building and prose in this book; i liked it but i wouldn’t say it’s exceptional, personally. i appreciated that i could conjure up this world in my head from the book’s intricate descriptions and that’s what i like about fantasy in general. acotar paints prythian beautifully and i will be reading more!
after the second book i think i’ll have more of a concrete idea of how i feel towards the series. i am looking forward to seeing the development of rhysand (at this point everyone knows the enemies to lovers plot being set up perfectly for the next installment) though i do question the circumstances of his connection to feyre. bargaining and trickery are not good foundations for a love story but hey, what do i know. anyway, tamlin’s there too i guess (he’s fine, i don’t hate him but i feel neutral about him as well lol)
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit, War
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping
Minor: Toxic relationship, War
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism