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motylovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
aprilbethp's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
rachelcotter1's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Excrement, and Murder
pelagicsun's review against another edition
- 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
También hubiera agradecido el CW por una escena de una violación explícita.
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishgia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
grimdark_dad's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
josisbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! The way the mystery-detective-story unfolded felt very natural and the plot twists weren’t forced. I like Alex as an MC who reminded me a bit of Buffy.
Can’t wait to see where the second book takes us
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
shetland_pone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
coralinejones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book has a problem where it'll get fairly interesting, usually when describing some of the trauma/abuse Alex is going through, or has went through, and then the next 50+ pages is a bunch of nonsense. Not to mention it's so description heavy. Like paragraphs upon paragraphs of information that does very little to move the actual plot along. Half the time I sat wondering what the point of it all was? Like why was I sitting there "wasting time" on these paragraphs when I could be reading the meat and potatoes of this book? Just for that to be the "meat and potatoes."
The likelihood of me reading the next installment(s) of this series when they release is very slim. God bless you all who liked this book, though.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was not at all what I expected. I wanted to go in knowing as little as possible. I knew that this book is adult but I didn't expect it to as graphic as it was. I really liked the premise and the characters and also the mystery of it all. Just because of her writing I automatically like the book.
I do have a few issues with it though:
1. Alex's motives didn't always make sense to me. Why was she so adamant on solving Taras murder? She didn't know her, everyone told her that it was the boyfriend, even after she broke into the morgue it was clear it was the boyfriend. I just didn't understand why she would go further and further. At a certain point it was clear that there is more behind it than we thought but I do not understand why and how Alex knew that?
2. Also I felt like all side characters were just there for convenience. Especially Alex's roommates. They are so unconditionally loyal to her for seemingly no reason? I mean that is not how it usually is at uni right? Like it would make sense for them to ask her why she's never at home but not to a degree where she constantly has to come up with fake reasons & apologies, right? I wanted a bit more interaction and reason there so it actually makes sense for them to call her mum. (The thing with Brady 100% made sense though. He's a shit and deserves only the worst)
3. That might be on me, but I didn't understand the worldbuilding fully. I think it was on purpose that the big questions like 'why is there magic?' and 'where does it come from?' are unanswered. But I didn't understand the limits of the magic. It's clear that it best works in the tombs and not really anywhere else, but also things like the coin of compulsion work everywhere? And spells can be cast that influence the wider world as well? Idk I'm just a bit confused about that. Also I want to know how noone actually found out outside of the societies. How do they keep the secret?
I think I had way more questions but these are the most important ones. I am definitely going to read 'Hellbent' but if I'm being honest I'm in no hurry. Maybe I'll even wait until all (5?) books are out. The story was intruiging but it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. (Even though I love mystery, magic, university settings, academia and secret societies in books.. ?)
What I loved about the book was all the intruige and mystery. The connections weren't always completely clear to me but that didn't take away from it being fun. I wish we got to see a bit more magic and a bit less trauma but that is only my opinion. I bet for some people this was perfect.
Generally I would anyone to please read the trigger warnings for this book. There are a lot and they are really graphic as well.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism