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izabelstohel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Blood
imageryx's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Violence, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Car accident
bradiesbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“Really, there was nothing more dangerous than a woman who knew her own worth.”
“Knowledge is carnage. You can’t have it without sacrifice.”
5/5⭐️
This was an incredible book full of magic and mystery.
I loved the dark academia vibes & the secrets behind every door.
The multiple POV’s read very well and were fun being in every persons head (like Parisa😂).
I loved the diversity of the characters & the big twist at the end had me gasping out loud!!!!
Olivie Blake has an excellent writing style that I already ordered the next two books after this because I’m dying for more. (And 2 of Blake’s other books 😂)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Blood
laurenleigh's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really wanted to love this, but it wasn’t quite for me. It’s extremely character-driven and slow paced, if that’s your thing! I like plotting and scheming storylines, but I wanted more action. I think Blake is playing to her strengths (the one action scene was rather confusing), but the outcome just wasn’t my style. The multiple narrators literally differentiated their voices, which was cool, but it didn’t feel like they all collaborated. Like Tristan’s voice for Libby felt off or vice versa.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Gun violence
noareads415's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Very complicated story and characters. This book took me over a month to read and normally I read books with this many pages in less than a week. It definitely was a very hard book for me personally to get through especially with the switching perspectives. Overall though it has a good plot and story line.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Addiction
blessjessmess's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I understand the mixed reviews on this book. Its definitely not for everyone. This book is dark academia and an alternate universe where magic users are a normal part of society and society reflects magic in all aspects of the world.
OF COURSE, if magic were commonplace, it would find itself being used corruptly in finance, politics, and crime.
But what I really loved about this book is that this books main theme revolves around information. How information is weaponized against those without the means to access it. How the more information you know you realize theres so much you don't know. How easily information can be altered and how that can have dire consequences. How censorship hurts the entire population. And how information is power and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
OF COURSE, if magic were commonplace, it would find itself being used corruptly in finance, politics, and crime.
But what I really loved about this book is that this books main theme revolves around information. How information is weaponized against those without the means to access it. How the more information you know you realize theres so much you don't know. How easily information can be altered and how that can have dire consequences. How censorship hurts the entire population. And how information is power and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- I held off on a 5 simply because the first book (the intro book, if you will) of a series should never be its best, which means I have high expectations for the upcoming 3rd in the series.
- I, personally, loved this book. It's a bit meta in the most original way I've seen any genre meta book written before, so I really enjoyed that.
- I liked that each character was well rounded, and time was spent on developing the entire cast in the novel.
- This book is incredibly cerebral, but I love cerebral fiction so that's a win for me.
- This book basically said F*** the Hero's Journey and took its on path....and I really respect that.
You will like this book if you like:
- alternating povs
- science theory
- coming of age books
- grounded magic
- time travel
- dimensional travel
- Dream travel
- found family
- if you want the feel of Harry Potter but want adult themes and modernized for the environment we currently live in
- If you are in a reading rut this is a good book to break it
You will NOT like this book if:
- unlikable characters.
- meta reading
- advanced science jargon
******I half read/half listened to this book on audio. I found I preferred the audio because of the voice actors.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
Minor: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
wordswoods's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
YES
The first book I've finished in ages!
I'm gonna get the next installment tomorrow.
The first book I've finished in ages!
I'm gonna get the next installment tomorrow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
hannahcstocks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Suicide, Stalking, Blood, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I thought this book was good. I found it a bit slow and dense at times making it a bit difficult to get through.
I didn’t find the plot twist super surprising but I like the way it was explained. I found Libby to oftentimes be annoying and I wasn’t a huge fan of Tristan’s audiobook narrator. I liked Nico and Parisa’s characterizations. I also liked the rivalry between Nico and Libby.
All in all it was a bit confusing at times but I was able to catch up and get on the same page. Not a bad book
I didn’t find the plot twist super surprising but I like the way it was explained. I found Libby to oftentimes be annoying and I wasn’t a huge fan of Tristan’s audiobook narrator. I liked Nico and Parisa’s characterizations. I also liked the rivalry between Nico and Libby.
All in all it was a bit confusing at times but I was able to catch up and get on the same page. Not a bad book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Car accident, Classism, Cursing, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
philosofreaky's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed this book but struggled to read it. (In the end, I think I just needed to be in the right mood/headspace to tackle it.) It's slow-paced, but I found the subject matter and character thoughts/conversations intriguing, until the last 5th of the book when it moves fast and exciting and couldn't put it down. That left me feeling quite content in the background and understanding I had of all the players moving forward.
I neither loved or hated anyone in particular, instead, did a good job of everyone having a purpose and being an intricate, ensemble cast. I will read the next one for sure, knowing that some parts might be dry but inevitably not? Somehow? I don't know. I still enjoyed the story AND the writing even though it didn't feel like a page turner. It made my brain happy.
Also, the bits in the short story included, Sacred Hospitality, did in fact make me chortle.
I neither loved or hated anyone in particular, instead, did a good job of everyone having a purpose and being an intricate, ensemble cast. I will read the next one for sure, knowing that some parts might be dry but inevitably not? Somehow? I don't know. I still enjoyed the story AND the writing even though it didn't feel like a page turner. It made my brain happy.
Also, the bits in the short story included, Sacred Hospitality, did in fact make me chortle.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Violence, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Drug use, Death, Bullying, Alcohol, and Murder