Scan barcode
snoopydoo77's review against another edition
3.0
So, this book turned out to be a bit of rollercoaster for me.
It started out a bit slow for me, or I had issues getting into it at first.
Then I liked it and enjoyed it for most the book, but towards the end it declined again for me.
There is stuff I loved about this book but also stuff I didn't care much for, overall, it was okay....
Let’s see if I can break it down a bit.
I liked Celine I really liked her and for the time she lived in it was pretty forward for a “lady”.
I liked that she stood her own but also was pretty flawed and struggled a lot throughout the book. She was risky and fun and made me laugh sometimes even though overall she is a bit of a darker character.
I also liked Bastion, he was funny and also had his own struggles and problems.
I liked that racial and gender issues of the time period are addressed and are very much in the story.
I really loved the story overall, and most of all I loved the setting. It was beautiful and beautifully written and made you feel like you are right there with them and often made you hungry.
Okay now some things I didn’t care for much, there were a lot of people and things to keep track of, there were too many POV and the back and forward from first to third and back at first or so worked at first but then just annoyed me.
The romance.... ugh I just couldn’t get into it really it just didn’t feel right and I’m not even sure why. I liked them together but not as a couple
Overall, I enjoyed it but didn’t love it, I loved her and her overall arc and the story the rest was ugh .. to okay.
I probably will read the next book just sure when.
I rate it 3★
mcbrantley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
itslorei's review against another edition
1.0
So umm, I don't know what happened why the heck I picked this book out of nowhere and the worst part is that the writing is really bland and boring. It's kind of sad since I'm getting into vampire stories and wanted to delve more into it. So yikes.
mmontoya's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
Renee Ahdieh's writing style is beautiful. Not just in the words she chooses, but also in the way her writing flows and creates a Romantic atmosphere. She's also one of the few authors who can write a strong and stubborn female protagonist without making her annoying. So I was really bummed when I didn't quite connect with her last series. But with this book, we're back in business.
Set in 1872, the story is about Celine Rousseau. After a horrible incident, Celine is forced to flee France, leaving behind a promising future, and her father, to live in a convent in New Orleans. But she's determined to make a future here. She's sworn to be the best version—by which she means the socially accepted version—of herself. But thanks to her vivid personality and the presence of a killer in the city, Celine finds herself a part of something much more dangerous than she'd bargained for. Not to mention, involved with people who may not be entirely human.
Sebastien Saint Germain is someone who most people seem to fear or admire or hate. And there's no debating the power he, and his group of friends, seem to hold in the city. Celine is intrigued by this gentleman but also dislikes him because of how they first met. Not to mention the suspicions of his involvement in the murders and the secrets he keeps.
Their relationship is one of insults, banter, meaningful stares, and sparkling mutual attraction. Their personalities complement each others' wonderfully. And there's so much chemistry to be found that if it weren't for the bazillion other things complicating matters, they'd come together naturally and wouldn't even need a book to tell their story. So I'm kinda glad for the complications because I love these two.
One part of the story is about the romance. The other part focuses on the plot with the antagonist. We even get a bunch of short chapters from their point-of-view, since the book is in third-person. Mostly we get Celine's narrative. Celine, who knows nothing of the supernatural.
The reason I mention that is because there's not much concrete world-building to be found. And I don't mean that in a bad way. I think the author prioritized the characters over the world-building. So what we know of the world is via little, vague glimpses that hint at a lot more to be found. Personally, I think it's quite clever since, this way, when we learn more in the sequel, it'll be akin to filling in the blanks, and less like an info-dump.
The only issue I had with the novel was that some scenes could be a tad over-the-top. As if, in an attempt to create a dramatic air, the author took it a little too far—used a few more sentences than necessary—and the scene became overdramatic. Nothing serious enough to worry about, though. And nothing that should deter one from reading the book. Something I highly recommend doing.
I can't wait for the sequel.
sholt21's review against another edition
3.0
ebaker's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
yodamom's review against another edition
2.0
Now let's talk about my pet peeve in books, inner dialog marathons. This big bad never shut up, it felt like it drawled on for days, he loved to dwell in his own drama. Pet Peeve #2 Drama Queens, I think you get who I'm talking about.
The story moves about in a pretty predictable way, you can see the "love" interests from the beginning. I liked the supporting characters much more than the main ones.Celine was too puffed up ready to prove what an independant badass she was too often, she made stupid choices. She makes deals that are stupid. I wanted to slap her more than once to use her head. I wouldn't read more in this series if I wasn't interested in the future of one character that had a bad ending and one love interest that just isn't right ! I've already got book 2 anyway so off I go.
shes_book_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have longed to read a book like this, filled with mystery and darkness. The French too just did it for me and fitted so well in the story. I adored the writing, absolutely beautiful as well.
Though for me this book was a bit too slow at times, I got rather bored than interested in the plot. However, it was an overall pleasant read!