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thecolouryes's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I wanted this book to be better than it was. Also, this is super picky of me, but split drawers are a thing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Gore, Blood, Classism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Body horror, Death of parent, and Misogyny
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
I found the prose style easy to read - aside from an irritating tendency to change its mind several times a scene about who the viewpoint character was - but for me the story never entirely came alive. The plot is serviceable, but unsurprising, the characters underdeveloped, and while the worldbuilding has some interesting elements, it also has a tendency to rely on unexamined tropes that often left me wishing that certain aspects had been thought through more. I suspect that someone who's already more into urban fantasy and/or regency romance than me would find it more enjoyable. (I don't know if someone who's more into regency romance than me would be more or less annoyed by the use of regency romance tropes in a story that's explicitly set in the late Victorian era.) I wasn't surprised to find PG Wodehouse listed as one of the author's inspirations; I'm going to say that she doesn't have Wodehouse's knack for funny character names and leave it at that.
It says something that I've gone on so long about the book: I don't usually have this much to say about books I really dislike (or books I really like). This one's in that middle ground where it was good enough that I want to be just to it, but not good enough that I really liked it. Not sorry I gave it a shot, not likely to read any of the sequels.
It says something that I've gone on so long about the book: I don't usually have this much to say about books I really dislike (or books I really like). This one's in that middle ground where it was good enough that I want to be just to it, but not good enough that I really liked it. Not sorry I gave it a shot, not likely to read any of the sequels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Classism, Torture, Medical trauma, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Racism, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Confinement
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Genocide, Gore, Police brutality, War, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Cursing
ramakn22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I adore this author. I started with her finishing school series and followed the books chronologically. The dialogue reminds me of my favorite TV shows, witty and fast-paced, which serves to emphasize when there's a dark moment that needs to be focused on.
Funny and heartwarming in all the right places and an introduction to my absolute favorite Vampire of all time.
Funny and heartwarming in all the right places and an introduction to my absolute favorite Vampire of all time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual content, Classism, and Dysphoria
ellementary's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
At times amusing but often repetitive. Great audiobook narration. Points for the author's take on the supernatural and the steampunk/scientific elements that were blended in. I was less enthusiastic about the recurrent xenophobia, gay stereotyping, and the main character's incessant self-loathing as a character flaw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
noroomforghosts's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster in her mid-twenties, mostly content to spend her time at home, in libraries, or with her friend Ivy who has unfortunate taste in hats. She’s also soulless, a preternatural whose touch can temporarily revert any supernatural persons to their formerly mortal state.
Alexia and the London werewolf Alpha, Conall, have chemistry built on mutual annoyance. He enjoys someone who will surprise and stand up to him (a limited commodity when one is the Alpha of a pack of werewolves), and she seems surprised when annoying him for fun turns into something more. Professor Lyall is his Beta, a competent and unassuming older werewolf who is a quiet, steady presence. Ivy, Alexia’s hat-obsessed friend, is one of my favorite characters but this isn’t yet the book where she shines. Lord Akeldama is a flamboyant and well-informed vampire who is utterly delightful.
The worldbuilding is cohesive and worked naturally into the story. Alexia and Conall both have to think in order to stay in step with social expectations (or notice whenever they flout them), which provides opportunities for many details about the setting without distracting from the story. I read this series so many times in high school that I’m having trouble distilling my thoughts about the series generally into what just applies to this book. It sets up the cephalopod-obsessed organization which will continue to have a presence in the series, as well as establishing (at least by mention) many of the characters who will matter as the series continues.
I love this series and it’s so nice to dive into it again.
Alexia and the London werewolf Alpha, Conall, have chemistry built on mutual annoyance. He enjoys someone who will surprise and stand up to him (a limited commodity when one is the Alpha of a pack of werewolves), and she seems surprised when annoying him for fun turns into something more. Professor Lyall is his Beta, a competent and unassuming older werewolf who is a quiet, steady presence. Ivy, Alexia’s hat-obsessed friend, is one of my favorite characters but this isn’t yet the book where she shines. Lord Akeldama is a flamboyant and well-informed vampire who is utterly delightful.
The worldbuilding is cohesive and worked naturally into the story. Alexia and Conall both have to think in order to stay in step with social expectations (or notice whenever they flout them), which provides opportunities for many details about the setting without distracting from the story. I read this series so many times in high school that I’m having trouble distilling my thoughts about the series generally into what just applies to this book. It sets up the cephalopod-obsessed organization which will continue to have a presence in the series, as well as establishing (at least by mention) many of the characters who will matter as the series continues.
I love this series and it’s so nice to dive into it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Confinement, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Torture, Death, Racism, Gore, Genocide, Xenophobia, and Murder
Minor: Religious bigotry, War, Animal death, Death of parent, Dementia, and Domestic abuse
flohbeutel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Als sie auf Seite 7 ihren Haarstab als Pflock benutzt, wollte ich ihr einen Antrag machen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Body shaming, Cursing, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Misogyny
mallorypen's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a novel with an omnipotent third person narrator, and I found it to be jarring, inconsistent, and distracting. While the concept was interesting - I don’t think I’ve ever come across the idea of someone who fully neutralizes the powers of supernatural beings - but the writing style didn’t really let me enjoy it.
I did like the characterization of Alexia, and the variety of personalities was well done. The scenes of Maccon slowly losing his control were pleasantly spicy.
But the narration, combined with some odd leaps in the storyline and the introduction of the villain right at the very end, took me out of the story enough to remove three stars.
I did like the characterization of Alexia, and the variety of personalities was well done. The scenes of Maccon slowly losing his control were pleasantly spicy.
But the narration, combined with some odd leaps in the storyline and the introduction of the villain right at the very end, took me out of the story enough to remove three stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
dreamofbookspines's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Cute. Carriger creates worlds well, populated with characters who sometimes exchange quite funny dialogue (even within the confines of strictly regimented society life). While I find it slightly less entertaining than I did in my 20s, it's still a fun read. Steampunk with werewolves and vampires.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Violence
growintogardens's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.75
This was so disappointing! There was so much wasted potential. I'm trying to read through all the books I own and have owned for years, but that I haven't touched yet. This was the latest and it's immediately going in the get rid of pile.
I didn't really care for the characters and I didn't like the romance. Werewolf romances... Idk wtf authors are up to when they write werewolf romances because they are always the same. There's always the strong willed alpha who falls, against his will and only because of his wolfiness bullcrap, for the lead female character. Gotta have an opinionated female character who has few friends and little self worth when it comes to her looks, who falls for an aggressive man who thinks she's beautiful even when society does not, despite not even liking him as a person two days ago. The romance in this book was not as bad as some that I've read, but it still wasn't good.
Moreover, the book had too many genres, and while the beginning was interesting, the rest of the story was a letdown. It started with a good little mystery, but it was way too easy to figure out and didn't focus on it enough. The idea of being soulless was good, but that idea didn't get enough time to shine imo.
Anyway, I thought I was getting a fun paranormal steampunk mystery book, but it turned that it was mostly a paranormal erotic romance.
I didn't really care for the characters and I didn't like the romance. Werewolf romances... Idk wtf authors are up to when they write werewolf romances because they are always the same. There's always the strong willed alpha who falls, against his will and only because of his wolfiness bullcrap, for the lead female character. Gotta have an opinionated female character who has few friends and little self worth when it comes to her looks, who falls for an aggressive man who thinks she's beautiful even when society does not, despite not even liking him as a person two days ago. The romance in this book was not as bad as some that I've read, but it still wasn't good.
Moreover, the book had too many genres, and while the beginning was interesting, the rest of the story was a letdown. It started with a good little mystery, but it was way too easy to figure out and didn't focus on it enough. The idea of being soulless was good, but that idea didn't get enough time to shine imo.
Anyway, I thought I was getting a fun paranormal steampunk mystery book, but it turned that it was mostly a paranormal erotic romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, Violence, and Sexual content