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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I’m sad.
But I will say thank you to Page Street for sending me the gorgeous arc box of this one. I appreciate you!
Anyways….
This was yet another book that lured me with its gorgeous cover and ‘gothic atmosphere’ and GAY.
So to start, the writing was very elementary to me and it felt like an early draft. The dialogue felt very modern for some reason even though the author was obviously trying to achieve the opposite. The whole thing just fell flat, it felt like what I was promised about this book was not given. The romance—for the type of romance it was—needed way more time to develop. One of the love interests literally THROWS themselves at the protagonist in a creepy and I could even say problematic way and then I’m expected to want them to be together? Nah.
Also this book had a lot of moments where I feel like the author just needed to fill in gaps because they didn’t know what to do with that section of the book—there was a lot of filler while Emile worked and at one point he’s just playing with a spider web? Idk, I feel like all of those moments could have been dedicated to the romance’s development or the plot…or something else. Speaking of, the plot was fine, the werewolf lore was okay-it did have some unique elements but not enough to GAG me, just more underdeveloped elements of the book I guess
But I will say thank you to Page Street for sending me the gorgeous arc box of this one. I appreciate you!
Anyways….
This was yet another book that lured me with its gorgeous cover and ‘gothic atmosphere’ and GAY.
So to start, the writing was very elementary to me and it felt like an early draft. The dialogue felt very modern for some reason even though the author was obviously trying to achieve the opposite. The whole thing just fell flat, it felt like what I was promised about this book was not given. The romance—for the type of romance it was—needed way more time to develop. One of the love interests literally THROWS themselves at the protagonist in a creepy and I could even say problematic way and then I’m expected to want them to be together? Nah.
Also this book had a lot of moments where I feel like the author just needed to fill in gaps because they didn’t know what to do with that section of the book—there was a lot of filler while Emile worked and at one point he’s just playing with a spider web? Idk, I feel like all of those moments could have been dedicated to the romance’s development or the plot…or something else. Speaking of, the plot was fine, the werewolf lore was okay-it did have some unique elements but not enough to GAG me, just more underdeveloped elements of the book I guess
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where my poly werewolves at? This has some raging plot holes but it was cute.
A very slow non sexual burn. I do wish there was a very fun sexual ending but alas it up to imagination.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really enjoyed my time with this story and that ending! The fact we got a love triangle that ends with a poly relationship is how all "love triangles" should end.
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Loved the premise of this book and loved the writing. What prevents me from rating this 5 stars are a couple of things:
- The pacing was a little off. There were parts where the book dragged, especially in the beginning, but then we would speed to the next part of the book. For example, for all that Emile is hiding as a servant, that only lasts for about a quarter of the book before his identity is revealed and we move on to the next part of the story. I thought there would be a little more.
- Similarly, a lot of nothing happens at the estate before we move on to Udolpho Castle. Given the importance of the setting, I would have thought the move to Udolpho would have happened sooner and more of the creepiness would have happened there.
- Didn't love what felt like insta-love between
Henri and Emile , especially given how the former treated the latter initially. It didn't feel as genuine. (That being said, who doesn't love awhy choose HEA , even if it did feel a little too convenient?) - I think I wanted more of the werewolf mythology/background. The reveal came too late and there wasn't enough done with it, I think.
All that being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm here for more Blanche.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an audiobook arc!
True rating- 3.5 stars
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro is a retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho, with a queer twist on the story that immediately interested me. Unfortunately, I thought this book fell slightly short of my expectations and hopes.
Emile being queer and threatened by his aunt to be forced into a marriage or an asylum added layers of nuance to the story that I quite enjoyed. The gothic atmosphere is strong in this book and well written, bringing to life the castle of Udolpho and its dark, twisting secrets.
Unfortunately I did not love the pacing of this book. The family's big secret is not revealed until the very end of the book, when the reader has realized that secret long ago. Of course, the reader is able to see things that the characters in the story might not, however it can still be frustrating to get through the story and just wishing for the characters to get with the program.
I enjoyed the conclusion of this book, particularly the romance, however I wish that the romance had been better developed from the beginning. It was hard to feel like the characters truly cared for one another beyond lust or attraction from being forced into stressful, traumatic situations together. But, I will always be thrilled to find a polyamorous relationship in media.
I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook quite a bit, particularly how he performed the voices of the different characters and the emotion he put in to the narrative.
True rating- 3.5 stars
The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro is a retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho, with a queer twist on the story that immediately interested me. Unfortunately, I thought this book fell slightly short of my expectations and hopes.
Emile being queer and threatened by his aunt to be forced into a marriage or an asylum added layers of nuance to the story that I quite enjoyed. The gothic atmosphere is strong in this book and well written, bringing to life the castle of Udolpho and its dark, twisting secrets.
Unfortunately I did not love the pacing of this book. The family's big secret is not revealed until the very end of the book, when the reader has realized that secret long ago. Of course, the reader is able to see things that the characters in the story might not, however it can still be frustrating to get through the story and just wishing for the characters to get with the program.
I enjoyed the conclusion of this book, particularly the romance, however I wish that the romance had been better developed from the beginning. It was hard to feel like the characters truly cared for one another beyond lust or attraction from being forced into stressful, traumatic situations together. But, I will always be thrilled to find a polyamorous relationship in media.
I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook quite a bit, particularly how he performed the voices of the different characters and the emotion he put in to the narrative.
I did not enjoy the elitism represented by this main character. Although this author acknowledges the worth of gay men in a Victorian setting, not so the women. I find that very obnoxious.