Reviews

Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer

stepriot's review against another edition

3.0

I found Molly Tanzer through her short stories and fell in love. This book isn't a bad book, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I expected something darker and crueler. This was rather light and airy and unfortunately predictable. It is probably a good beach book, I think.

lermonysnickers's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

If I wasn't reading this book for a paper, I would have DNFed it over the adult/minor relationship. The rest of the book is good, but that dynamic is a deal breaker for me, especially when there's absolutely no need for the younger character to be a minor. Everything could have stayed the same even if Dorina was 20, making is highly unnecessary and concerning that her age was intentionally made to be 17 instead. The slow pacing makes it hard to stay engaged. Nothing really happens until the end. It's a cool twist on Dorian Gray, but the flaws just make it feel icky.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

maywhitelauren's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

k8so's review against another edition

Too much impending trainwrecks 

alex_watkins's review against another edition

5.0

Wow! I stayed up late rushing through to the end of the book, I just had to know what was going to happen, and I was ever so worried about the characters. I appreciated how well done the victorian setting was. I also was intrigued by the demons that exist in this universe, they weren't at all what I expected!

tracyksmith_reads's review against another edition

5.0

I'm not one to reread books, but I can see myself reading this one again someday. Very suspenseful!

kimhancock11's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this book but it didn’t meet the hopes I had for it. I enjoyed the older sister more because I found her empowering. The sapphic romance left a lot to be desired.

ashley_elizabeth's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I wish I could say I liked this more but sadly it just didn't speak to me. I found our two MCs incredibly annoying for different reasons - Evadne is self-righteous and stuck up, while Dorina is selfish and self-centered - and the big "reveal" of the Bag Guy was pretty predictable. I also don't think the whole "inviting a demon's essence into my mind" was really expounded on in any meaningful way. It is talked about and referenced plenty, sure, but it felt like the same thing was said just over an over again without giving much depth to the notion.

As the sequels don't seem to be specifically related to this story but rather to the overall theme of diabolism, I will likely not read them. Bummer!

kivt's review against another edition

4.0

i heard about this book on the podcast Bad Books for Bad People. they really highly recommended it, and i like decadence and demon summoning and lesbians, so i figured i’d give it a shot. it's a really fun read and well crafted! the two protagonists & their relationship as sisters are all really well developed, it’s a treat.

girlofsteel377's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5