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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So humorous with a light mystery, like the characters and the way the protagonist speaks to the reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A book described as a magical Knives Out sounded like a wonderful premise!
Unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on both the mystery and magic
The magic system was never fully explained and was sparsely used throughout the book. The main character rarely used their magic to help them solve the mystery. It almost felt like the mystery plot with slight tweaks could stand up without this book having magical elements.
Neither of the main characters felt fully developed since they didn't really do much or interact. This can be attributed to the clunky plot that didn't flow clearly from scene to scene. I was constantly confused about how time was passing.
Finally, the overall mystery could have saved part of this book for me. I wanted to be genuinely surprised when the reveal happened, but it was glaringly obvious by the end. The reveal relied on you “forgetting” one of the characters magical abilities, but the whole time I was like guys come on??
Unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on both the mystery and magic
The magic system was never fully explained and was sparsely used throughout the book. The main character rarely used their magic to help them solve the mystery. It almost felt like the mystery plot with slight tweaks could stand up without this book having magical elements.
Neither of the main characters felt fully developed since they didn't really do much or interact. This can be attributed to the clunky plot that didn't flow clearly from scene to scene. I was constantly confused about how time was passing.
Finally, the overall mystery could have saved part of this book for me. I wanted to be genuinely surprised when the reveal happened, but it was glaringly obvious by the end. The reveal relied on you “forgetting” one of the characters magical abilities, but the whole time I was like guys come on??
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The story was fun to read and I'm glad I read it. The plot was pretty intricate for such a short novel, but none of the characters were as well rounded and worked out as I would have liked them to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Violence
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Dementia
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was great in concept. I could very easily see the inspiration from both Knives out and the Inheritance Games. However, I really feel like it needed more editing or beta reading to refine the story and world building.
Tabitha was easily the best part of the book. I enjoyed her sarcastic but empathetic voice. The secondary characters were also pretty well done and added to the story. (I would've like more time spent showing the relationship between Tabita and her parents though).
However the world felt very flat and poorly developed. I couldn't even tell you where this story took place or anything about the town where Tabitha lived. She also seemed to have very little in her life outside of the magic which did flatten her character a bit.
There was also too much telling and not showing. We are told about Tabitha's fortune telling ability but never shown it. I am actually disappointed that she didn't use her abilities to solve the mystery in the end, it would've made so much more sense than what we got! We also had too much telling and not showing about the Soloman family and the relationships between the various members.
I will admit that I was kept guessing until the end about the culprit.
Overall, really great concept and main character. Needed more editing and building up of the world.
Tabitha was easily the best part of the book. I enjoyed her sarcastic but empathetic voice. The secondary characters were also pretty well done and added to the story. (I would've like more time spent showing the relationship between Tabita and her parents though).
However the world felt very flat and poorly developed. I couldn't even tell you where this story took place or anything about the town where Tabitha lived. She also seemed to have very little in her life outside of the magic which did flatten her character a bit.
There was also too much telling and not showing. We are told about Tabitha's fortune telling ability but never shown it. I am actually disappointed that she didn't use her abilities to solve the mystery in the end, it would've made so much more sense than what we got! We also had too much telling and not showing about the Soloman family and the relationships between the various members.
I will admit that I was kept guessing until the end about the culprit.
Overall, really great concept and main character. Needed more editing and building up of the world.
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
In These Deadly Prophecies there's this wry humor. This conversational, reflective tone, which hooks the reader immediately. These Deadly Prophecies mixes a story that feels introspective as it navigates prophecies and free will with a murder mystery. There's just the right balance of humor and heart. Tabatha is a fun character from the very first image we have of her.
In These Deadly Prophecies there's this wry humor. This conversational, reflective tone, which hooks the reader immediately. These Deadly Prophecies mixes a story that feels introspective as it navigates prophecies and free will with a murder mystery. There's just the right balance of humor and heart. Tabatha is a fun character from the very first image we have of her.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have said this several times that I’m not a fan of thrillers. But last year after trying authors like Jesse Q. Sutanto and Kelly Olivers, I have now breached that gap between me and the thriller. That’s why I thought why not pick up These Deadly Prophecies and have tachycardia by solving a murder mystery.
This novel is about a girl named Tabatha Zheng, who used to be an apprentice of the famous sorcerer Julian Aurelius Solomon. Before his death, Julian disclosed a prophecy with Tabatha that he would die at the hands of his best beloved. He also advised her to find and to remain by the side of his youngest son Callum Solomon after his death. Thus Tabatha and Callum together try to solve this murder mystery.
This isn’t as simple as I have told you above. There will be several plot twists, high fantasy, and you’ll be wondering till the end who exactly is the murderer.
There are several things that I have liked about it.
The characters were amazingly multi layered in the novel. Believe me it was very difficult to comprehend who is on whose side. I would like to appreciate the writing style of the author. I like the way Andrea Tang tried to give a message through the characters of the novel. You’ll have to guess this message by reading the novel.
The fantasy element was really great. The sorcery, prophecies, fortune telling and spell incantations, I really enjoyed them a lot. God these spells were really thrilling and lethal as well. Especially the 2nd half of the novel was exciting in terms of magical fantasy.
The story was narrated by Tabatha’s POV. Tabatha was a great story teller. She literally kept me on my toes. But also her narration is full of humor.
I was hoping to get a 2nd book, but I’m not sure if that’s possible. Let’s hope for it because I want to see more of Tabatha’s adventures.
This novel is about a girl named Tabatha Zheng, who used to be an apprentice of the famous sorcerer Julian Aurelius Solomon. Before his death, Julian disclosed a prophecy with Tabatha that he would die at the hands of his best beloved. He also advised her to find and to remain by the side of his youngest son Callum Solomon after his death. Thus Tabatha and Callum together try to solve this murder mystery.
This isn’t as simple as I have told you above. There will be several plot twists, high fantasy, and you’ll be wondering till the end who exactly is the murderer.
There are several things that I have liked about it.
The characters were amazingly multi layered in the novel. Believe me it was very difficult to comprehend who is on whose side. I would like to appreciate the writing style of the author. I like the way Andrea Tang tried to give a message through the characters of the novel. You’ll have to guess this message by reading the novel.
The fantasy element was really great. The sorcery, prophecies, fortune telling and spell incantations, I really enjoyed them a lot. God these spells were really thrilling and lethal as well. Especially the 2nd half of the novel was exciting in terms of magical fantasy.
The story was narrated by Tabatha’s POV. Tabatha was a great story teller. She literally kept me on my toes. But also her narration is full of humor.
I was hoping to get a 2nd book, but I’m not sure if that’s possible. Let’s hope for it because I want to see more of Tabatha’s adventures.