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micheala's review against another edition
3.25
So once again, this book has an unlikable main character which is not really my preference. The plot concept was interesting, however it took about 50% before it started to feel like things were actually happening.
This is set in an alternative, magical USA in modern time. I would say that this is urban fantasy (but not Urban Fantasy - the romance is definitely a small side plot point rather than being about 50% of the plot). I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, I felt like things were overly discribed (not always but on a reoccurring basis).
This is the author's first adult novel. I've previously read the Spiderwick Chronicles (many years ago) and DNF'd The Coldest Girl in Cold Town, so I'm not sure if the writing style is the same as their YA novels.
Everything indicates that this is a standalone, however if it remains so, it has a very unsatisfactory ending. I'm not sure if I liked this book enough to want to read a sequel, so I probably won't be keeping an eye out to see if it does continue.
Overall, this book was fine, but very middle of the road for me.
This is set in an alternative, magical USA in modern time. I would say that this is urban fantasy (but not Urban Fantasy - the romance is definitely a small side plot point rather than being about 50% of the plot). I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, I felt like things were overly discribed (not always but on a reoccurring basis).
This is the author's first adult novel. I've previously read the Spiderwick Chronicles (many years ago) and DNF'd The Coldest Girl in Cold Town, so I'm not sure if the writing style is the same as their YA novels.
Everything indicates that this is a standalone, however if it remains so, it has a very unsatisfactory ending. I'm not sure if I liked this book enough to want to read a sequel, so I probably won't be keeping an eye out to see if it does continue.
Overall, this book was fine, but very middle of the road for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
aseel_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i liked the dark, gritty atmosphere of this book and there were several plot moments that were unpredictable, which was nice. but overall, i just felt that the book didn't make sense and it didn't flow well - jumping too much between recollections of the past and the present.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
chloebrown13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Death and Incest
Minor: Child abuse
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Incest, Sexual content, and Abandonment
jubilees_bee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Gore
Minor: Incest
whatthelauj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I liked the heist and murder mystery elements blended into the world of magic. But I found the interpersonal relationships, particularly the romance, really dry and boring. I also found the constant flipping back and forth between past and present really broke the flow for me. Rather than adding to the tension, I kept finding myself getting frustrated and skimming the past sections to get back to the action.
Not bad but I was expecting more given the hype.
Not bad but I was expecting more given the hype.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Adult blackmailing a childeve_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
⁕ Black's main character Charlie is rough around the edges to the extreme (think Alex from Ninth House or even Katniss from The Hunger Games). It wouldn't be a problem, except this character trait becomes her entire personality and she comes across as the stereotypical "tough girl" (very flat indeed). I could not connect to her emotionally at all!
⁕ Despite the high stakes of the conflict that Charlie is caught in, the development of the main action was incredibly slow. I was bored and had to force myself to slog through most of the book until the last 50 pages or so when things started to pick up.
⁕ The world-building is lacking, specifically the magic systems.
⁕ Despite the high stakes of the conflict that Charlie is caught in, the development of the main action was incredibly slow. I was bored and had to force myself to slog through most of the book until the last 50 pages or so when things started to pick up.
⁕ The world-building is lacking, specifically the magic systems.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical trauma
mitrosec's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love Holly Black to death and I think that her biggest strengths are focusing her books around a great heroine. Anyone reading this book (or any of her books) for romance will not get what they are looking for.
I am excited to see where she takes this character in future novels. I was genuinely shocked by the twist at the end. Another one of Holly’s strong suits is giving her readers little truths so that they think they have it all figured out, but at the right moment… she pulls the rug out and you are left speechless.
The new world Holly created in this book was hard to get used to at first. After a while I got used to it. This book got a 3.5 from me because I felt as though it was missing so much. Her relationship with her sister felt underdeveloped along with several other things i cannot place.
I am excited to see where she takes this character in future novels. I was genuinely shocked by the twist at the end. Another one of Holly’s strong suits is giving her readers little truths so that they think they have it all figured out, but at the right moment… she pulls the rug out and you are left speechless.
The new world Holly created in this book was hard to get used to at first. After a while I got used to it. This book got a 3.5 from me because I felt as though it was missing so much. Her relationship with her sister felt underdeveloped along with several other things i cannot place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Incest, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia and Torture
thoughtsontomes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wasn't a huge fan of TCP, so I didn't go into this with any expectations but was hoping to like this more than her other work. I find that Holly Black's writing style doesn't really work for me. She has some cool worlds and magic systems, but under-develops them. Her writing style is lacking and leaves me wanting more. Side characters don't feel very fleshed out. And Charlie as a main character felt a little heavy handed with the morally grey thief thing which has become a little overdone these days. I did really enjoy Vince as a character though and would have almost preferred more from his POV. Some of the mystery elements were also compelling, even if I figured a few of them out beforehand. I'm also a bit annoyed that the ending makes this obvious that it's at least going to be a duology but was not marketed as such - which is kind of annoying when it's a cliffhanger ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Torture, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Incest and Sexual assault
kaseybereading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood