Reviews

The Black Veins by Ashia Monet

queerreadsfluff's review

5.0

Gah! This book is everything! It is the perfect queer found family adventure!

The MCs are a diverse group of teens, many of whom are POC and/or queer, and the love between them just made my heart explode with joy! I want more books like this that celebrate queer platonic love!

Also, the tag line is “magicians on a road trip!” If that doesn’t make you want to read it, I am very confused about your taste!

Cannot wait for book two!

goinghost's review

adventurous emotional funny tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I adored this book and I adored these characters. The way the group developed with each other made me not only believe how much they grew together as a family, but be compelled by how wonderful the family they made was. Really enjoyed it!

strangeshereads's review against another edition

5.0

Such an amazing adventure!

The characters are what makes this book so so so amazing for me and then the plot just got even more interesting and heart wrenching like omg I don't want my babies hurt!!!!


So much laughs, so much banter, so much fights, platonic love and friendship.


Best found family ever!!!!!

liaandersson's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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? No

I want to cry. I don't even know if it would be from happiness or sadness. Both? Maybe. I have laughed out loud so much that my mother was wondering what I was doing. Literally, such a relatable book with exactly my kind of humour and characters. I feel like somebody dissected my friend group, and I love every single bit of it. Now I want to buy a physical copy of the book so I can annotate and save every thought I had while reading, but it just won't be the same now that I have already read it once. I will try to occupy my mind with other books while waiting for this sequel to publish, but it's going to be rough. I will take all the pain in the world for this book. Now go and read if you haven't yet, you have a wonderful read ahead of you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Stalking

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, and Racism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

valvallie's review

adventurous emotional funny medium-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

5.0

annaki_laila's review

[DNF] Stopped reading at page 108. I just wasn't interested in anything that was going on. The typos were also becoming an issue, this book really feels like it's a draft still.

mrgtpvl's review

adventurous funny slow-paced

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

2.75

alouette's review

adventurous funny tense 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

5.0

i need to read this a few more times because there was so much to love about it! the found family of main characters, of course, but also the magic, the politics, the action... and the characters, it bears repeating how amazing they were. even if the foundation of the book was the plot (though it was a bit shaky), the characters were the stunning highlight. not just how they played off of each other but how they were well-rounded, lovable, and had such dynamic personalities. i could read about their adventures for forever, and the representation that they brought made me ecstatic. this book is a masterclass in writing realistic teens, and proof that a writing style that is true to everyday linguistics and mannerisms is not bad just because it doesn't fit within traditional grammar rules. language is a changing medium, and writers that are able to properly use colloquial language deserve more credit for how immersive their stories become through that style.

also, going back to the representation- look how fascinating diverse characters are and the breadth of emotions and experiences an author can cover by incorporating diverse characters! how anyone can think that reducing diverse characters to quota-fillers will please the people most craving the representation is wacky to me. 

thektrose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

co32minus's review

4.0

Loved this book and excited to read the next one that comes out! Absolutely loved the cast, both for its diversity and their love for each other - many stories I have read/watched/listened to rely on degrading jabs and "teasing" between characters, but this book was genuinely funny in an empathetic way, which is refreshing. Between the high stakes of the plot and my excitement to get to know all of the characters I read this book in record time. Lots of action and anxiety, but not crushingly so. Definitely a feel good story with weight to it.