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amy14's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual content, Blood, and Child death
peppermint_pink's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this one. I usually dislike love interests at first but Ravyn is just wonderful and Elspeth is an awesome, pretty grounded protagonist. Highly recommend! Also, the magic system's rules are quite interesting and reminds me of equivalent exchange in alchemy. Everything has a price.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Minor: Death of parent
alba_1994's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This had a great premise. I just felt the character design was very shallow which resulted in inconsistent actions and undeep relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
etymoye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book took me a little while to get into, to the point where I almost DNF. The writing style is very dense and just very wordy, plus the world-building is kind of slow going. But once things started falling into place, it hooked me.
I felt like the main romance between the two main characters, Elspeth and Ravyn, was just okay. I liked that Ravyn isn’t your stereotypical Alpha Male, but I also felt like we never quite got to know him that well, either. In my opinion, where this book really shines is world-building and storytelling. The atmosphere is really well done, very creepy and tense at times, and I loved the detail about magic being tied to cards. (Though they’re not the only source of magic, which is a major conflict in the book.) Definitely planning on reading book 2.
Safety Stats:
Ages:Elspeth is 20, I didn’t catch Ravyn’s age.
Cheating: None.
Other OM/OW: There's brief mention of another character Elspeth kissed once three years ago. He's interested in courting her now, but she's not interested in him and shuts him down.
Separation: Separated at the end of the book. Cliffhanger.
Triggers: Mention of past death of a parent (Elspeth’s mother). Elspeth’s father is alive but a relatively deadbeat dad.
HEA/HFN?:No, cliffhanger at the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Abandonment
yilliun's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I ate this up. I’ve been in a reading slump for the past few weeks and this officially rescued me not unlike Ravyn trying to save Elspeth .
Although the magic system is not completely an original idea, I like how the author developed it. I would have appreciated a glossary at the back of relevant terms and characters because I found myself often forgetting which card bestowed what power.
I appreciated that the romance was more a side plot than the main focus. The story would be able to stand on its own without the romantic elements. Out of all the characters, Hauth and Nerium both felt a little cliche to me and the most cartoonish villain figures. Besides that, I think all the other characters were well fleshed out.
Although the magic system is not completely an original idea, I like how the author developed it. I would have appreciated a glossary at the back of relevant terms and characters because I found myself often forgetting which card bestowed what power.
I appreciated that the romance was more a side plot than the main focus. The story would be able to stand on its own without the romantic elements. Out of all the characters, Hauth and Nerium both felt a little cliche to me and the most cartoonish villain figures. Besides that, I think all the other characters were well fleshed out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
gibbse97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
beereads984's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
meganpbell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
This popular gothic fantasy has some killer cards to play, with a unique card-based magic system, a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, and a fantastically sinister monster living inside our heroine’s head. While the YA/New Adult prose didn’t always work for me and the first half is very slow to start, the world-building and plot made up for it. That said, I think I’ll wait till October to read the sequel for all the spooky gothic vibes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
lunahale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oh this was GOOD!!!! i feel like i could read about elspeth forever. the magic and mystery and romance in this was so perfectly written, and i was invested in every single one of these characters. the way everything in this is entangled and how the plot and subplots all weave together is masterful. i can’t wait to read book two
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
alexasolis98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was amazing. The story, the characters, the mysterious past. Keeping up with the Providence Cards was a bit challenging at times. Otherwise, this story was great. Raven, Elm, Ione, the Nightmare and Elspeth are all so interesting. I look forward to learning more about the Shepherd King and on how to save Blunder from the mist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content