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sssssoup's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I read this book over six months ago and I still cannot get over how much I disliked it. The characters were bland and forgettable and the cast wasn't diverse. There were no LGBTQ+ characters and only one POC character. The worldbuilding was cool in theory, but the execution wasn't great. The plot wasn't anything special – just a run-of-the-mill hetero enemies to lovers romance – and I overall just didn't like it. I know there's a lot of people who would enjoy this kind of story, but I am not one of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent
tired_cicada's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Supper interesting story! Will 100% get the sequel!
There is a LOT of blood and mentions of blood so if that's not your feel maybe try something different.
It has a very witchy vibe. Lots of moon symbolism, and talks of rituals, and bones.
The book is basically about a group of Grim Reaper women and their task of guiding the dead. It was supper interesting so read. It's got alot going on.
the Romance between Annalese and Bastion was cute but also felt kinda "insta love" -y. And then to find out that they aren't even soulmates was a bit of a let down. I get it happened, like plot wise and connecting Annalese to her mother's story and all, but it felt really sudden. Like it never goes well, in my opinion, to throw in a brand new major player durring the last few chapters
Very engaging and fun!
There is a LOT of blood and mentions of blood so if that's not your feel maybe try something different.
It has a very witchy vibe. Lots of moon symbolism, and talks of rituals, and bones.
The book is basically about a group of Grim Reaper women and their task of guiding the dead. It was supper interesting so read. It's got alot going on.
Very engaging and fun!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Self harm
maple_dove's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
malloryfitz's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, and Violence
thecourtofreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
"you're not missing from me. i'm not missing from you."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Murder, and Confinement
Minor: Blood
scardone's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Gore
empusa's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Death of parent
taymariereads's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Animal death, and Death of parent
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
2020 Star Rating: 4
2022 Star Rating 3.5
Upon rereading this book I found myself giving it a lower rating to when I original read it for the first time in 2020. Chances are though the 2020 rating is actually 3.5 stars but bumped up as GoodReads doesn't do half or quarter star ratings.
This book could have been a 4 star read maybe even a 4.25 if it wasn't for the character Jules. I don't know if she was written to be hated but she really infuriated me whenever she was on the page. Her actions make little to no sense, and the excuse that she likes Bastien is just not good enough for some of her actions. She really does provide little to the story and is only there to cause conflict. A waste of a character without her could have cut the book down a bit.
Jules aside, I did enjoy reading the other characters even with their lack of character development and fleshed personalities. I will admit that Sabine is my favourite and I don't think it is a coincidence that she got the most character development and some of the best chapters in the book. I cannot wait to see more of her in the sequel.
This book is not for those who read for characters. It is an easy and fast paced book that is really read for the plot. It is not a complicated one and can be predictable at times, but it is one that you can sit down and read quick because of it. It's not bad and is actually entertaining, which is what most of us want in a book. It is not without it's flaws though. It is one of those reads to you can grab if you feel a reading slump coming on.
All in all this book is not a bad read and it quick enjoyable. It will not give you anything to take away from or have you in shocked moments, but I also don't think it is trying to do that. It was written to be entertaining and honestly it succeeds well at it. It is a good book if you are look for that in between of Middle Grade and Young Adult, or want something entertaining that isn't going to take weeks to read or a lot of concentration to get through.
2022 Star Rating 3.5
Upon rereading this book I found myself giving it a lower rating to when I original read it for the first time in 2020. Chances are though the 2020 rating is actually 3.5 stars but bumped up as GoodReads doesn't do half or quarter star ratings.
This book could have been a 4 star read maybe even a 4.25 if it wasn't for the character Jules. I don't know if she was written to be hated but she really infuriated me whenever she was on the page. Her actions make little to no sense, and the excuse that she likes Bastien is just not good enough for some of her actions. She really does provide little to the story and is only there to cause conflict. A waste of a character without her could have cut the book down a bit.
Jules aside, I did enjoy reading the other characters even with their lack of character development and fleshed personalities. I will admit that Sabine is my favourite and I don't think it is a coincidence that she got the most character development and some of the best chapters in the book. I cannot wait to see more of her in the sequel.
This book is not for those who read for characters. It is an easy and fast paced book that is really read for the plot. It is not a complicated one and can be predictable at times, but it is one that you can sit down and read quick because of it. It's not bad and is actually entertaining, which is what most of us want in a book. It is not without it's flaws though. It is one of those reads to you can grab if you feel a reading slump coming on.
All in all this book is not a bad read and it quick enjoyable. It will not give you anything to take away from or have you in shocked moments, but I also don't think it is trying to do that. It was written to be entertaining and honestly it succeeds well at it. It is a good book if you are look for that in between of Middle Grade and Young Adult, or want something entertaining that isn't going to take weeks to read or a lot of concentration to get through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship
caidyn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
CW: parental death (past), killing animals (for magical purposes), kidnapping, and general themes of violence
I'm going to organize my thoughts with a bullet point review to make it the easiest for me!
First up, the things I liked:
✨ Pacing. It was very quick despite being nearly 500 pages long, so I really liked that aspect of it.
✨ Interesting world. Definitely an interesting world with a lot going on.
✨ Plot twists. There were a few and they were pretty good!
Things I wasn't a big fan of:
✨ Worldbuilding. It was lacking and I kept thinking to myself "wait, what" because of the lack of explanations provided for things.
✨ The romance. Jesus Christ. It was so obvious and I kept rolling my eyes. I did not find them interesting at all and I didn't want the romance I was given.
✨ The characters. Honestly, wasn't a huge fan of them. The main characters felt like they didn't grow as much as I would have wanted, or growth happened at the snap of some fingers. Then I kept getting side characters confused.
All in all, a good debut, but I don't know if I'll continue with the series.
I'm going to organize my thoughts with a bullet point review to make it the easiest for me!
First up, the things I liked:
✨ Pacing. It was very quick despite being nearly 500 pages long, so I really liked that aspect of it.
✨ Interesting world. Definitely an interesting world with a lot going on.
✨ Plot twists. There were a few and they were pretty good!
Things I wasn't a big fan of:
✨ Worldbuilding. It was lacking and I kept thinking to myself "wait, what" because of the lack of explanations provided for things.
✨ The romance. Jesus Christ. It was so obvious and I kept rolling my eyes. I did not find them interesting at all and I didn't want the romance I was given.
✨ The characters. Honestly, wasn't a huge fan of them. The main characters felt like they didn't grow as much as I would have wanted, or growth happened at the snap of some fingers. Then I kept getting side characters confused.
All in all, a good debut, but I don't know if I'll continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
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