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rehtaehwashere's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
- What I liked: The story concept, the addition of magical creatures (really wasn't expecting that at all), family dynamics, a realistic feeling sibling relationship (even if it was minimal). The slow burn romance and will-they-won't-they, and the thirsting wasn't excessive at all
- What I disliked: the twist where
the villain isn't actually the villain (that's what SOLD me on the book) , that the character was an obvious author insert plus the cringey quirkiness (typical romance-fantasy style) and inserting outfits randomly everywhere. Plus the<'dating her boss' /spoiler> trope was kinda eh - Overall thoughts: really cool story and I love the concept! Much better writing than fourth wing even if the characters are still the author-insert quirky girl thing which was less bothersome here because the story was interesting and was advertised PURELY as a romance so it is almost expected. Crabby male characters will always win me over because it's funny. The
fake-trustworthiness of the 'good' people being pretty convincing was good too. - Recommend to a friend? Y
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Ableism
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
fairytales's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A good, light read with humorous moments if you can overlook the dark setting (which I think is the intention—like juxtaposing an office setting with murders). My guess is the humor translates better through the audiobook than it might on paper. Tatiana, Becky, and both Sage girls were great.
My main critique (which knocked this book down a star): As someone with a chronic illness, I do not like the faked illness trope and wish the author had approached that story line differently. While she notes that others do have this mysterious and serious disease, it’s always harmful to those of us with difficult to understand chronic conditions when the concept of a faked illness is perpetuated. It’s hard enough to get doctors and society to take us seriously. Storylines like this make it worse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism
notsobinaryart's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
A fun and easy read, but I had some major issues with the book.
It’s a fun concept, showing The Villain being not a bad guy and having a sweet bubbly girl working for him. The characters are overall charming, and you do root for them even when they do less than ideal things.
The book was long, having unnecessary scenes that serve as fun little moments without furthering any obvious plot, which can be fine but don’t seem super well edited. The book is very on the nose, which isn’t bad for an easy read, but don’t expect some earth shattering revelations, new concepts, or major twists on any tropes. The characters weren’t super complex either, and we mostly only get surface level insight into the characters until we get a few moments of insight to their trauma, often in an info dumpy way.
One of my biggest issues is with some ableist tropes is at the climax of the book. In the end, you find out the sick disabled father was faking it all along. Not only is he faking, he’s faking to further his villainous intentions. This stereotype further perpetuates that many disabled people are actually faking it, which is incredibly harmful towards public perception of real disabled people. I am extremely tired of disabled people, even fake disabled people, being the villain, especially if it’s a direct tie to their villainy. Almost every disabled person has experienced ableists questioning their disability perpetuated by these harmful tropes.
If you’re looking for a fun read, it can be enjoyable, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this book.
It’s a fun concept, showing The Villain being not a bad guy and having a sweet bubbly girl working for him. The characters are overall charming, and you do root for them even when they do less than ideal things.
The book was long, having unnecessary scenes that serve as fun little moments without furthering any obvious plot, which can be fine but don’t seem super well edited. The book is very on the nose, which isn’t bad for an easy read, but don’t expect some earth shattering revelations, new concepts, or major twists on any tropes. The characters weren’t super complex either, and we mostly only get surface level insight into the characters until we get a few moments of insight to their trauma, often in an info dumpy way.
One of my biggest issues is with some ableist tropes is at the climax of the book.
If you’re looking for a fun read, it can be enjoyable, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol and Gore
Minor: Drug abuse and Animal cruelty
allisonisbooked's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Abandonment, Ableism, and Death of parent
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