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challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
five stars isn’t enough holy shit. I read this book from the library but the first chance I get I’ll be buying a copy.
The prose is absolutely brilliant. It reminds me of The Yellow Wallpaper but with a focus on the sea in the gothic elements.
The magic was beautiful in a treacherous way— I think that’s a good way to describe the book. Beautiful and addicting in a treacherous and painfully beautiful way.
“But if fairies and monsters were real, so were the women who defeated them”
I cried, I sobbed, I gasped, I was going to write fan fiction if they didn’t get a happy ending (they do, I promise)— I might still write fan fiction in some idyllic romanticized world whereAngharrad was always believed
This book felt like a Paris Paloma song with a narrative attached— a narrative that is uncovered throughout the book and magic laced into it. I feel like even that isn’t a good enough description, it’s just so beautiful.
EDIT: I have discovered that there is a book 2. Personally, I have no plans to read it. The ending, in my mind, is perfect for the story it contains, not all the questions are answered, but they are existing in their own world and I am content with the knowledge that they will continue existing after the story (and their story doesn’t end here) but having a whole other book and increased conflict doesn’t seem like something that would add to the story, in my mind. I enjoyed this book as a standalone.
The prose is absolutely brilliant. It reminds me of The Yellow Wallpaper but with a focus on the sea in the gothic elements.
The magic was beautiful in a treacherous way— I think that’s a good way to describe the book. Beautiful and addicting in a treacherous and painfully beautiful way.
“But if fairies and monsters were real, so were the women who defeated them”
I cried, I sobbed, I gasped, I was going to write fan fiction if they didn’t get a happy ending (they do, I promise)— I might still write fan fiction in some idyllic romanticized world where
This book felt like a Paris Paloma song with a narrative attached— a narrative that is uncovered throughout the book and magic laced into it. I feel like even that isn’t a good enough description, it’s just so beautiful.
EDIT: I have discovered that there is a book 2. Personally, I have no plans to read it. The ending, in my mind, is perfect for the story it contains, not all the questions are answered, but they are existing in their own world and I am content with the knowledge that they will continue existing after the story (and their story doesn’t end here) but having a whole other book and increased conflict doesn’t seem like something that would add to the story, in my mind. I enjoyed this book as a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Minor: Blood, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Gaslighting
Child abuse is more like child neglect but thought I'd note it anyway.
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very atmospheric, absolutely loved reading this during winter especially while it was raining. I wouldn’t exactly say that this is young adult given the subjects that it covers, but this is another great gothic fairytale addition from Ava Reid. I’m excited to read the next one and hopefully get a little bit more of the world building and lore behind everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
This is a beautifully written book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if the synopsis better captured what the story is about. Based on the blurb, I went into this expecting a sweet romance alongside a gothic fantasy mystery. Instead, I found myself dealing with a world of toxic misogyny and sexism, a vulnerable main character with symptoms of severe mental illness, and a backstory of SA by a much older man. Whilst I still enjoyed the book overall (though the ending felt a bit too tied up neatly with a bow until the last line), I wasn't in the right mood for something so heavy, and so never found myself fully investing in the characters.
Going back to the ending, I read somewhere that this was meant to be a standalone before the author decided to write a sequel. I think it's a shame Reid didn't plan to write a second one sooner, as this first book would have benefited from a less "perfect" ending, and a more thought out resolution in the second book.
Going back to the ending, I read somewhere that this was meant to be a standalone before the author decided to write a sequel. I think it's a shame Reid didn't plan to write a second one sooner, as this first book would have benefited from a less "perfect" ending, and a more thought out resolution in the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Gore, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War, Injury/Injury detail
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was intense. A story of dark structures (physically and metaphorically), navigating them and finally empowerment through breaking free from the clutches of those structures.
It took me a minute to warm up to the main character, but I did. I didn't know beforehand if the dark vibes would be for me, even though I was intrigued, which lasted through the whole book, thanks to the masterfully crafted and long sustained mystery. I appreciated the darkness of the story for the most part. Then sometimes it got *really* dark and I found it hard to keep reading, because at points it had me literally tensing up, feeling uncomfortably and even a little sick. Although this was probably the intention, it was definitely a challenge for me.
There were a few small things bothering me, like food and drink almostalways being associated with strange circumstances (I know, a weird thing to say and definitely a very personal and minor thing..) as well as the romance lacking just a smidge of substance to be believable all the way through - though I did like it. Other than that I am impressed with the way this story pulled me in, had my gears turning and eliciting idea after idea, finding themes and allegories, which does not happen to often, since I'm usually more of a "coming along for the journey" type of reader. A solid, very engaging book. I will definitely read the second one.
It took me a minute to warm up to the main character, but I did. I didn't know beforehand if the dark vibes would be for me, even though I was intrigued, which lasted through the whole book, thanks to the masterfully crafted and long sustained mystery. I appreciated the darkness of the story for the most part. Then sometimes it got *really* dark and I found it hard to keep reading, because at points it had me literally tensing up, feeling uncomfortably and even a little sick. Although this was probably the intention, it was definitely a challenge for me.
There were a few small things bothering me, like food and drink almostalways being associated with strange circumstances (I know, a weird thing to say and definitely a very personal and minor thing..) as well as the romance lacking just a smidge of substance to be believable all the way through - though I did like it. Other than that I am impressed with the way this story pulled me in, had my gears turning and eliciting idea after idea, finding themes and allegories, which does not happen to often, since I'm usually more of a "coming along for the journey" type of reader. A solid, very engaging book. I will definitely read the second one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment