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emilywemily6's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I was disappointed by this book, especially because I loved the first one. There were a lot of things I would have changed. I feel like the conflict in Nina’s family was talked about but never shown; there was only one confrontation between Nina and the older generation and it didn’t really explain why Nina felt so broken. I also didn’t really like Morty. He was kind of snarky and inconsistently passionate about certain things and aggressive. And I honestly hated the romance. It went from zero to 100 super fast (spice level was HOT- hotter than the other books) after a first date where they basically hated on each other. It wasn’t just awkward or two unlikely people having a hard time connecting; they were both insulting and rude and openly judgy. So the fact that they had a physical (and magical) connection didn’t feel like enough to overcome all that. All of a sudden, they were kind to each other. I could not get behind their relationship. Some people complain about the non-binary representation, but I felt that while it could have been more dramatic of a characterization, it still felt genuine. Nina asked Morty which pronoun he preferred, and I felt like his specific gender expression was consistent and realistic and nuanced. The story, although it was interesting to learn about what was happening, was over-the-top dramatic and wild, and the lore didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the series. I also felt like the consequences of Nina’s actions did not realistically fit the outcome or intent of her actions (like she got off really easily and the conflict resolved too nicely). I also hated how much people despised the Blackmores and Nina never bothered to correct anyone when people made assumptions about her or her intentions because of her family. It made me angry- give credit where they are due but don’t treat them like they are evil. Ugh. I will read the next book still, but I really hope it’s better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Biphobia
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