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abbyweber's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a great start to the duology. The world building was clear and the characters so well developed. I’m just glad I don’t have to wait for the second book to come out because that was quite the cliffhanger! I can tell the author took the time to develop this story. The care and attention she gave to the characters and their roles to the story is evident and I really appreciate that. This, my friends, is how you write a gothic fantasy romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Blood, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual content
druzyquartz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Hate crime, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
cherry_bloom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sooo this is basically fem Naruto and shadowy Kurama story in the world of magic cards, knights and magical ghosts.
I'm kinda disappointed because these characters have deep backgroud stories but they have no personality traits whatsoever.
Also the main girl isn't strong or cold like author wants us to believe she just always cries and she isn't even cry baby she just cries for aesthetics... 😭
Moreover the love story...... WHERE IS THE TENSION??!! It's bland probably 'cause of bland characters...
Anyways I thought it's gonna be 5 stars read but sadly it's only 4 and I would probably rate it 3 stars if I wasn't reading trashy books recently and this book is well put together just wasn't entertaining for me .
I'm kinda disappointed because these characters have deep backgroud stories but they have no personality traits whatsoever.
Also the main girl isn't strong or cold like author wants us to believe she just always cries and she isn't even cry baby she just cries for aesthetics... 😭
Moreover the love story...... WHERE IS THE TENSION??!! It's bland probably 'cause of bland characters...
Anyways I thought it's gonna be 5 stars read but sadly it's only 4 and I would probably rate it 3 stars if I wasn't reading trashy books recently and this book is well put together just wasn't entertaining for me .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Gore
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
kennyleigh1999's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
This book was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read. The fantasy elements were well crafted, and the magic system is SO cool. Throw in a little romance, and this is what you get.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
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
smalljules's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
A really fun, enjoyable read. I really liked the rhyme/cadence of the cards and readings. The plot is really interesting and not as dark as I anticipated (which I was really happy with)
To me the writing style seemed to change from smooth & easy to a little chunky & cheesy. Especially Elspeth’s dialogue, she would seem really composed and mature, then all of a sudden she’d be acting really whiny and weak in a way that didn’t seem to fit the character I was building of her. Not a bad thing but it did throw me out of my reading ’flow’ at times.
There’s good twists in here and the book ended on an interesting cliffhanger. I’m excited to read the sequel!
To me the writing style seemed to change from smooth & easy to a little chunky & cheesy. Especially Elspeth’s dialogue, she would seem really composed and mature, then all of a sudden she’d be acting really whiny and weak in a way that didn’t seem to fit the character I was building of her. Not a bad thing but it did throw me out of my reading ’flow’ at times.
There’s good twists in here and the book ended on an interesting cliffhanger. I’m excited to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
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
issiwerro's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Blood
tkatt20's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Sometimes I find that when I really like a book I don't have a lot to say review wise, this is exactly one of those cases. I finished this a couple of weeks ago and waited to do a review because I thought the words might come to me, but they never did. The writing was solid, I loved the characters, setting, magic system, everything. This is honesty all I want in a YA/New adult fantasy. For my Teen Wolf fans, this book reminds me of season 3 with the nogitsune, to try to give an idea of the vibes between the FMC and the "Nightmare", which was my all-time favorite season btw. This was def a vibe read for me and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol