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lunnacake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For lovers of half a soul, emily wilde’s encyclopedia of faeries and howl’s moving castle.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
akevaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
grace_b_3's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Just a heads up that sexual assault is a major theme of this book, as it isn’t mentioned in the book description.
This book is very atmospheric. I can definitely see a Gothic influence, as well as a Romantic one. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but where the book fell flat for me is thematically. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the focus onsexual assault and misogyny surprised me. That’s not a theme that I particularly enjoy reading about, so that affected my experience with the book. Even if I wasn’t very interested in the themes, I can appreciate the craft of this book.
I’d reccomend this if you are a fan of Ninth House. I could see V. E Schwab fans enjoying this as well.
This book is very atmospheric. I can definitely see a Gothic influence, as well as a Romantic one. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but where the book fell flat for me is thematically. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the focus on
I’d reccomend this if you are a fan of Ninth House. I could see V. E Schwab fans enjoying this as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
classical_learner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s true, this book is delightfully atmospheric and all the better when read after dusk to the sound of a rainstorm (I can testify)! The subplot of romance was a great complement to the themes of the book. I loved the blend of academia, mystery, and magical realism.
Only warnings are that the themes of overcoming past sexual harassment were far stronger than I anticipated.
Only warnings are that the themes of overcoming past sexual harassment were far stronger than I anticipated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence
tadah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and War
maregred's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
themorrigan43's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book is marketed as YA but there are a lot of adult, dark topics mentioned and referenced. It's more new adult in my opinion.
I was reading part of this in the middle of the night and I actually had to stop reading because I was so freaked out. This is a surprisingly tense and freaky book. It's a little bit of a thriller and a fantasy with a healthy dash of romance.
If you ever read The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, this book is very reminiscent of that, with more fantasy.
I was reading part of this in the middle of the night and I actually had to stop reading because I was so freaked out. This is a surprisingly tense and freaky book. It's a little bit of a thriller and a fantasy with a healthy dash of romance.
If you ever read The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, this book is very reminiscent of that, with more fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Excrement, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: War
cryosphinx's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.5
This type of book isn't my usual cup of tea since I like my fantasy to NOT have cars and I don't tend to read dark academia type genres but the atmosphere and mystery really hooked me in. The writing is also very beautiful and I found myself highlighting so many sentences that were just lovely.
The mystery is the main driver of the story, and is carried by the FMC and MMC, and one main side character, with little focus on any other side characters until near the end which was fine, there's just not a huge "supporting cast." The ending fell sor tof flat for me, leaving me wondering about some parts I thought would be resolved but weren't which is what keeps me from giving it a full 5. But I will sing it's praises and recommend it to anyone who will listen. It's a standalone but I hope for another book maybe set in the same world. Effy and Orestons story wraps up nicely don't it doesn't necessarily need to be them, but the world is so dark and beautiful that I want to go back.
The mystery is the main driver of the story, and is carried by the FMC and MMC, and one main side character, with little focus on any other side characters until near the end which was fine, there's just not a huge "supporting cast." The ending fell sor tof flat for me, leaving me wondering about some parts I thought would be resolved but weren't which is what keeps me from giving it a full 5. But I will sing it's praises and recommend it to anyone who will listen. It's a standalone but I hope for another book maybe set in the same world. Effy and Orestons story wraps up nicely don't it doesn't necessarily need to be them, but the world is so dark and beautiful that I want to go back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and War
louisepea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
'The only reason anything matters is because it ends.'
Effy, the only female architecture student at a prestigious university, wins a contest to redesign the home of her favourite late author.
Troubled by visions of the fairy king her whole life, as well as dealing with sexual abuse from her professor, and an uncaring mother, Effy hopes it will be an opportunity to escape her demons, and finally prove herself. But when she arrives at the dilapidated estate which is threatening to crumble into the sea, Effy discovers another student is secretly attempting to prove that her favourite author is a fraud and the book she finds solace in was penned by another writer.
Effy is furious, but Preston wants her help, and putting her name on his thesis could open doors in the literary college she longs to enter but can't because she's a woman.
With her role to redesign the house proving to be more complicated than she thought, and her host a creepy lech, Effy secretly teams up with the insufferable Preston to uncover the truth about the author and the origin of her favourite book.
Their quest takes them on a dangerous journey which sees them facing two men willing to do anything to hide the truth. a predatory fairy king attempting to claim what he believes is his, the unforgiving forces of nature, and perhaps most perilously of all, their growing feelings for each other. *Gasp*.
Can Effy and Preston uncover the truth and alert the world or will their curiosity see them paying the ultimate price to someone determined to keep it a secret?
*
I was so excited to read this book, but considering the hype online, it wasn't what I was expecting at all, and while I enjoyed it, I guess I'd anticipated so much more.
It was a weird but atmospheric little read about two rival students who team up to secretly uncover the truth about their favourite late author and his most famous book while staying in his creepy, dilapidated old house on other assignments. To be honest, this was a pretty boring storyline I had little interest in, but the threats from their lecherous host, a creepy fairy king, the eerie house, and the elements themselves made it a great, moderately-paced read, and kept me turning the pages. (Although, I felt the addition of a fairy king was a really odd choice for this YA academia / mystery, and made little sense to the story. I think it would've been better without this fantasy aspect).
I really liked the two main characters, Effy and Preston, and their slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance was adorable in a way only young love is. Preston sweetly vowing to look after Effy, a vulnerable young woman who'd known nothing but neglect, fear, and sexual abuse her whole life, might have melted my cold, dead heart. I loved how he always had her back, even when they had different views, and the way she made him blush was too cute.
I was on the edge of my seat during the scenes in the flooded basement, when it seemed like all hope was lost for a happy ending for the two of them, and it added a much stronger climax to the story than the truth that unravelled about the author and Angharad. To them, I say 'meh.'
Overall, I thought it was a suspenseful three star read with an interesting setting, likeable main characters, and some good lessons to be learnt. But did it wow me? No, not as much as I'd hoped.
Effy, the only female architecture student at a prestigious university, wins a contest to redesign the home of her favourite late author.
Troubled by visions of the fairy king her whole life, as well as dealing with sexual abuse from her professor, and an uncaring mother, Effy hopes it will be an opportunity to escape her demons, and finally prove herself. But when she arrives at the dilapidated estate which is threatening to crumble into the sea, Effy discovers another student is secretly attempting to prove that her favourite author is a fraud and the book she finds solace in was penned by another writer.
Effy is furious, but Preston wants her help, and putting her name on his thesis could open doors in the literary college she longs to enter but can't because she's a woman.
With her role to redesign the house proving to be more complicated than she thought, and her host a creepy lech, Effy secretly teams up with the insufferable Preston to uncover the truth about the author and the origin of her favourite book.
Their quest takes them on a dangerous journey which sees them facing two men willing to do anything to hide the truth. a predatory fairy king attempting to claim what he believes is his, the unforgiving forces of nature, and perhaps most perilously of all, their growing feelings for each other. *Gasp*.
Can Effy and Preston uncover the truth and alert the world or will their curiosity see them paying the ultimate price to someone determined to keep it a secret?
*
I was so excited to read this book, but considering the hype online, it wasn't what I was expecting at all, and while I enjoyed it, I guess I'd anticipated so much more.
It was a weird but atmospheric little read about two rival students who team up to secretly uncover the truth about their favourite late author and his most famous book while staying in his creepy, dilapidated old house on other assignments. To be honest, this was a pretty boring storyline I had little interest in, but the threats from their lecherous host, a creepy fairy king, the eerie house, and the elements themselves made it a great, moderately-paced read, and kept me turning the pages. (Although, I felt the addition of a fairy king was a really odd choice for this YA academia / mystery, and made little sense to the story. I think it would've been better without this fantasy aspect).
I really liked the two main characters, Effy and Preston, and their slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance was adorable in a way only young love is. Preston sweetly vowing to look after Effy, a vulnerable young woman who'd known nothing but neglect, fear, and sexual abuse her whole life, might have melted my cold, dead heart. I loved how he always had her back, even when they had different views, and the way she made him blush was too cute.
I was on the edge of my seat during the scenes in the flooded basement, when it seemed like all hope was lost for a happy ending for the two of them, and it added a much stronger climax to the story than the truth that unravelled about the author and Angharad. To them, I say 'meh.'
Overall, I thought it was a suspenseful three star read with an interesting setting, likeable main characters, and some good lessons to be learnt. But did it wow me? No, not as much as I'd hoped.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hannahs_library_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexual content