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reinberg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lenipelmeni'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
anarkies's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
ninjapenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
mmihevc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
angelune's review against another edition
3.0
i don't know what it is with me and books lately, i swear i just cannot find one that is not lacking in something.
they just don't make fantasy books like they used to in the 2014-2018 era. IDC I'll be that person; bring old school fantasy back! (if you'd even consider that period old school......)
it started really interesting! I love the premise of a mystery/haunted house with a mix of rivals to lovers in it. also a main female character who dealt with people abusing their position of power and suffering from sexual trauma, to some degree. as those themes really interest me, when they are written correctly.
and it was okay for the most part, I liked the writing and the setting. both created a magical and mystical environment for our characters and us, as readers, to get lost in. but so many elements to me felt just off. and it makes me really, really sad.
because I really wanted to love it. especially as someone who is suffering from readers block SEVERLY.
1) effy was just simply not likeable in the slightest. Of course I felt empathy for her situation, but to some degree I also just felt so extremely frustrated at her own way of handling things. she is so incredibly passive and meek. AND SHE HAS MAYBE ONE SENTENCE AT THE VERY END OF THE BOOK THAT SHE STANDS UP FOR HERSELF. and even then, it's with the help of preston.
2) speaking of preston, he was slightly more interesting, but not by much. and unfortunately, i did not feel their chemistry in the slightest. or why he even liked effy??? like, realistically, we should have seen them fall for each other, but it just wasnt the case. it definitely felt like insta-love, or insta-obsession for preston's sake. and THEN it was so rushed, at the end. i swear i felt like the book took most of the time, like 80%, to set up the environment, and then everything else happened in the last 20%. including plot, revelations that came out of nowhere, the romance. yeah.... yeah...
3) the hidden context of the animosity between llyr and argant, especially in the current political climate, was NOT GOOD. effy's inner dialogue about preston who is mixed, was???? it made me extremely uncomfortable. and she was not redeemed in my eyes by the end just because she fell in love with him. :/
boo me because i really wanted to like this.. the one thing i will give ava reid is that her writing is truly wonderful and immersive. i just wish i could've gotten attached to the characters, and felt anything else besides being immersed...
they just don't make fantasy books like they used to in the 2014-2018 era. IDC I'll be that person; bring old school fantasy back! (if you'd even consider that period old school......)
it started really interesting! I love the premise of a mystery/haunted house with a mix of rivals to lovers in it. also a main female character who dealt with people abusing their position of power and suffering from sexual trauma, to some degree. as those themes really interest me, when they are written correctly.
and it was okay for the most part, I liked the writing and the setting. both created a magical and mystical environment for our characters and us, as readers, to get lost in. but so many elements to me felt just off. and it makes me really, really sad.
because I really wanted to love it. especially as someone who is suffering from readers block SEVERLY.
1) effy was just simply not likeable in the slightest. Of course I felt empathy for her situation, but to some degree I also just felt so extremely frustrated at her own way of handling things. she is so incredibly passive and meek. AND SHE HAS MAYBE ONE SENTENCE AT THE VERY END OF THE BOOK THAT SHE STANDS UP FOR HERSELF. and even then, it's with the help of preston.
2) speaking of preston, he was slightly more interesting, but not by much. and unfortunately, i did not feel their chemistry in the slightest. or why he even liked effy??? like, realistically, we should have seen them fall for each other, but it just wasnt the case. it definitely felt like insta-love, or insta-obsession for preston's sake. and THEN it was so rushed, at the end. i swear i felt like the book took most of the time, like 80%, to set up the environment, and then everything else happened in the last 20%. including plot, revelations that came out of nowhere, the romance. yeah.... yeah...
3) the hidden context of the animosity between llyr and argant, especially in the current political climate, was NOT GOOD. effy's inner dialogue about preston who is mixed, was???? it made me extremely uncomfortable. and she was not redeemed in my eyes by the end just because she fell in love with him. :/
boo me because i really wanted to like this.. the one thing i will give ava reid is that her writing is truly wonderful and immersive. i just wish i could've gotten attached to the characters, and felt anything else besides being immersed...
elsam13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
mcgbreads's review against another edition
Because I should at least care about one thing after a little over 100 pages. One singular, solitary thing, but sadly, I don’t care about anything. It sucks cause this was a rec from one of my favorite book besties on Instagram, but I just don’t want to continue with this :(
brittmarm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
LITERALLY SO GOOD. Gorgeous writing and so much women empowerment. I love it.
kdavis20's review against another edition
5.0
So I don't usually write reviews (blame my laziness/ADHD,) but this book deserves all the praise in the world. This is definitely in my top 5 books I've ever read. It has feminism, gothic horror, fairy tales, romance, and even some literature discourse sprinkled in. Effy is one of my favorite protagonists because she is so relatable. She is a heroine for the anxious and self-doubting and I love her all the more for it.