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marleens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Kidnapping
brookesinfinitebooks's review against another edition
- 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
I was enthralled by this dark fantasy centered around bargains and sacrifice. Violet was a compelling character who did not let naivete make her stupid; rather she spends every moment learning more to reach her goals. The astrals were a horrifying concept of divinity that I could not get enough of - but beware content warnings for gore, child death and harm, and cannibalism/vampirism. The brutality of this novel was pitched just right for the stakes Violet is up against; it was a truly harrowing experience as she tries to free herself and her family.
Summers' writing soared in its ability to show the complex relationships Violet builds. Love, betrayal, and trust all are subject to questioning. Violet's feelings about her absent mother and the very present Aleksander were nuanced, the frequent conflicts they created propelling the story forward.
An incredible debut. I cannot wait to see more for Georgia Summers.
Thanks to Redhook for providing an eARC via NetGalley.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
alexis_nicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Just enough mystery and intrigue and interesting framing to keep me engaged and turning the next page.
What a book to begin the year. The rest on my list will have trouble following in its wake.
I hope you take a chance on this book, little dreamer.
#IndigoEmployee
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child death
gaby_readsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for granting me access to the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping and Abandonment
thisbrittreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Kidnapping
craftshley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child death and Emotional abuse
jbsoutiere's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, and Murder
cneighbors36's review against another edition
- 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
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
chezler24's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
A story filled with mysterious curses, seductive magic, family secrets, and a smattering of dark intrigue. I absolutely loved this book. Once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. Georgia Summers's descriptions and world-building are so enthralling that you want to hang on to every word. It was so exciting being on the fringe of understanding and having things slowly revealed to you depending on which character's POV you were reading. If a book was written to talk more about the astrals, Fidelis, and Elandriel (basically anything fantastical mentioned in this book), then I would eat it up. This book just makes you want to dream and long for adventure. Please grab a copy of this when it comes out at the end of January 2024.
(Advanced Reader Copy)
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
milli__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
What I loved... the prose in this story is almost like a poem at various points. The magic of the book is in the detail of the world building, the descriptions of people and the world allow the reader to be transported into the book.
The concept of the book was brilliant with the characters slightly cliche'd. Violet is our naieve, never travelled main character who longs to see the world (honestly can it be a cliche if many people feel this way?). She is mostly likeable if not a little boring at times.
Curses are made to be broken. I love this, I love the idea that a curse has haunted a millenium and this main character is going to break it. The overall story was good.
What I didn't love...the story was good however I felt the ending was lacking - I won't spoil it for anyone but the last 10% of the book felt very flat - even if there was some "Trigger warning" content flung in to increase the stakes.
The romance element of the book was very shallow, this isn't a terrible thing as fantasies don't always need it but the romance felt forced.
Diversity was needed in this book - it felt lacking at parts - given this was a story across worlds - there was so much opportunity for this. The side characters in the story could have been given more depth as the scenes they were in were good.
I've finished this book with many questions that the author didn't answer and I think some of them were necessary for me to give this book a better rating.
Audiobook: This was my first audiobook - I'm not convinced it was the right pick for an audibook as I felt I would of liked to go back and reread some of the prose to capture some of the "big" moments again.
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Abandonment