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lexsassy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I felt completely immersed in the fae world. The plot was tense and thrilling and very enjoyable. Finishing the book made me want more fantasy in my life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Violence
kelseyrein's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
books4plants's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
The first 100 pages, I was really, and I mean really, struggling to get through. Cal just moaning about how pretty she is and how awful it is and how she's not like other girls irritated the shit out of me. Also why are so many of the girls 5 foot fokkol. Atleast she finally got a personality when she joined Mendax, no offense. She finally started to be an interesting character with depths. And the dialogue and writing improved afte a 100 pages which I was grateful for. Sy en Mendax (of moet ek sê Malum) wat obsessed word met mekaar het ek gesien kom, maar dit het vir my nogsteeds uit die bloute gekom. Soos sy fught heeltyd haar feelings wat realisties is, en hy wat totaal en al mal raak vir haar pas by sy karakter, maar die manier wat dit ingebring is was nie baie natural nie. Ook watdefok het gebeur daar aan die einde. Nous sy skielik n fokken assassin. Sy is nogsteeds n kak een maar wtf. Dit het net baie rushed gevoel asof die plot nou net as n nagedagte ingegooi was sodat daar n sequel kan wees. Eks bly Mandex is nog lewendig en ek sien uit daarna om te sien hoe obsessed hy kan wees. Ek sal boek 2 lees, maar net omdat ek wil weet watdefok aangaan. Callie moet maar die darkness embrace baby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence
boba_n_books's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 🌶️ .5
--------------------
I'm really glad I did this as a buddy read and had friends who pushed me on with this one because I think the twist is what saved the book a *little* bit for me.
Callie is a scientist living in the middle of nowhere studying luna moths and the parasite that is slowly killing them. As a small, beautiful blonde woman, Callie's life is ROUGH (cough, sarcasm, cough) because she's quirky and single. One day, Callie discovers the mushrooms that might save the luna moths from the parasite, but when she tries to harvest them (in spite of multiple warnings not to), she's swept into a portal to the underground world of the Unseelie fae. Callie lands on the Unseelie prince, who is known for his hatred of humans, leading the Unseelie to believe she is a trained assassin sent to kill the prince. In order to make her way home, Callie has to survive three trials and try not to fall for the Unseelie prince--after all, he is the bad guy... as we are repeatedly reminded.
The good: The twist at the end did have me. I was ruminating on some theories throughout my read, but I enjoyed learning what really happened.
The bad: This book heavily relied on archetypal characters, overused tropes, and cheap shock value. The writing was predictable and just... not very good. I felt the characters were underdeveloped and shallow. Though the twist was interesting, I wish the book would've focused on those revelations and background (IYKYK) instead of the "relationship" between Callie and the Unseelie prince, which was basically insta-lust.
I don't think this book was for me, but I can completely understand why people enjoy this book. It was almost like a Wish version of ACOTAR, which seems to be common in the romantasy genre.
I did, however, preorder book 2 because I'm morbidly curious to see what happens. 🤷♀️
--------------------
I'm really glad I did this as a buddy read and had friends who pushed me on with this one because I think the twist is what saved the book a *little* bit for me.
Callie is a scientist living in the middle of nowhere studying luna moths and the parasite that is slowly killing them. As a small, beautiful blonde woman, Callie's life is ROUGH (cough, sarcasm, cough) because she's quirky and single. One day, Callie discovers the mushrooms that might save the luna moths from the parasite, but when she tries to harvest them (in spite of multiple warnings not to), she's swept into a portal to the underground world of the Unseelie fae. Callie lands on the Unseelie prince, who is known for his hatred of humans, leading the Unseelie to believe she is a trained assassin sent to kill the prince. In order to make her way home, Callie has to survive three trials and try not to fall for the Unseelie prince--after all, he is the bad guy... as we are repeatedly reminded.
The good: The twist at the end did have me. I was ruminating on some theories throughout my read, but I enjoyed learning what really happened.
The bad: This book heavily relied on archetypal characters, overused tropes, and cheap shock value. The writing was predictable and just... not very good. I felt the characters were underdeveloped and shallow. Though the twist was interesting, I wish the book would've focused on those revelations and background (IYKYK) instead of the "relationship" between Callie and the Unseelie prince, which was basically insta-lust.
I don't think this book was for me, but I can completely understand why people enjoy this book. It was almost like a Wish version of ACOTAR, which seems to be common in the romantasy genre.
I did, however, preorder book 2 because I'm morbidly curious to see what happens. 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Torture, and Gore
ohshebookish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book. THIS BOOK. Omg yall, this book was a wild ride. The pace is slow in the beginning, but don't let that fool you! There is so much more to this book, so pay attention.
Callie was a strong, albeit two dimensional, fmc to go through everything that she went through in the Unseelie realm, and still be determined to fight. Even though I really don't know much about science, I appreciate all that we learned through Callie and her job, and how she used that knowledge to her advantage. I do feel like the struggles and friendships that she had in the human realm were superficial, until Earl, but that is explained later so I don't really feel like it counts. There definitel was a missed opportunity to bring more depth to Callie and her background. If we would've gotten some povs of the people that she left behind in the human realm when she got trapped in the Unseelie Fae realm, that would've added an interesting layer to the story.
Now, Mendax. Oh, Mendax. I don't even know how to feel about him. He's gorgeous, unrelenting, murderous, and tortured by his attraction to Callie. Their back and forth was so good, but I wish there was more tension and a slow burn instead of insta-lust. I do like how possessive he got over Callie and was willing to do anything to keep her safe, despite being the one trying to get rid of her. The dual pov was great to be able to see Mendax's internal struggle.
So, I'll be honest, the writing style does leave much to be desired, however I feel like it might've been done purposefully. It reads as a mundane book at first, which I believe sets you up because, then BAM, the ending knocks you off your feet! I was shocked. I was running around my living room. The scream I scrumpt. The ending literally flips the whole book upside down and makes you question everything. Let's all get our clown makeup out because Ms. Jeneane was playing right in our faces and we didn't even see it coming! Those last two chapters ROCKED me. I am waiting on pins and needles for the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. I should've listened to the dedication because I am definitely finished.
Callie was a strong, albeit two dimensional, fmc to go through everything that she went through in the Unseelie realm, and still be determined to fight. Even though I really don't know much about science, I appreciate all that we learned through Callie and her job, and how she used that knowledge to her advantage. I do feel like the struggles and friendships that she had in the human realm were superficial, until Earl, but that is explained later so I don't really feel like it counts. There definitel was a missed opportunity to bring more depth to Callie and her background. If we would've gotten some povs of the people that she left behind in the human realm when she got trapped in the Unseelie Fae realm, that would've added an interesting layer to the story.
Now, Mendax. Oh, Mendax. I don't even know how to feel about him. He's gorgeous, unrelenting, murderous, and tortured by his attraction to Callie. Their back and forth was so good, but I wish there was more tension and a slow burn instead of insta-lust. I do like how possessive he got over Callie and was willing to do anything to keep her safe, despite being the one trying to get rid of her. The dual pov was great to be able to see Mendax's internal struggle.
So, I'll be honest, the writing style does leave much to be desired, however I feel like it might've been done purposefully. It reads as a mundane book at first, which I believe sets you up because, then BAM, the ending knocks you off your feet! I was shocked. I was running around my living room. The scream I scrumpt. The ending literally flips the whole book upside down and makes you question everything. Let's all get our clown makeup out because Ms. Jeneane was playing right in our faces and we didn't even see it coming! Those last two chapters ROCKED me. I am waiting on pins and needles for the next book because I NEED to know what happens next. I should've listened to the dedication because I am definitely finished.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual assault
throneofhels's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, and Violence
rwsmith's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this absolutely read like an ao3 story, posted in chapters but then scooped up together and published with a few intro chapters to set up the world. the writing isn't the best and it would have benefitted from an editor review in terms of typos and grammar. it also should not have been written in first person - the twist at the end was interesting but it was too out of pocket for the whole book to have been in first person and the reader not having seen any foreshadowing.
all that said, the plot and story itself are interesting. the cliffhanger does make me want to read the sequel when it comes out, but unless the writing is a bit better and the characters a bit more dynamic, ill probably pass. i read it in a day so definitely and easy and quick read if thats what you're looking for.
all that said, the plot and story itself are interesting. the cliffhanger does make me want to read the sequel when it comes out, but unless the writing is a bit better and the characters a bit more dynamic, ill probably pass. i read it in a day so definitely and easy and quick read if thats what you're looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
pairswellwithbooks's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
I didn’t realize how much I loved this book until I got to the end. HOLY. I NEED BOOK 2 NOW. Definitely getting the e-book in Feb, no way am I waiting for the physical copy in April
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Toxic relationship
biancabee_'s review
adventurous
dark
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
chizuui's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
I went in completely blind and was pleasantly surprised. During the book I really thought I would riot at whatever direction it was pointed in, but I was pretty happy with the ending.
Overall, enjoyed the read and look forward to reading the next book.
Overall, enjoyed the read and look forward to reading the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault