Scan barcode
kelseyfontaine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
I don’t normally read fantasy, but this is what my book club chose, so it’s my first read.
Even though it’s not what I gravitate toward, I really enjoyed the book overall. I’m normally a romance reader, so I would’ve loved to see some more banter/enemies-to-lovers stuff between Emilia and Wrath, but I can get behind keeping the integrity of the story.
There were some parts of the book that confused me a bit, and required me to reread past parts to fully understand what was going on. I chalk it up to being new to magic-based writing, so it was hard for me to keep track of in my head. But, I absolutely loved the setting everything was placed in and fell even more in love with Sicily (and Italian food)!
While it’s not my normal read, I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series to find out what else is in store for Emilia.
Even though it’s not what I gravitate toward, I really enjoyed the book overall. I’m normally a romance reader, so I would’ve loved to see some more banter/enemies-to-lovers stuff between Emilia and Wrath, but I can get behind keeping the integrity of the story.
There were some parts of the book that confused me a bit, and required me to reread past parts to fully understand what was going on. I chalk it up to being new to magic-based writing, so it was hard for me to keep track of in my head. But, I absolutely loved the setting everything was placed in and fell even more in love with Sicily (and Italian food)!
While it’s not my normal read, I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series to find out what else is in store for Emilia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Violence
rose_celeste's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Grief, and Drug use
alxisrae's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
This book is the CW of YA. It wouldn’t surprise me if this became a CW series, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. Just…no. First 1/2 I was interested and it quickly became a muddled mess of a FMC that was reckless beyond belief and a messy as fuck timeline. Also there is no spice (not that a good book needs one) but for booktok to scream of the “spice” in this book….there is one make out scene. ONE. Just do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
tabea1409's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Death, Child death, Blood, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
tiana_king's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It had such a strong start and then things pittered out. The love felt instant and really the main characters didn’t interact much. However when they did I think they had good enough banter. I’m going to read the next book because I feel the story has potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Hate crime, and Mental illness
hezzahrae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
A solid read/listen. I really enjoy the way the author has clearly done her research on witchcraft or is possibly a practitioner herself. I'll have to look it up and update.
Emilia being 18 is both fitting and frustratingly accurate. At that age, it feels like the world is yours to explore, and it's time to make your mark in the world. Emilia was ready to take over the family business, debut her recipes and make the restaurant more successful than ever until she got caught up in dark plots of murder, betrayal, and the princes of Hell.
More than once though, I wanted to shake her. That age is also terrible for being stubborn and bull-headed, and she had that in spades. Her own beliefs were shaken to their core, and I understand it's a shock, but she needed to start questioning things a lot sooner. I forgot how invincible 18 year olds think they are; make them witches and it's 10x worse. By all rights, Emilia should have died at least 3 times and should have accepted help way sooner.
Wrath is still hard to pin, but there is clearly more to him than what was shown, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.
Solid characterization, and I was not expecting who the murderer was. Emilia will be a force to be reckoned with.
One thing I like about the audiobook is that it does feel more immersive. The background music during some of the more intense scenes really draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
TL;DR: Emilia is an oblivious 18yr old witch who gets in way over her head, but it's not her fault no one would tell her the truth. Hell is so not ready.
Emilia being 18 is both fitting and frustratingly accurate. At that age, it feels like the world is yours to explore, and it's time to make your mark in the world. Emilia was ready to take over the family business, debut her recipes and make the restaurant more successful than ever until she got caught up in dark plots of murder, betrayal, and the princes of Hell.
More than once though, I wanted to shake her. That age is also terrible for being stubborn and bull-headed, and she had that in spades. Her own beliefs were shaken to their core, and I understand it's a shock, but she needed to start questioning things a lot sooner. I forgot how invincible 18 year olds think they are; make them witches and it's 10x worse. By all rights, Emilia should have died at least 3 times and should have accepted help way sooner.
Wrath is still hard to pin, but there is clearly more to him than what was shown, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.
Solid characterization, and I was not expecting who the murderer was. Emilia will be a force to be reckoned with.
One thing I like about the audiobook is that it does feel more immersive. The background music during some of the more intense scenes really draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
TL;DR: Emilia is an oblivious 18yr old witch who gets in way over her head, but it's not her fault no one would tell her the truth. Hell is so not ready.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Blood
thebookaddict's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
🇳🇱: een prachtig boek. Ik heb hem in drie dagen uitgelezen en ik moet zeggen dat ik er goed doorheen vloog. Van het moment dat toorn in beeld kwam was ik verkocht, wat een heerlijke man. ik vond het jammer dat hij zo veranderde op het einde. Al weet je natuurlijk nooit wat de ware aard is van de prinsen.... Ik vond de bijnamen heks en demon erg aandoenlijk, omdat het zo goed paste binnen het verhaal. Het waren koosnaampjes, die de nodige haat bevatte. Er was veel spanning, al vond ik die wat voorspelbaar. Ik kreeg bij dit boek geen vijf sterren gevoel wat ik erg jammer vond, omdat ik dit wel hoopte vanwege de prachtige special edition. De schrijfwijze is goed. In het begin werd ik wel wat verward door de italiaanse termen en bijnamen. Later heb je door wie ze ermee bedoelen. Ook de personages waren heel goed neergezet, je voelt echt goed met ze mee. De schrijfster zet heel mooi de karakter van de personages neer. Ook laat ze heel goed zien dat je niet iedereen kan vertrouwen.
Al met al een leuk fantasie boek en ik kan niet wachten op deel twee.
Al met al een leuk fantasie boek en ik kan niet wachten op deel twee.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Death, Child death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Stalking and Torture
jsm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Violence
lalauren04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this as the start of a series, I’ve heard that the first book is the slower of the trilogy so hoping for a little bit more from the other two books. But I did enjoy this and I do very much love Wrath! (What can I say, I like a bad boy character haha)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Grief
dietlindrozekin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Cawpile-method
Characters: 9/10 - Goed uitgewerkt, leuk brutaal en interessant hoe de emoties van het hoofdpersonage soms versterkt worden.
Atmosphere: 9/10 - Ik hou van de world building in dit boek! De context met de duivel en de perceptie van wat houdt de duivel in heeft me enorm bezig gehouden (misschien ook omdat ik voor het vak Christendom een lezing over de Duivel moest leren: de psychologie achter hoe is de duivel ontstaan en waarom is echt interessant).
Writing: 8/10 - Algemeen niets op aan te merken.
Plot: 8/10 - Niet te voorspelbaar.
Intrigue: 9/10 - JA, gewoon ja.
Logic: 6/10 - Naar mijn gevoel niet altijd even volgbaar.
Enjoyment: 9/10
Characters: 9/10 - Goed uitgewerkt, leuk brutaal en interessant hoe de emoties van het hoofdpersonage soms versterkt worden.
Atmosphere: 9/10 - Ik hou van de world building in dit boek! De context met de duivel en de perceptie van wat houdt de duivel in heeft me enorm bezig gehouden (misschien ook omdat ik voor het vak Christendom een lezing over de Duivel moest leren: de psychologie achter hoe is de duivel ontstaan en waarom is echt interessant).
Writing: 8/10 - Algemeen niets op aan te merken.
Plot: 8/10 - Niet te voorspelbaar.
Intrigue: 9/10 - JA, gewoon ja.
Logic: 6/10 - Naar mijn gevoel niet altijd even volgbaar.
Enjoyment: 9/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Murder