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alainahebert's review against another edition
4.0
Typically, I don’t care for books about magic, but I liked this one! For that, I’ll rate it higher than I would normally.
I thought it was a tad too long. The connection with the characters emotionally was there for me, which is great! I’m excited for the next one.
I thought it was a tad too long. The connection with the characters emotionally was there for me, which is great! I’m excited for the next one.
literaryluxe's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was overall a very entertaining read full of drama. A lot of the characters are morally grey which is what I would hope to see when a book title includes the word "villains". However, they are just morally grey. I suppose none of them really had what it took to be a "villain" only pretend to be one in my opinion. And well, when you have a lot of comparisons to books that have actual villains from the Hunger Games or Game of Thrones (which I think I saw somewhere), this falls a bit short. President Snow and Jeoffrey make the characters from this book look like angels. So there is some fogginess between what is morally grey and villainous. However, that is not a deterrent towards the book, just something, people may wish to know if they're looking for a "bad to the bone" book. It is a YA book though and there's only so far you can take it.
Now here's my reason for the 4 star, because it was nearly a 5 star read. There's an instalove trope. I'm sorry, I just can't. I personally do not favor instalove and it almost always kills a little bit of the book for me. GIVE ME THE FLUFF. I hope the relationship is explored more in book two. We shall see. Also, I need more information about the magic. I feel like some of the magical aspects were not explained well or maybe we'll get that information in book two. I never could figure out what the families who win do with their magic. Maybe I missed that, but I was really curious and had all of these ideas in my head that I thought the book would clear up. There's some other things that made me go "okay but why?" or "how?" Still, while the characters are not villains, they are messy and dramatic which may also be somethings folks want to know. If you're looking for betrayals and rivalries among friends and family then this story delivers on that I'd say and I would read book two in the duology. It's fun and fast-paced and I definitely could see the author fixing some things in book two for a 5 star read!
Now here's my reason for the 4 star, because it was nearly a 5 star read. There's an instalove trope. I'm sorry, I just can't. I personally do not favor instalove and it almost always kills a little bit of the book for me. GIVE ME THE FLUFF. I hope the relationship is explored more in book two. We shall see. Also, I need more information about the magic. I feel like some of the magical aspects were not explained well or maybe we'll get that information in book two. I never could figure out what the families who win do with their magic. Maybe I missed that, but I was really curious and had all of these ideas in my head that I thought the book would clear up. There's some other things that made me go "okay but why?" or "how?" Still, while the characters are not villains, they are messy and dramatic which may also be somethings folks want to know. If you're looking for betrayals and rivalries among friends and family then this story delivers on that I'd say and I would read book two in the duology. It's fun and fast-paced and I definitely could see the author fixing some things in book two for a 5 star read!
somanytictoc's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hannahisms's review against another edition
5.0
idk the last time i felt this insane over a cast of characters thank u all of us villains for my life
carleeofcourse's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tattooedbibliophile's review against another edition
2.0
First, it took me for-E-ver to finish this book! I’m not sure why, but it never really grabbed me. There was no hint of hope, nobody to root for, too many points of vote. I feel like this entire story could have been told from Alistair’s POV and been much better.
The plot, while interesting, did not go into enough depth about how the magic works. I needed more. There’s also not really a common goal. Survive, sure, but none of the families really care about the tournament ending. It’s very off putting.
And lastly, this is not a book, it’s a Part 1. This book cannot stand alone, there is no conclusion at all. It literally just stops, practically mid-chapter. That’s not a cliffhanger, that’s an incomplete book.
So overall, I’m super sad because I adore villain stories, but this one just ain’t it.
The plot, while interesting, did not go into enough depth about how the magic works. I needed more. There’s also not really a common goal. Survive, sure, but none of the families really care about the tournament ending. It’s very off putting.
And lastly, this is not a book, it’s a Part 1. This book cannot stand alone, there is no conclusion at all. It literally just stops, practically mid-chapter. That’s not a cliffhanger, that’s an incomplete book.
So overall, I’m super sad because I adore villain stories, but this one just ain’t it.
soupy199's review against another edition
2.0
didnt like the writing style very much, it felt too simplistic and took me out of the story often. I wasnt interested in the characters either, alistair esp was really boring. stop telling us hes a monster and actually make him one. surprisingly little death. the premise was interesting enough to get me to finish this book but i dont think ill read the next one.
icecreamated's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.25
mothtongue's review against another edition
4.0
was this book amazing, or did i just fall in love with alistair lowe? maybe both?
againes07's review against another edition
4.0
Stars: 4.1/5
Pretty good over all, very much hunger games meets goblet of fire. Very dark... as in lots of gore. I loved the character developments. Kinda upset that there were a lot of loose endings and the book only tied up one or two of them. Will be putting the 2nd book on my tbr.
Pretty good over all, very much hunger games meets goblet of fire. Very dark... as in lots of gore. I loved the character developments. Kinda upset that there were a lot of loose endings and the book only tied up one or two of them. Will be putting the 2nd book on my tbr.