Reviews - Terror at the Gates

720 reviews for:

Terror at the Gates

Scarlett St. Clair

4.13 AVERAGE

ashley313's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

groovybookrecs's review against another edition

4.0

Scarlett St. Clair launches a promising new romantasy series with "Terror at the Gates," introducing readers to Lilith Leviathan, a compelling protagonist who defies expectations in the sin-soaked district of Nineveh. After being estranged from her powerful family, Lilith carves out a living using her magic for theft, setting up an intriguing premise that blends urban fantasy elements with romantic tension.

The world-building shows promise, with Eden's district system and the tension between the governing families and the church creating a rich backdrop for the story. Lilith's relationship with Zahariev, the enigmatic head of the Zareth family, develops naturally throughout their mission to uncover the true power structures of their world. Their dynamic shifts convincingly from allies to something deeper, though their growing connection threatens the very fabric of their society.

The pacing feels somewhat uneven at times, with certain sections moving more slowly than others, which occasionally disrupted the narrative flow. However, the story maintains enough momentum to keep readers engaged, particularly during the more action-heavy sequences involving the mysterious dagger and its consequences.

The audio narration was decent, bringing the characters to life without being particularly memorable. The dual format allowed for flexibility in consumption, which was appreciated.

One aspect that may frustrate some readers is the number of unanswered questions by the book's end. While this is clearly the first in a series, several plot threads and world-building elements feel incomplete. I'm hoping subsequent installments will provide the answers and deeper exploration that this foundation deserves.

Despite these minor issues, "Terror at the Gates" succeeds as a series opener with a strong female protagonist, an intriguing supernatural world, and romantic tension that doesn't overwhelm the plot. St. Clair has created a solid foundation for what could develop into a captivating series.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy romantasy with morally complex characters, urban fantasy elements, and don't mind waiting for answers across multiple books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks UK, & Tantor Audio for providing this ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

megthebookgoblin's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

bex91's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cocoathebooknerd's review against another edition

2.0

Flowery prose doesn't equal good writing. This was my first Scarlett St. Clair and I wasn't impressed. The plot points were predictable AF. A monotonous magic system. The story itself was very tell and not show. Which is one of my biggest pet peeves. The characters lacked depth. So I didn't care when people died. Lilith was annoying. Zahariev was typical. It felt like just another run of the mill Romantasy by an author writing sub-par books.