Reviews

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

monstergirlreading's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

siena_j_p's review

adventurous fast-paced

• 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

2.75

Man, there was so much hype surrounding this book (not to mention the gorgeous cover), and it just didn’t live up. Given the whole context and aesthetic it sets up, I was looking for something with a sort of Moulin Rouge vibe – overwrought and angsty and dramatic. But I guess there was just way too much going on to really establish a coherent vibe. Basically our main characters Esme and Sybil, roommates and best friends who are also in love with each other, get roped into a scheme to steal Queen Mab’s jewels for the owner of popular club The Absinthe Underground.

 There’s a lot of jumping around, from the streets of Severon to the Absinthe Underground to the main character’s brother’s house to Fae and back again. And there are so many different dynamics going on – Esme and Sybil’s relationship, Sybil’s family history, all the dynamics of Severon, the worldbuilding of Fae, the characters in Fae, and there just isn’t  room for them to all get fleshed out properly. There’s nothing to anchor the story or hold it all together; it’s just a bit all over the place.

anigirl524's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

brunstadb's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.5

wisecraic's review

adventurous 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

3.5

cwojpgh's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

melstinylibrary's review against another edition

Not the right mood :(

mhmissey's review against another edition

4.0

Belle Epoque France and fairies who could ask for more.

sapphicamaya18's review

4.0

give me friends-to-lovers with sapphic romance and fae magic, and I’m sold! this combination is my ultimate bookish dream.

the amount of time I spent yearning to live in a magical world with fairies and dragons, to have wings, mushrooms growing in my hair, and wear dresses crafted from spider’s silk and dewdrops while reading this book, was endless.

& esme is just so me with her books, plans, cats, and her love for tea and kindness. where is my sybil?

flavicos's review

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted 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? No

5.0