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eatallthestars's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I would rate higher but it just didn't have that 'spark' for my personal taste of books. Absolutely fantastic book for anyone a fan of Romeo&Juliet rewrites.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Sexual harassment, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A spectacular r+j retelling. I don’t usually like r+j retellings as the plot is too obvious but this was a really interesting take on it. It follows two magical mob families, The Federovs-a patriarch and his three sons, and The Antanovas-a matriarch and her 7 daughters. We slowly find out the reason why they are rivals as it destroys all of their lives. A story of political intrigue, mafia deals and murders, and forbidden loves.
I loved the characters and the plot kept me guessing. The constant perspective switching was also fun. The shakespeare/r+j references were also great.
My only complaint is that Olivia Blake’s writing can sometimes be too long and flowery. It’s lovely to read but sometimes I just want to read faster.
I loved the characters and the plot kept me guessing. The constant perspective switching was also fun. The shakespeare/r+j references were also great.
My only complaint is that Olivia Blake’s writing can sometimes be too long and flowery. It’s lovely to read but sometimes I just want to read faster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Death, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Grief, and Sexism
frantically's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pretty writing does not a pretty book make.
This book has solid positives — rival families, Romeo & Juliet retelling without being too on the nose, fun family dynamics and pasts, and, of course, the pretty writing.
I especially enjoyed Mascha's character, who is just such a solid older sister: she makes wild choices for siblings, she's on the darker side of morally grey, would kill people for her mum but above all just loves her family, maybe a bit too much. We see a lot of her interactions with Sasha but I wish we would've seen more of the other sisters! There's seven of them and this book would've worked just as well with just Mascha and Sasha — a bit disappointing.
Sasha and Lev are the epitome of insta-love but this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, so I feel like I have to forgive Blake for that. They're both living and acting in the shadows of their parents and older siblings and while Dima and Mascha have the more fascinating plot, it still works out so well that Sasha and Lev are our protagonists.
It seems like the magic in this story is merely a side note, if it's not being used to bring everyone who dies back to life. Seriously. You thought SJM was bad? This is worse. I can't really feel sad for character deaths (of which there were many) when they all appear alive again in the next scene. But besides that? Some witch drugs and not much more witchy stuff.
Still, an engaging and fun story, which I wish would've been worked out a little bit more.
This book has solid positives — rival families, Romeo & Juliet retelling without being too on the nose, fun family dynamics and pasts, and, of course, the pretty writing.
I especially enjoyed Mascha's character, who is just such a solid older sister: she makes wild choices for siblings, she's on the darker side of morally grey, would kill people for her mum but above all just loves her family, maybe a bit too much. We see a lot of her interactions with Sasha but I wish we would've seen more of the other sisters! There's seven of them and this book would've worked just as well with just Mascha and Sasha — a bit disappointing.
Sasha and Lev are the epitome of insta-love but this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, so I feel like I have to forgive Blake for that. They're both living and acting in the shadows of their parents and older siblings and while Dima and Mascha have the more fascinating plot, it still works out so well that Sasha and Lev are our protagonists.
It seems like the magic in this story is merely a side note, if it's not being used to bring everyone who dies back to life. Seriously. You thought SJM was bad? This is worse. I can't really feel sad for character deaths (of which there were many) when they all appear alive again in the next scene. But besides that? Some witch drugs and not much more witchy stuff.
Still, an engaging and fun story, which I wish would've been worked out a little bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Death, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
takarakei's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
I would burn down the world for this love
Romeo & Juliet modern retelling with rival witch families.
Olivie Blake certainly knows how to write characters with depth and how to rip your heart out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
midnightrose_reads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A magical contemporary fantasy set in New York City about witches caught up in a Romeo and Juliet-esque conflict. This is definitely a weird story (particularly towards the end), but I enjoyed the ride and Olivie’s beautiful writing. For fans of V.E Schwab’s books and Kat Howard’s The Unseen World duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Drug use, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexual content
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
olivie blake you will always be famous
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Misogyny
jessiereads98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
Olivie Blake has devastated me once again. She drags you into the old world hidden within the new and the hope within the tragedy. The characters are compelling and the prose is gorgeous. Hits just like a Romeo and Juliet retelling should.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Sexual content
2treads's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Oh, what a tangled web she weaves. I never thought I would so love a story of doomed romances, shady dealings and re-dealings, family love, loyalty, and dysfunction.
What keeps pulling me back to Blake's stories is her unwavering willingness to make villains of both the good and the not-so-good. Evil is never clear cut with ther characters and I love that, because every one person has a certain level of complexity with a capacity for being evil. Everyone gets a chance to choose themselves, most times in a roundabout way and when they embrace it, it is great to see on the page.
With witches, fae, shadow creatures, and the living dead, One For My Enemy was quite enjoyable. From the very first unrequited love to the two that follow in the next generation, I was invested in this story of two families using their unique talents to build empires and garner power, to the deals made and unmade to undercut each other, to the banter and the constant plotting.
There isn't much world-building here as it is set in a fairly modern New York and I didn't mind in the least as it was the characters and their interactions that I was most interested in and that hooked me into the story.
And what intentions there were. All the plans that are dismantled and remade, the truths and lies that motivate, the loss and grief that begins to forge changes in all, but at the root of it, it was the loyalty to family and the greatest hurt that comes when one is betrayed by family, that remains with me.
What keeps pulling me back to Blake's stories is her unwavering willingness to make villains of both the good and the not-so-good. Evil is never clear cut with ther characters and I love that, because every one person has a certain level of complexity with a capacity for being evil. Everyone gets a chance to choose themselves, most times in a roundabout way and when they embrace it, it is great to see on the page.
With witches, fae, shadow creatures, and the living dead, One For My Enemy was quite enjoyable. From the very first unrequited love to the two that follow in the next generation, I was invested in this story of two families using their unique talents to build empires and garner power, to the deals made and unmade to undercut each other, to the banter and the constant plotting.
There isn't much world-building here as it is set in a fairly modern New York and I didn't mind in the least as it was the characters and their interactions that I was most interested in and that hooked me into the story.
And what intentions there were. All the plans that are dismantled and remade, the truths and lies that motivate, the loss and grief that begins to forge changes in all, but at the root of it, it was the loyalty to family and the greatest hurt that comes when one is betrayed by family, that remains with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Misogyny
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