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carla20's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Drug use, Death, Murder, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, and Grief
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
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
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