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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Took me a while to finish this because work life sadly… BEHINDS THAT, I loved everything about this. I really liked how we got both the girls pov so we know what each of them are going through and their battles. Made me connect and love them even more.
My only problem was the ending and how no one was concerned or worried that she got shot???? So no after thoughts??? Apology from that stupid man (I liked him in the beginning but ended up hating him in the end).. her dad pissed me off and also her mom ughhhhhh…
Can’t wait for book 2 because I need to know how everything is gonna work out for them and what about her sister and the “family business”… ouuuuu
My only problem was the ending and how no one was concerned or worried that she got shot???? So no after thoughts??? Apology from that stupid man (I liked him in the beginning but ended up hating him in the end).. her dad pissed me off and also her mom ughhhhhh…
Can’t wait for book 2 because I need to know how everything is gonna work out for them and what about her sister and the “family business”… ouuuuu
Being completely honest, this is probably more of a 4 star, but because this is a debut novel and I did enjoy myself, I'm rating it a star up. Also, the author was very nice and funny when I met her, so that also contributed lol.
This book starts out with our two main characters, Layla and Elise, at odds with one another to say the least. Layla is a 'reaper', this worlds vampire. She's been a vampire for the past 4-ish years and hates Elise with a passion, passionately enough to want to murder her at every turn. (And you know this because she can't help but mention it every two seconds). Elise is the daughter of a Harlem mogul and has just returned from a Paris music school to find that her father wants to appoint her younger sister as his heir instead of her. Thus thrusting Elise right into the spotlight, as she can't imagine her younger sister being the focus of her father's attention, as he's been emotionally abusive for most of her life towards her. Elise doesn't want to subject her younger sister to that life, so she offers herself in her sister's place. Elise's father also blames her for her older sister's death four years ago, and never lets her forget it.
This book is part class statement, part fanatasy mystery, as we're trying to discover why there are murders in the neighborhood that they live in, which leads Elise and Layla working together to try and figure out how all of these monstrous deaths are happening. And does it have to do with a possible cure for reaperhood?
I really liked this book. For a debut, it was fantastic and I can't wait to read more from this author. I was surprised at how well the pacing was, considering how much was in this book in the first place. I think the ending was a little rushed and the author tried to stuff a lot of things in the last 50 pages, but ultimately I think it was wrapped up fairly well and the plot was well thought-out. It was interesting to see how the author was shaping Elise and Layla's relationship throughout the entire book, and how back and forth it went.
If you want to read a sapphic vampire romance set in 1920s Harlem, but focuses around black characters and the historical context surrounding them and how they lived, then this is a book I'd try out!! I very much recommend it, and I literally can't wait for the sequel. Though because this is an arc, I have to wait even longer.... Dang.
Happy Reading!!
This book starts out with our two main characters, Layla and Elise, at odds with one another to say the least. Layla is a 'reaper', this worlds vampire. She's been a vampire for the past 4-ish years and hates Elise with a passion, passionately enough to want to murder her at every turn. (And you know this because she can't help but mention it every two seconds). Elise is the daughter of a Harlem mogul and has just returned from a Paris music school to find that her father wants to appoint her younger sister as his heir instead of her. Thus thrusting Elise right into the spotlight, as she can't imagine her younger sister being the focus of her father's attention, as he's been emotionally abusive for most of her life towards her. Elise doesn't want to subject her younger sister to that life, so she offers herself in her sister's place. Elise's father also blames her for her older sister's death four years ago, and never lets her forget it.
Spoiler
Note: Elise's dad is a piece of shit and we don't like him. Spent the entire book wishing a reaper would just eat him.This book is part class statement, part fanatasy mystery, as we're trying to discover why there are murders in the neighborhood that they live in, which leads Elise and Layla working together to try and figure out how all of these monstrous deaths are happening. And does it have to do with a possible cure for reaperhood?
I really liked this book. For a debut, it was fantastic and I can't wait to read more from this author. I was surprised at how well the pacing was, considering how much was in this book in the first place. I think the ending was a little rushed and the author tried to stuff a lot of things in the last 50 pages, but ultimately I think it was wrapped up fairly well and the plot was well thought-out. It was interesting to see how the author was shaping Elise and Layla's relationship throughout the entire book, and how back and forth it went.
If you want to read a sapphic vampire romance set in 1920s Harlem, but focuses around black characters and the historical context surrounding them and how they lived, then this is a book I'd try out!! I very much recommend it, and I literally can't wait for the sequel. Though because this is an arc, I have to wait even longer.... Dang.
Happy Reading!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like this book and will keep an eye out on Haley Dennings future stories. I think there's an interesting and compelling story somewhere here. Unfortunately, I think the writing and editing on this book could have been much improved. It often felt clunky without much depth which feels odd to say for an almost 500pg book!
This Ravenous Fate is YA historical fantasy that reaches into the past atrocities of experimentation on Black people which resulted in the creation of vampires they call reapers. Elise is the heir to the Saint Empire in 1920's Harlem who is forced to ally with her childhood friend turned reaper to solve the mystery of why reapers and others are suddenly being murdered. Insert generational family drama, horrible father figure, questionable household friends/employees, white vs. black politics, prohibition, and two girls who have been in love for ages but never admitted and you have the recipe for an intriguing supernatural who-dun-it.
Sadly, the pace of the book was very slow, it seemed like finding out what the real problem was could happen whenever they got around to it, there was no real urgency. Even the prospect of reapers disappearing wasn't all that motivating, and other than lots of blood and fangs always piercing lips ang getting in the way (seriously?), not much happened. It was pretty obvious there was desire under the surface for both Elise and Layla, so that was no surprise yet it still fell flat when revealed. At the same time there was a very weird lover vibe happening between Elise and Sterling, which was odd based on the scientist Thalia (Sterling's long lost love) who appears and then dies almost immediately. it was also obvious who the bad guys were. I guess take away all the blood and carnage and you have a basic cozy mystery.
The 1920's Harlem didn't truly come through for me. The things were there, the speak-easies and the gangsters running alcohol, but it felt out of place, unnatural. Like at any moment someone was going to pull out there cell phone, or turn on the color TV, I didn't hate it, and there's someone out there who will love it. Just not for me.
Sadly, the pace of the book was very slow, it seemed like finding out what the real problem was could happen whenever they got around to it, there was no real urgency. Even the prospect of reapers disappearing wasn't all that motivating, and other than lots of blood and fangs always piercing lips ang getting in the way (seriously?), not much happened. It was pretty obvious there was desire under the surface for both Elise and Layla, so that was no surprise yet it still fell flat when revealed. At the same time there was a very weird lover vibe happening between Elise and Sterling, which was odd based on the scientist Thalia (Sterling's long lost love) who appears and then dies almost immediately. it was also obvious who the bad guys were. I guess take away all the blood and carnage and you have a basic cozy mystery.
The 1920's Harlem didn't truly come through for me. The things were there, the speak-easies and the gangsters running alcohol, but it felt out of place, unnatural. Like at any moment someone was going to pull out there cell phone, or turn on the color TV, I didn't hate it, and there's someone out there who will love it. Just not for me.
I really enjoyed this book and the author’s style of writing. I felt immersed like 95% of the time. the remaining 5% only comes from feeling like some things were spelled out a little too much. I’d come to the conclusion then hear it repeated back. that might just be a personal preference and the story was still was great. I felt like the vampire x vampire hunter trope was done in a refreshing way and I Love the setting of 1920s Harlem. the characters all felt very developed and the twists were believable.
I was super excited to read this book, but overall I feel like it wasn't completely polished?
I struggled to grasp the concept of "Reapers" and what happened with Layla and Elise in the past. I liked the writing style overall, but there were some scene descriptions that felt like they didn't make any sense to me.
I enjoyed the tension between Layla and Elise, but it was over so quickly, and I found myself skipping through the book at some point. Plus, the ending didn't really make me excited to pick up the conclusion to this duology.
But we need more black sapphic love stories and more black female authors in the literary world, so I appreciate everything the author did so far and what she was trying to achieve with this book.
And while this didn't really meet my expectations, I am open to read a book from her again when she releases something new.
I struggled to grasp the concept of "Reapers" and what happened with Layla and Elise in the past. I liked the writing style overall, but there were some scene descriptions that felt like they didn't make any sense to me.
I enjoyed the tension between Layla and Elise, but it was over so quickly, and I found myself skipping through the book at some point. Plus, the ending didn't really make me excited to pick up the conclusion to this duology.
But we need more black sapphic love stories and more black female authors in the literary world, so I appreciate everything the author did so far and what she was trying to achieve with this book.
And while this didn't really meet my expectations, I am open to read a book from her again when she releases something new.
mysterious
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood