Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I’m still processing how I felt about this story. There was a lot going on with lots of moving pieces and characters. These poor girls are 17-18 going through all this trauma and awful family dynamics. Layla and Elise are beautiful misunderstood forces of nature with some upsetting history.
Daddy Saint is an abusive jerk who I was so upset that he didn’t get what was coming to him.
And Sterling - I have no words. Just pure anger
Pros -
- diversity
- sapphic
- jazz/speakeasy
- unexpected twists
Mehs -
- I had a hard time with the reaper terminology for what is essentially vampires.
- reaper venom needed clarity on its uses and how it was distributed
- I felt like a needed a red yarn map to keep up with who was doing what and working with who to trick all the people.
Daddy Saint is an abusive jerk who I was so upset that he didn’t get what was coming to him.
And Sterling - I have no words. Just pure anger
Pros -
- diversity
- sapphic
- jazz/speakeasy
- unexpected twists
Mehs -
- I had a hard time with the reaper terminology for what is essentially vampires.
- reaper venom needed clarity on its uses and how it was distributed
- I felt like a needed a red yarn map to keep up with who was doing what and working with who to trick all the people.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
adventurous
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:
Complicated
Doesn’t quite come together
Hmm there’s seems to be a discrepancy between premise and execution. All I knew of this book was that it was a sapphic vampire novel other wise I knew nothing of the plot or tropes or anything. With that said I had no expectations for this book but I wasn’t really wowed by it either. It didn’t really spark any feeling. The writing was fine but a bit on the nose. I didn’t sympathize with any of the characters which isn’t a bad thing if the plot is compelling enough but even that wasn’t quite doing it for me. It felt like the plot had a lot of moving parts that didn’t come together. And I know there’s going to be a second book but the job of the first book is to present a story that makes the reader want to come back. But the book ends with so many loose ends and the “cliffhanger” isn’t even good and everything go that the book led up to just felt pointless. I wish I had a better experience with this book because it’s not bad but it’s just not very compelling.
Hmm there’s seems to be a discrepancy between premise and execution. All I knew of this book was that it was a sapphic vampire novel other wise I knew nothing of the plot or tropes or anything. With that said I had no expectations for this book but I wasn’t really wowed by it either. It didn’t really spark any feeling. The writing was fine but a bit on the nose. I didn’t sympathize with any of the characters which isn’t a bad thing if the plot is compelling enough but even that wasn’t quite doing it for me. It felt like the plot had a lot of moving parts that didn’t come together. And I know there’s going to be a second book but the job of the first book is to present a story that makes the reader want to come back. But the book ends with so many loose ends and the “cliffhanger” isn’t even good and everything go that the book led up to just felt pointless. I wish I had a better experience with this book because it’s not bad but it’s just not very compelling.
Cute, fun, but pretty empty. The middle dragged and the last third got pretty confusing. It's hard to miss with gay vampires though.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to net galley for the advanced reader copy.
I am conflicted with this book. I enjoyed several aspects of the book; however, I feel it could have benefited from another round of editing and maybe a few extra chapters. The premise of sapphic black vampires in the USA during the 1920s sounded incredibly fun. The book features a variety of different themes, such as race, gender, wealth, and class, and I feel that each one was handled fantastically.
Plot: Set in Harlem, New York, during the prohibition era. We follow Elise Saint, Reaper hunter heiress and her reluctant reaper ally Layla as they investigate the rise in reaper attacks and clear Layla’s name.
What I liked: I loved Elise and Layla’s relationships throughout the book. The author gave us friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers very well. Each scene they were in together was interesting, dynamic, and fun. I really understood both characters and their reactions to the events that took place in the book. I found that they were both quite rounded characters who didn’t revolve around just each other; they had personalities, which I liked.
Elise Saint, one of our main protagonists, is very interesting throughout the book as she continuously strives for her father’s approval and almost collapses under his intense pressure. I sympathised with her greatly and enjoyed the pacing of her finally achieving her freedom from her family and family business of hunting reapers.
Layla Quinn, Elise’s reaper ex-best friend, was an incredibly sympathetic character who I adored. From the beginning, the reader feels her pain, anger, and longing for Elise. The book drifts from both characters’ points of view seamlessly. The characters have distinct voices and stories that we can follow easily. I loved seeing both sides of the slow burn, and I hope the author does the same in the next book. I am looking forward to reading it.
What I disliked: Sadly, I think the book could benefit from another round of editing; the mystery and investigation felt slightly convoluted, and when we reached the end of the book, I didn’t find the answers to my questions. I also found that Elise’s father, Tobias Saint, was difficult to understand. I didn’t understand what his motivations were or what his end goal was as a whole. I hope this is rectified in book two.
I am conflicted with this book. I enjoyed several aspects of the book; however, I feel it could have benefited from another round of editing and maybe a few extra chapters. The premise of sapphic black vampires in the USA during the 1920s sounded incredibly fun. The book features a variety of different themes, such as race, gender, wealth, and class, and I feel that each one was handled fantastically.
Plot: Set in Harlem, New York, during the prohibition era. We follow Elise Saint, Reaper hunter heiress and her reluctant reaper ally Layla as they investigate the rise in reaper attacks and clear Layla’s name.
What I liked: I loved Elise and Layla’s relationships throughout the book. The author gave us friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers very well. Each scene they were in together was interesting, dynamic, and fun. I really understood both characters and their reactions to the events that took place in the book. I found that they were both quite rounded characters who didn’t revolve around just each other; they had personalities, which I liked.
Elise Saint, one of our main protagonists, is very interesting throughout the book as she continuously strives for her father’s approval and almost collapses under his intense pressure. I sympathised with her greatly and enjoyed the pacing of her finally achieving her freedom from her family and family business of hunting reapers.
Layla Quinn, Elise’s reaper ex-best friend, was an incredibly sympathetic character who I adored. From the beginning, the reader feels her pain, anger, and longing for Elise. The book drifts from both characters’ points of view seamlessly. The characters have distinct voices and stories that we can follow easily. I loved seeing both sides of the slow burn, and I hope the author does the same in the next book. I am looking forward to reading it.
What I disliked: Sadly, I think the book could benefit from another round of editing; the mystery and investigation felt slightly convoluted, and when we reached the end of the book, I didn’t find the answers to my questions. I also found that Elise’s father, Tobias Saint, was difficult to understand. I didn’t understand what his motivations were or what his end goal was as a whole. I hope this is rectified in book two.
dark
mysterious
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