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alyssabug711's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What Disney fails to do when they “retell” classic tales. Red is a more complex, heroic, active Belle. She shares in the beast’s curse and collaborates with him to quell it. Though I sometimes found myself lost in the world-building, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The concept is inspired but original at the same time.
_____
This story also explores the possible perversions of religion and how it can influence minds and capital. Makes me think.
_____
This story also explores the possible perversions of religion and how it can influence minds and capital. Makes me think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
maresuju's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Confinement, Death, and Murder
Minor: Suicide and War
bea_reads_books's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Violence, Animal death, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
ann40's review
adventurous
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
tifftastic87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off, this book needs content warnings (I know they're below but they need to be here too).
⚠️ Self-harm (cutting)
When presented with her destiny as a human sacrifice, Redarys appears to take it on the chin. Really she's hiding from magic that wants to consume her. Eammon, the Wolf, is Warden of the Wilderwood where Red is destined for. But the Wilderwood is dying and Eammon is determined to save and Red and he is not accepting applications for assistants.
Supposedly, this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I fail to see it. The only similarities is a curse that makes the town think a man is a monster and love breaking that curse. The two main characters are both stubborn martyrs and that is where most of the conflict comes from. If they could be honest and communicate from the beginning things would have been better. But the main story is politics and religion.
The actual plot of the story, which is shadowed a bit by the romance plot, is one of religious fanaticism that is actually really well done. There's a dark versus light magic trope used where the religious use the dark magic and are out for power. The damn athiests only wantinf peace, love, and healthy trees.
That being said, the magic system was a little confusing. Its clear that is blood magic but it reacts different in different settings and different people. It isnt predictable unless it is. I would have liked to have seen this worked out a bit better.
Oh ya and the age gap, centuries to 20 years....
⚠️ Self-harm (cutting)
When presented with her destiny as a human sacrifice, Redarys appears to take it on the chin. Really she's hiding from magic that wants to consume her. Eammon, the Wolf, is Warden of the Wilderwood where Red is destined for. But the Wilderwood is dying and Eammon is determined to save and Red and he is not accepting applications for assistants.
Supposedly, this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I fail to see it. The only similarities is a curse that makes the town think a man is a monster and love breaking that curse. The two main characters are both stubborn martyrs and that is where most of the conflict comes from. If they could be honest and communicate from the beginning things would have been better. But the main story is politics and religion.
The actual plot of the story, which is shadowed a bit by the romance plot, is one of religious fanaticism that is actually really well done. There's a dark versus light magic trope used where the religious use the dark magic and are out for power. The damn athiests only wantinf peace, love, and healthy trees.
That being said, the magic system was a little confusing. Its clear that is blood magic but it reacts different in different settings and different people. It isnt predictable unless it is. I would have liked to have seen this worked out a bit better.
Oh ya and the age gap, centuries to 20 years....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, and Murder
anniereads221's review
slow-paced
5.0
Eammon and Red own my whole heart, but not only that i love Lyra and Fife as well, Neve and Raffe were also good but these characters i am so excited to see how they will be in For The Throne.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Gore, Murder, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Body horror
marisabenn's review
dark
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
3.75
This was good, but... confusing? I really had to push myself through this one. The last half-ish of the book was amazing. I HATED the interludes with Neve. I did not care one bit about her.
Also, it felt like the author didn't know if this was going to be YA or not.
I would have loved more romance and bonding with Red and Eammon. All in all, I did enjoy this and look forward to the second book.
But man did I have to push myself through it.
Also, it felt like the author didn't know if this was going to be YA or not.
I would have loved more romance and bonding with Red and Eammon. All in all, I did enjoy this and look forward to the second book.
But man did I have to push myself through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
hokinka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, and Blood
noxernia's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Body horror
Minor: Violence, Self harm, and Grief
bookishhl8275's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
This book was beyond phenomenal.
The ethereal world building of the Wilderwood and Valeyda was beautifully done. I was enthralled with the characters this entire book.
I knew there was gonna be romance but wow - the tension between Eammon and Red had me panting.
The ending ? Amazing.
Everything. Was. Amazing.
Highly recommend and I can’t wait to dive into the second book !
The ethereal world building of the Wilderwood and Valeyda was beautifully done. I was enthralled with the characters this entire book.
I knew there was gonna be romance but wow - the tension between Eammon and Red had me panting.
The ending ? Amazing.
Everything. Was. Amazing.
Highly recommend and I can’t wait to dive into the second book !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence