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bookcaptivated's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Torture, Racism, and Bullying
Minor: Ableism and Abandonment
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really liked the beginning of this book, about the viciousness and infighting at a prestigious ballet academy, but as more and more plots were added it kind of fell apart for me.
Laure has a lot of pre-existing relationships that are described (the strained relationship with dad, the best friendship with Coralie) that don't really manifest on the page, and the new relationships are also really shallow. She also makes a bunch of ridiculous decisions that feel like they're supposed to make her seem cool (stealing a man's watch in public as both a scholarship student who needs to keep her rep and the only Black girl in the room? Come on) and the antagonist reveal comes with some cool imagery but no surprises.
We are told the whole time that magic has consequences but it's all pretty vague and we don't really see any. The language is overwrought and ridiculous. Terrible romance.
Laure has a lot of pre-existing relationships that are described (the strained relationship with dad, the best friendship with Coralie) that don't really manifest on the page, and the new relationships are also really shallow. She also makes a bunch of ridiculous decisions that feel like they're supposed to make her seem cool (stealing a man's watch in public as both a scholarship student who needs to keep her rep and the only Black girl in the room? Come on) and the antagonist reveal comes with some cool imagery but no surprises.
We are told the whole time that magic has consequences but it's all pretty vague and we don't really see any. The language is overwrought and ridiculous. Terrible romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Medical content, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Racism, Blood, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Bullying
Minor: Ableism, Vomit, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol
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