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chrisljm's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Another book that belongs in the 'reasons why you can't trust strangers' category. Knew I wouldn't enjoy it right from the start and I contemplated DNFing it, but it's not really in my nature to DNF things. I honestly should've though because what if I died tomorrow and this was the last thing I read...
I found the writing and sentence structure to be juvenile, clunky and awkward, but besides that I really can't give any criticism on any other parts of the story (plot, characters, chemistry) because I didn't care. The writing itself was too distracting for me and I believe this book would've benefited from at least another round of edits/editors.
I found the writing and sentence structure to be juvenile, clunky and awkward, but besides that I really can't give any criticism on any other parts of the story (plot, characters, chemistry) because I didn't care. The writing itself was too distracting for me and I believe this book would've benefited from at least another round of edits/editors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia, War, Suicide attempt, Classism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Self harm
flora_fcrp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, War, Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
bem13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War and Suicide attempt
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wanted to read this book because it has been on my TBR for so long and when I was in The Works, the first and second book in this series were on sale for £3 and I thought it would be time. Let me just say, I know why they were on sale. This is the first book ever to give me the ick over the main love interest.
This book is following Estrella, all her life she has known that the Veil has protected her town from the Fae of Alfhelmr. In their absence, their lives have shifted from decadence and sin to survival and virtue under the guidance of the New Gods. Estrella has spent her whole life tending to the gardens next to boundary between their worlds, but she’s always been drawn to the shimmering magic like a moth to the flame. All of this changes the day the veil shatters and unleashes the fae upon her world again. The magic of faerie marks one they are meant to take, but the Mist Guard protecting the town will kill them before they let them go to the fae. Estrella has been marked so she must flee everything she had ever know, if she wants to live to see her twenty-first birthday. But they can capture her, a stranger named Caelum saves her from the Wild Hunt. He is also fae-marked and on the run, he is able to fight back more than Estrella ever will. They start as a tentative alliance because Estrella’s brother told her not to trust anyone. As the bond strengthens the distrust turns into all-consuming passion and they must trust each other with the fae closing in and evil lurking nearby. Estrella life is on the line and Caelum is everything she should dare to want and a distraction she can’t afford. They can’t stay away from each other, not even with her heart on the line.
I liked Melian and she got her killed – which I could see coming but hoping it wasn’t going to be the same. She was the only one that was honest and wanted Estrella to think for herself and not let Caelum control her and yet Estrella was completely brained washed.
I am just wondering if anyone could tell me where the plot is, like expect for her being marked and nearly forced into a loveless marriage, nothing happened. I get that she was on the run but Christ, 250 pages were Estrella and Caelum camping like just get to the haven and the betrayal already. The main love interest gave me the ick, which has never happened EVER. He was a damn control freak who needed to give Estrella some space and trust and when you first meet someone are you calling them little one and my star. No, it was weird, he was creep, and her brother got the creeps so she should have left him. And I still don’t trust him. We had good reason to not trust him which was only a bit predictable. He gave me Tamlin vibes, but they just sped up the process a bit.
Overall, this book would have put me in a reading slump if I wasn’t reading another book at the same time. It was weird and predictable and there was a few spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes, and it could have been 100 pages instead of 425 pages. Someone needs to tell me if the series is worth it, or should I just get rid of the second book now?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, War, Sexual assault, and Suicide
lucyslays'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
SO SMUTTY OH MY GOD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Violence, Body horror, Death, and Misogyny
jen_sten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, War, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
marippe's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I’m kind of disappointed. I feel like the book started off really strong with potential, and I feel like it was great until we met the ML. After that, the pace really slowed down.
I admire the idea of making a FL who wants more than what her society demands for her, but as the book went on that message became muddled for me. She wants more than to be sexualised, but the relationship with ML starts on sexual attraction, with him outwardly and bluntly describing that he wants her and she'll come to him eventually. A woman can be sexual without being sexualised, but it didn’t feel like empowerment but ownership - something she was against.
The pet name “Little One” is probably one of the worst nicknames I’ve heard. Its very infantilising, and really creepy to use in sexual scenes.
I liked how the author described locations and imagery but my issues with the story and lack of connection to any of the characters made it hard for me to enjoy it. I’m just disappointed- I started it thinking it could be a 4.75 at max, but the star score kept falling over the book.
I personally didn’t mind the cliffhanger but it wasn’t too surprising.
I admire the idea of making a FL who wants more than what her society demands for her, but as the book went on that message became muddled for me. She wants more than to be sexualised, but the relationship with ML starts on sexual attraction, with him outwardly and bluntly describing that he wants her and she'll come to him eventually. A woman can be sexual without being sexualised, but it didn’t feel like empowerment but ownership - something she was against.
The pet name “Little One” is probably one of the worst nicknames I’ve heard. Its very infantilising, and really creepy to use in sexual scenes.
I liked how the author described locations and imagery but my issues with the story and lack of connection to any of the characters made it hard for me to enjoy it. I’m just disappointed- I started it thinking it could be a 4.75 at max, but the star score kept falling over the book.
I personally didn’t mind the cliffhanger but it wasn’t too surprising.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual harassment, War, Misogyny, and Murder
cady_sass's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Someone said this book is what you would get if you told an AI to write a fantasy romance, and that’s about all I can say. It’s certainly not very good, the dialogue is cringey and unnatural and there’s zero character development. There just… no depth. But I didn’t HATE it. And now I have to read the sequel *sigh*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Torture, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, and War
jadehusdanhicks's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Not going to lie I struggled with this book. The general fae story line was amazing and if it was that alone I’m sure I’d probably continue the series.
Unfortunately it contains very consistent weird sexual content with a male MC calling the female one little one which didn’t sit right with me.
Additionally it deals with grooming, suicide, murder and SA.
Overall I was left disturbed especially by the graphic sex because of the phrasing and the uncomfortable nickname used. I wouldn’t reccomend personally.
And I’m not against spice in books. But this was just horrid to read
Also. Despite this book seemingly being set in an old dystopia landscape it kept bringing up modern clothing like leggings. Which just seemed so seperate and disconnected from what I understood to be the setting
Unfortunately it contains very consistent weird sexual content with a male MC calling the female one little one which didn’t sit right with me.
Additionally it deals with grooming, suicide, murder and SA.
Overall I was left disturbed especially by the graphic sex because of the phrasing and the uncomfortable nickname used. I wouldn’t reccomend personally.
And I’m not against spice in books. But this was just horrid to read
Also. Despite this book seemingly being set in an old dystopia landscape it kept bringing up modern clothing like leggings. Which just seemed so seperate and disconnected from what I understood to be the setting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Cursing, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
lindsaymac's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book has me very torn, there were some aspects I really liked but it felt very much like I’d already read this story.
This really shouldn’t matter but I hated Estrella’s name and Caelum’s constant use of pet names.
I did appreciate Caelum and Estrella’s dynamic outside of the pet names, and enjoyed how Estrella was handy with a knife.
A lot of this story reminded me of From Blood and Ash, so if you loved Poppy and Casteel’s dynamic you will probably enjoy this.
I am curious to see what happens “beyond the veil” as they didn’t arrive there in this booth until the end so I may continue the series.
This really shouldn’t matter but I hated Estrella’s name and Caelum’s constant use of pet names.
I did appreciate Caelum and Estrella’s dynamic outside of the pet names, and enjoyed how Estrella was handy with a knife.
A lot of this story reminded me of From Blood and Ash, so if you loved Poppy and Casteel’s dynamic you will probably enjoy this.
I am curious to see what happens “beyond the veil” as they didn’t arrive there in this booth until the end so I may continue the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and War