Scan barcode
keioyana's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.25
* Stuck between a 4.25-4.5 star rating if I'm being honest !!
This was such an interesting experience! I would say that there are a lot of topics touched upon in this book that would be triggering to others -Heavy descriptions of abuse from a heavily intoxicated mother, collective homophobia in a conservative community, corruption in religious organisations, etc, etc.
The writing is not too wordy or dense for it taking place in a more fantastical setting. I will say that the usage of modern lingo did throw me for a loop for a story that takes place in the 1920s, but I was alright with letting it slide under the guise of it being in a fantasy world far unlike our own. Who knows, maybe they're just more advanced in terms of language? Lol.
Ilya and Danya's relationship was so... Domestic. They're so soft with one another that they just grew on me. I think that their contrasting personalities fit well together. I loved how much they showed care for one another, how their relationship blossomed as the story progressed... I think it's just so well-crafted.
All in all, great read. It got me out of a depressive reading slump!!
This was such an interesting experience! I would say that there are a lot of topics touched upon in this book that would be triggering to others -
The writing is not too wordy or dense for it taking place in a more fantastical setting. I will say that the usage of modern lingo did throw me for a loop for a story that takes place in the 1920s, but I was alright with letting it slide under the guise of it being in a fantasy world far unlike our own. Who knows, maybe they're just more advanced in terms of language? Lol.
Ilya and Danya's relationship was so... Domestic. They're so soft with one another that they just grew on me. I think that their contrasting personalities fit well together. I loved how much they showed care for one another, how their relationship blossomed as the story progressed... I think it's just so well-crafted.
All in all, great read. It got me out of a depressive reading slump!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
discarded_dust_jacket's review
It’s not that I think the writing is necessarily bad, but this book would benefit from a few more rounds of editing. The author has definite potential, but this story needs some work, and I didn’t want to continue forcing myself to push through.
The anachronistic language took me out of the story every time. It’s supposed to be set in the 1920s but the characters use modern day colloquialisms. The dialogue in general just feels a bit odd and forced, sometimes even downright cringey.
The narrative pushes forward at a pretty quick pace right off the bat, but it isn’t really properly contextualized through any meaningful worldbuilding. I couldn’t get a solid grasp on the religion in particular. Who are the hunters? What and why are they hunting? Why does Ilya keep referencing a time when he “burnt out his eyes” as part of some ritual, without giving any further explanation?
Now granted, I did give up after only 45 pages so maybe these issues would have resolved themselves, but nothing about what I read thus far incentivized me to continue further.
The anachronistic language took me out of the story every time. It’s supposed to be set in the 1920s but the characters use modern day colloquialisms. The dialogue in general just feels a bit odd and forced, sometimes even downright cringey.
The narrative pushes forward at a pretty quick pace right off the bat, but it isn’t really properly contextualized through any meaningful worldbuilding. I couldn’t get a solid grasp on the religion in particular. Who are the hunters? What and why are they hunting? Why does Ilya keep referencing a time when he “burnt out his eyes” as part of some ritual, without giving any further explanation?
Now granted, I did give up after only 45 pages so maybe these issues would have resolved themselves, but nothing about what I read thus far incentivized me to continue further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, and Cancer
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Cannibalism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
reila's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The concept and cover art piqued my interest to pick up this book! Ah, but perhaps I put too much in the action/fantasy element, what with the premise of a priest staving off creatures of the Night and all. No, the monsters our pairing fights off are the people and the environment. The denizens of whom our priest Ilya is in service are very ungrateful and hateful to him---especially his mother. These grown adults have been beefing with Ilya since he was 7 years old over something he had no control over. The self-deprecation and angst run strong. My man is 30 and doing his best.
Said townsfolk and alcoholic/abusive mother do not get better. RIP. When Ilya comes out to his surrogate grandmother/guardian, it's painful that she isn't immediately accepting. It sucks being in that situation. Berta is our one supporter, thanks to her positive relationship with Danya. But when the time comes to show solidarity, it's at a strained time where, even if she said something sooner, it wouldn't do anything for the unfolding events.
Our former beast/angel Danya isn't what you'd expect. 'Angel' wouldn't be the first thing you think of with the sailor mouth he has, but the contradictory nature is the allure of the pairing(bad-mouthing angel himbo and his repressed slutty priest---is it really a spoiler? You know why you picked up this book :) LOL) . His past and potential unfold as he realizes his raison d'etre: to protect, love, and support his Beloved. A very sweet 'we complete one another' sentiment. Their confession is quite the scene.
Because of the baggage our poor priest has, processing the immensity of his hurts made it a slow read to savor. Consent and aftercare are important and very sexy, by the way. I admit the liberal use of curse words and contemporary-isms consistently threw me from the world, but it also had the secondary effect of snapping me out of Ilya's ruminations---*raises glass* <i>heed this lesson, fellow overthinkers</i>---apart from being relatable, I thought it was funny (which is very much a 'me' thing). So, if you're in the mood for a comfort/hurt romantic fantasy, come get your food!
Our former beast/angel Danya isn't what you'd expect. 'Angel' wouldn't be the first thing you think of with the sailor mouth he has, but the contradictory nature is the allure of the pairing
Because of the baggage our poor priest has, processing the immensity of his hurts made it a slow read to savor. Consent and aftercare are important and very sexy, by the way. I admit the liberal use of curse words and contemporary-isms consistently threw me from the world, but it also had the secondary effect of snapping me out of Ilya's ruminations---*raises glass* <i>heed this lesson, fellow overthinkers</i>---apart from being relatable, I thought it was funny (which is very much a 'me' thing). So, if you're in the mood for a comfort/hurt romantic fantasy, come get your food!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
More...