Scan barcode
ek1bble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
itputsthebookupontheshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
I was super interested in this book premise, unfortunately it did't hit as well with me as I would have liked. First off I listened to this one on audio, thanks to the publisher, and while it was well recorded, I had a hard time enjoying it because the male narrator was much older than the female. As this is a "highschool" aged book, it just didn't sit well with me when he would talk about wanting to touch the girl, it came off more creepy in a bad way than being romantic sounding. It may be perfectly fine while physically reading, but in my experience with it, it was a miss. The pacing was also an issue for me, it seemed to drag out parts that could have been shortened and didn't contain as much action as I would have hoped for, for a horror genre type book. It may be fine for a Young Reader, but for me it just wasn't quite what I was hoping for after reading the premise.
Thank you to Netgally and RB Media for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest reviw
I was super interested in this book premise, unfortunately it did't hit as well with me as I would have liked. First off I listened to this one on audio, thanks to the publisher, and while it was well recorded, I had a hard time enjoying it because the male narrator was much older than the female. As this is a "highschool" aged book, it just didn't sit well with me when he would talk about wanting to touch the girl, it came off more creepy in a bad way than being romantic sounding. It may be perfectly fine while physically reading, but in my experience with it, it was a miss. The pacing was also an issue for me, it seemed to drag out parts that could have been shortened and didn't contain as much action as I would have hoped for, for a horror genre type book. It may be fine for a Young Reader, but for me it just wasn't quite what I was hoping for after reading the premise.
Thank you to Netgally and RB Media for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest reviw
amysbusyreading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.5
catsandbookspluspup's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
burngast05's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. The magic system wasn’t developed well, the characters seemed very insta love and the ending left a lot to be desired.
onyxtheonyx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lewis666's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As a committed new book reader unlike failed attempts in the past to expand my hobbies, I struggle to really find just the right horror story to maintain my interest. When I picked up this book from it's eerie front cover of a devil with his eyes bleeding ink and books scattered across, and the intriguing blurb of two students who stumble across an ancient book hidden in a secret temple underneath their school library, I knew we were onto something. And oh my days, I absolutely fell in love with it!
Tori Bovalino's writing is just so effortlessly pieced together that I was stunned how easy of a page turner this was. I simply couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters Eliot and Tess, and got swept up in their subtle but building romance that it felt natural and never once forced. I cared about the outcome, and when the Devil is finally unleashed, manipulating the world around them in horrifying ways, I couldn't help but be entranced. The cold, unnerving atmosphere took over me and I loved every second of it.
Could I say that maybe there were some minor nitpicks of familiarity? I guess, sure. But everything was so well put together I didn't mind too much at all. As I wave the flag craving for more atmosphere in horror, Tori Bovalino ticks all boxes with spine chilling colours. Just a beautiful book with a surprising amount of emotion too, desperate to read more from Tori as soon as humanly possible.
Tori Bovalino's writing is just so effortlessly pieced together that I was stunned how easy of a page turner this was. I simply couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters Eliot and Tess, and got swept up in their subtle but building romance that it felt natural and never once forced. I cared about the outcome, and when the Devil is finally unleashed, manipulating the world around them in horrifying ways, I couldn't help but be entranced. The cold, unnerving atmosphere took over me and I loved every second of it.
Could I say that maybe there were some minor nitpicks of familiarity? I guess, sure. But everything was so well put together I didn't mind too much at all. As I wave the flag craving for more atmosphere in horror, Tori Bovalino ticks all boxes with spine chilling colours. Just a beautiful book with a surprising amount of emotion too, desperate to read more from Tori as soon as humanly possible.