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persione's review against another edition
3.0
Couldn't say I cared much for the characters, which made the final pages not too interesting.
Absolutely loved the concept of the book and the parts with the devil where written well! But then there is the part where the writer tries to make it a semi-romantic book which felt very much unnecessary.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Absolutely loved the concept of the book and the parts with the devil where written well! But then there is the part where the writer tries to make it a semi-romantic book which felt very much unnecessary.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
louloureadsbooks's review against another edition
I don't hate this. But I don't much like it either.
It sounded intriguing and the sort of thing I like but it's not for me. I found it slow paced, also I hadn't realised the MCs were quite so young. Nothing wrong with that, but not my cuppa.
To the book exchange in the bus shelter with this one.
It sounded intriguing and the sort of thing I like but it's not for me. I found it slow paced, also I hadn't realised the MCs were quite so young. Nothing wrong with that, but not my cuppa.
To the book exchange in the bus shelter with this one.
popatschi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
souraya's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.75
paragraphsandpages's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and it lived up. I overall haven’t read a lot of horror nor dark academia, though I have extremely enjoyed what I’ve read of either genre. This book is just another to add to the list of reasons I should explore those genres further!
I was at first a bit put off by how young the main characters were (high schoolers, junior and senior), as for some reason I expected college aged characters, but it ended up working really well still. The setting itself still felt college-esque due to it being a fancy high school where students usually stay on campus, and since it was summer, the main characters weren’t dragged down by high school class schedules. The school itself was also so far removed from normal high schools, that it didn’t even feel like a high school story at all. The library setting is what really set the book apart, however, and I loved how the uniqueness of this set up (closed stacks only accessed by people working at the library) played such a large role in the horror that was to come. It was dark, quiet, and terrifying at moments, and I loved it.
The monster/demon/devil didn’t fully click with me at first, as while I found the scenes and dreams he was in terrifying, the missing background and reasoning for his malevolent acts made it hard for me to get fully invested. However, once this story started unraveling more and more, I was hooked. What really sold this story to me overall, and made me rate it 5 stars in the end, had to be the ending itself. I really love how this story was wrapped up, both in terms of this plot/monster and for the characters themselves.
The characters were a consistent favorite of mine, however. I loved them quickly, and throughout the whole book this love remained. Even when one of them acted weirdly, it was usually well enough explained in their respective POV that it didn’t feel off, even if it was frustrating for plot/romance progression. I also liked the slow unfurling of the romance, and how this seemed to go hand in hand with the unraveling of their selves and thoughts regarding the devil. I also really liked how the side characters were used in the book overall, and for a fairly short, stand-alone book, I felt like we got quite detailed relationships between the MCs and their respective side characters. Additionally, most of these side characters were flawed, especially when it came to family dynamics, and I like how the relationships with these flawed characters were written, and how they weren’t just set as good or bad. It made the story overall feel a lot more complex.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, from the ink imagery it employed to incite terror in the reader to the strength of both of our main characters. I loved watching this story shape them, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
I was at first a bit put off by how young the main characters were (high schoolers, junior and senior), as for some reason I expected college aged characters, but it ended up working really well still. The setting itself still felt college-esque due to it being a fancy high school where students usually stay on campus, and since it was summer, the main characters weren’t dragged down by high school class schedules. The school itself was also so far removed from normal high schools, that it didn’t even feel like a high school story at all. The library setting is what really set the book apart, however, and I loved how the uniqueness of this set up (closed stacks only accessed by people working at the library) played such a large role in the horror that was to come. It was dark, quiet, and terrifying at moments, and I loved it.
The monster/demon/devil didn’t fully click with me at first, as while I found the scenes and dreams he was in terrifying, the missing background and reasoning for his malevolent acts made it hard for me to get fully invested. However, once this story started unraveling more and more, I was hooked. What really sold this story to me overall, and made me rate it 5 stars in the end, had to be the ending itself. I really love how this story was wrapped up, both in terms of this plot/monster and for the characters themselves.
The characters were a consistent favorite of mine, however. I loved them quickly, and throughout the whole book this love remained. Even when one of them acted weirdly, it was usually well enough explained in their respective POV that it didn’t feel off, even if it was frustrating for plot/romance progression. I also liked the slow unfurling of the romance, and how this seemed to go hand in hand with the unraveling of their selves and thoughts regarding the devil. I also really liked how the side characters were used in the book overall, and for a fairly short, stand-alone book, I felt like we got quite detailed relationships between the MCs and their respective side characters. Additionally, most of these side characters were flawed, especially when it came to family dynamics, and I like how the relationships with these flawed characters were written, and how they weren’t just set as good or bad. It made the story overall feel a lot more complex.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, from the ink imagery it employed to incite terror in the reader to the strength of both of our main characters. I loved watching this story shape them, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
charlxoxo's review against another edition
4.0
Rated 3.75*
Going on vibes alone, I enjoyed this massively, finishing it within a few hours.
I loved Eliot, he was likeable and charming and who doesn’t love a boy with magic? I adored his relationship with his mother, it was sad and heart wrenching and beautiful. I do wish that Eliot’s magic played a bigger part in the story though. I don’t know why it was so focused on his magic being a part of him when the author didn’t utilise that power in any of the main plot.
Tess is a character that grows on you once you’ve learned more about her backstory. Her motivations to provide her sister with the best opportunities for a good future are admirable. I do wish we got a bit more development in regards to Tess’ relationship with her parents.
As for the plot, I love a dark academia style fantasy and while this isn’t the best one I’ve read, I did enjoy it. While I didn’t quite understand the ‘devil’s’ motivations towards why he was doing what he was doing, the story still kept me engaged throughout. I just wish the plot was a bit stronger, a bit more intense.
However, saying this I did like this and it’s a good book to just curl up with on a rainy autumn day and lose yourself for a few hours.
Going on vibes alone, I enjoyed this massively, finishing it within a few hours.
I loved Eliot, he was likeable and charming and who doesn’t love a boy with magic? I adored his relationship with his mother, it was sad and heart wrenching and beautiful. I do wish that Eliot’s magic played a bigger part in the story though. I don’t know why it was so focused on his magic being a part of him when the author didn’t utilise that power in any of the main plot.
Tess is a character that grows on you once you’ve learned more about her backstory. Her motivations to provide her sister with the best opportunities for a good future are admirable. I do wish we got a bit more development in regards to Tess’ relationship with her parents.
As for the plot, I love a dark academia style fantasy and while this isn’t the best one I’ve read, I did enjoy it. While I didn’t quite understand the ‘devil’s’ motivations towards why he was doing what he was doing, the story still kept me engaged throughout. I just wish the plot was a bit stronger, a bit more intense.
However, saying this I did like this and it’s a good book to just curl up with on a rainy autumn day and lose yourself for a few hours.
thebookeer's review against another edition
3.0
"The Devil Makes Three" is a book about discovering the forbidden. Tess is working in the school library over summertime so that she could afford to pay for her and her sister's education. Due to a regrettable mistake she meets with Elliot, a student who has decided to start researching witchcraft for his thesis. Tess helps the charming young man to get some books he needs, which turns out to be the start of the madness that soon awaits them.
I loved this book for its on-point descriptions and dark academia vibes. However, the characters lacked somewhat depth in their relations towards their families. The family topic got covered, but could have been described more. I also liked the weird kind of gore in this book, however it was extremely illogical and untrustworthy.
I recommend this book, if you're into dark academia vibes, after-hours library sessions and are prepared for some unlikely gore.
I loved this book for its on-point descriptions and dark academia vibes. However, the characters lacked somewhat depth in their relations towards their families. The family topic got covered, but could have been described more. I also liked the weird kind of gore in this book, however it was extremely illogical and untrustworthy.
I recommend this book, if you're into dark academia vibes, after-hours library sessions and are prepared for some unlikely gore.
katpop's review against another edition
3.0
Did I like this book? I am unsure. On one hand, I want to say yes, yes I did. I enjoyed the concept of the book. It was interesting, but on the other hand, I want to say... I liked it okay? I don't think I cared about these characters and I wished that the devil was more an actual physical being instead of ink in a book that killed people around Tess. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if he were a physical being.