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annikareads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Grief
nicamooch's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My jaw was not ready for the amount of twists in this book. I loved the fast pace and the way every emotion still packed a punch—this was an instantly unputdownable kind of book. The ending of chapter ONE had me reeling.
The third act had me audibly gasping multiple times. I just absolutely adore the ride this book took me on. I love the twist on the good vs evil trope. The perspective of a monster vs a hero antagonist was so well done and felt so refreshing?
Despite this story having time travel the stakes always felt serious—I was hooked until the very last page because I really didn’t know which way it would go.
This is such a phenomenal debut book (I am absolutely looking forward to the rest of the trilogy) but this was such an adventure with an epic ending I honestly felt satisfied and content with it upon finishing 😂. But alas, I am team Aaron and must know what happens 😤. I also hope we get to see more of Joan’s family in the next books—Gran was such a delight 😂.
I also love the humour in this. The banter between Joan and Aaron was golden! I loved every interaction between these two! I love love loved their dynamic 💛💛💛
Also, the absolute mastery involved to have me bawling over the relationship of two side characters within two pages 😭😭😭. I want those two to keep their HEA please 😭🙏.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Genocide, Physical abuse, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Racism, and Xenophobia
soozn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well, this was a crazy ride. Monsters (literal and figurative), time travel, superpowers, a heist, first love. There’s a LOT going on. It’s very much its own kind of fairytale, with its morality lessons and the simple language Len uses. She could have started it with “Once upon a time” and it wouldn’t have felt out of place.
Joan has grown up being told that she’s a monster. She didn’t know that it was meant literally. She clearly has a strong moral compass and a conscience and always tries to do the right thing. It’s important to her to be a good person. But Joan’s mother’s family have a particular kind of supernatural power that allows them to take time from another person’s life and use it for themselves to travel in time. Joan sees this as a heinous, monstrous, unforgivable deed, to steal time from a person’s life. Time they won’t get back. Time that shortens their lifespan. So no matter who or what they are, and what they do with that extra time, they are literal and metaphorical monsters.
To me, the moral dilemma Joan finds herself in was the most intriguing part of the book. (Which is saying something, considering everything that happens.) It tackles the perennial issue of the nature of right & wrong/good & evil. It turns everything on its head. The good guy is the bad guy? The bad guy is the good guy? Or maybe a little bit of both? Or neither?
This is a horror scifi fantasy adventure thriller that takes off right out of the gate and never stops. I’m giving it 4 stars even though this ended up not really being my kinda thing because, well, it was just really well done. It’s a page turner, for sure. I enjoyed the characters and the resolution and everything it made me ponder. I can see this being a big YA Fantasy reader favorite!
Joan has grown up being told that she’s a monster. She didn’t know that it was meant literally. She clearly has a strong moral compass and a conscience and always tries to do the right thing. It’s important to her to be a good person. But Joan’s mother’s family have a particular kind of supernatural power that allows them to take time from another person’s life and use it for themselves to travel in time. Joan sees this as a heinous, monstrous, unforgivable deed, to steal time from a person’s life. Time they won’t get back. Time that shortens their lifespan. So no matter who or what they are, and what they do with that extra time, they are literal and metaphorical monsters.
To me, the moral dilemma Joan finds herself in was the most intriguing part of the book. (Which is saying something, considering everything that happens.) It tackles the perennial issue of the nature of right & wrong/good & evil. It turns everything on its head. The good guy is the bad guy? The bad guy is the good guy? Or maybe a little bit of both? Or neither?
This is a horror scifi fantasy adventure thriller that takes off right out of the gate and never stops. I’m giving it 4 stars even though this ended up not really being my kinda thing because, well, it was just really well done. It’s a page turner, for sure. I enjoyed the characters and the resolution and everything it made me ponder. I can see this being a big YA Fantasy reader favorite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Grief
Minor: Torture and Confinement
tigerlilliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I’m still trying to recover from this book to be honest but will do my best to give it a review.
This book focuses on the main character of Joan, half of her family are monsters and half human. However, in fairy tales the mo stars are always defeated by the hero… monsters are seen as all bad and heroes all good… that is until you read this book. A magnificent time travelling, tense and mysterious adventure that has wonderful work building and flash backs to the 90s … but also explores the idea of morality, the grey areas that are between the black and white fairy tale caricatures we are taught as a child. It explores the idea of sacrifice, but also what it means to really be a monster or a hero.
The book feature really dark themes and leaves you constantly on the edge of your seat wanting to read more. The ending… devastating and shocking! But I don’t think I wanted this to end, an amazing book and can’t wait to read more from this author!
I’m still trying to recover from this book to be honest but will do my best to give it a review.
This book focuses on the main character of Joan, half of her family are monsters and half human. However, in fairy tales the mo stars are always defeated by the hero… monsters are seen as all bad and heroes all good… that is until you read this book. A magnificent time travelling, tense and mysterious adventure that has wonderful work building and flash backs to the 90s … but also explores the idea of morality, the grey areas that are between the black and white fairy tale caricatures we are taught as a child. It explores the idea of sacrifice, but also what it means to really be a monster or a hero.
The book feature really dark themes and leaves you constantly on the edge of your seat wanting to read more. The ending… devastating and shocking! But I don’t think I wanted this to end, an amazing book and can’t wait to read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Normally with fantasy books, they take me a couple of chapter to get into them, but this book had me gripped straight away, and I read it in one sitting.
This big gives us a unique take on time-travel, with good historical references. Very morally ambiguous characters that you can't help liking. The pacing of the story and the world building was perfect.
Looking forward to the next book on the trilogy.
Normally with fantasy books, they take me a couple of chapter to get into them, but this book had me gripped straight away, and I read it in one sitting.
This big gives us a unique take on time-travel, with good historical references. Very morally ambiguous characters that you can't help liking. The pacing of the story and the world building was perfect.
Looking forward to the next book on the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
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