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jose_kg's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I really wanted to love this book, magical realism in Victorian London sounded amazing and many of the ideas that Raughley had are very interesting. The problem was the execution, the pacing was odd, very slow in parts and a lot of unnecessary repetition of characters back stories to the point I wondered if she'd set herself a high minimum word count. There was a lot of telling instead of showing and characters having deep feelings for each other with no reason. There was a fair amount of mind-reading going on, where Iris would question something in her mind and then a character would helpfully supply the answer without being asked. Iris was a surprisingly boring MC despite a really interesting back story, I think the author wanted her to be too perfect and that made her boring and the plot had to drive the story completely. The love triangle wasn't very believable and I don't know what was meant to be going on with Adam.
I found the final big battle with the other 'fanciful freaks' really silly. Firstly these people were meant to be her friends, we'd been told over and over how much their friendship meant, but the second they perceived her as a possible threat they try to kill her. Secondly they try to kill her, a person they explicitly know cannot die, so what on earth did they think they were going to achieve? Piss her off so she'd kill them faster? Thirdly, they heard her story of all the pain she'd gone through, the fact she didn't want to kill anyone and now that she knows what she can do she won't accidentally kill anyone else, so as a group that has multiple murderers in it, they decide she's the worst for accidently killing someone? It just seemed so contrived and took any emotion from the realisation that many of them probably died when the club burnt down.
Overall I found this a hard book to finish and I won't be reading the rest of the series. I have given some stars because the premise is really interesting, I just wish it had been executed better.
Overall I found this a hard book to finish and I won't be reading the rest of the series. I have given some stars because the premise is really interesting, I just wish it had been executed better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, and Death
tallulahchanel's review
I was enjoying this book until it made me uncomfortable. I really do think this was a good book, just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
arsenelouppain's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I wanted to like this book so bad! It's got a great premise, and I loved the writing style. I also think the author is really cool!
My main complaint is about the protagonist, Iris. I found her largely unlikeable and her behavior was downright erratic at times. I lost it whenshe decided to make out with a dude in the middle of a mission where lives hung in the balance. It took me five months to get through this just because I hated Iris so, so much.
I was also not a fan of the love triangle (love square? Love pentagon? Maybe even a hexagon.) It was unnecessary and annoying to read through. Perhaps just Jinn and Adam would have been fine. But Max? They barely even knew each other! I understand that it's possible to fall in love at first sight, but there was way too much going on between all the fighting and mysteries and drama for them to form any kind of connection. Especially after he abandonned her and Jinn in the first round of the tournament.
One thing that also bothered me was whenall of the Fanciful Freaks acted like the apocalypse was somehow impossible. Like, you went to a fair in South Kensington and can now breathe fire, but you don't think it's possible that the world might end one day? Seriously?
I liked the ending. I was actually surprised whenMax was revealed to have betrayed them. In hindsight, it's painfully obvious, but please remember that I read this book over the course of five months. It was a nice set up for the sequel.
I also approve of the way Raughley addressed the issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
In the end, this book was not for me, but if you're interested, I recommend giving it a go!
My main complaint is about the protagonist, Iris. I found her largely unlikeable and her behavior was downright erratic at times. I lost it when
I was also not a fan of the love triangle (love square? Love pentagon? Maybe even a hexagon.) It was unnecessary and annoying to read through. Perhaps just Jinn and Adam would have been fine. But
One thing that also bothered me was when
I liked the ending. I was actually surprised when
I also approve of the way Raughley addressed the issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
In the end, this book was not for me, but if you're interested, I recommend giving it a go!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Murder, Violence, Slavery, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, and Death
stacyaj's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism and Blood
readingsitaaras's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What a wild novel! Such a fascinating premise and for the most part it delivers on it. I actually liked Iris, found it hilarious how everyone just falls in love with her as soon as they meet her. I think overall most of the characters were well developed but they could use just a bit more work. The plot was complex, interesting and full of twists. I could’ve done with maybe one less plot line since the story got a little hard to follow sometimes. Overall, I’m intrigued enough to read the next book, especially since that ending was so chaotic that I have to know what happens afterwards.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Gore, Murder, and Death
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Read with the B2 Weird book club on Discord as our February book pick!
This was amazing!! Also so bloody and violent, lived for it all.
Rep: African cishet female MC, BIPOC cishet male side character, BIPOC female side character, MLM side pairing.
CWs: Violence, murder, death, racism, mentions of eugenics, torture, non-consensual medical experimentation, cannibalism, blood, gore, gun violence, injury/injury detail, fire, medical trauma. Moderate: sexism, misogyny, slavery, trafficking, mentions of sex work. Minor: suicide attempt, xenophobia, sexual harassment.
This was amazing!! Also so bloody and violent, lived for it all.
Rep: African cishet female MC, BIPOC cishet male side character, BIPOC female side character, MLM side pairing.
CWs: Violence, murder, death, racism, mentions of eugenics, torture, non-consensual medical experimentation, cannibalism, blood, gore, gun violence, injury/injury detail, fire, medical trauma. Moderate: sexism, misogyny, slavery, trafficking, mentions of sex work. Minor: suicide attempt, xenophobia, sexual harassment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Racism, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Cannibalism, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Slavery, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia
nikspandya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
YOOOO WHAT THE FUCK BRO IDK WHAT TO DO EXCEPT LAUGH LIKE A CRAZY PERSON EXCEPT NOTHING IS FUNNY
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Racism
clairophy's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, Torture, Racism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
bookishbrittany's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, and Cannibalism
2treads's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
– Industry destroys nature. Men conquer kingdoms, and civilizations fall to ruin –
Raughley writes an intriguing story with interesting and shady characters, skilfully written hints; devilishly engaging, selfish, and greedy players add a layer of mystery that keeps the reader immersed.
The supernatural elements that drive the plot are interesting and unique, the betrayals, bonds of friendship, and the familial drive that spurs our characters are relatable. The enigma surrounding our main character and the mysterious power that she holds kept me turning pages.
She is deliberate in writing an industrialized London, with the poor working conditions as well the colourful tapestry of peoples that made up the population. I especially like that she depicted how sometimes racialised individuals can absorb and use the racist terms that white colonialists ascribed to other racialised groups.
My biggest turnoff was the love rectangle/reverse harem relationship. I was not feeling it al all. It was unnecessary and added nothing to elevate the story. All it did was annoy me.
But that ending does have me intrigued.
Raughley writes an intriguing story with interesting and shady characters, skilfully written hints; devilishly engaging, selfish, and greedy players add a layer of mystery that keeps the reader immersed.
The supernatural elements that drive the plot are interesting and unique, the betrayals, bonds of friendship, and the familial drive that spurs our characters are relatable. The enigma surrounding our main character and the mysterious power that she holds kept me turning pages.
She is deliberate in writing an industrialized London, with the poor working conditions as well the colourful tapestry of peoples that made up the population. I especially like that she depicted how sometimes racialised individuals can absorb and use the racist terms that white colonialists ascribed to other racialised groups.
My biggest turnoff was the love rectangle/reverse harem relationship. I was not feeling it al all. It was unnecessary and added nothing to elevate the story. All it did was annoy me.
But that ending does have me intrigued.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Torture, and Death