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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Dystopian fantasy of a secret society of demon hunters. MFC left in the dark and trying to figure out why she is part of the society while trying to keep her feeling for her besties boyfriend in check.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, I am left feeling fairly unfulfilled by this first release in series.
My biggest gripe? The MMC is a singer in a band and meets the FMC at a club where his band is performing.Then they end up at school together. Then demon hunters together. Then bonded. But he somehow has time to date her best friend who doesn't go to their school? And when does he have time to gig? It's not mentioned again until 3/4 of the way through the book when the FMC suddenly wonders about this very conundrum.
The author would have benefitted from cutting that particular element from the story, but while that was the most egregious, it wasn't the only opportunity to pair down distractions.
I was also disappointed by the handling of alcoholism representation. I thought there were a lot of opportunities to use her addiction as the primary conflict instead of the toxic best friend. The FMC should have been her own worst enemy, but instead functional alcoholism was displayed without any real fallout and we have a love/hate toxic BFF situation in its place. While I don't think all female friendship rep should be sunshine and rainbows, this seemed to exist solely to create jealous tension over a mutual love interest and that's a real slog for me.
So what did I like? The secret society, the demon hunting... the bones of the story were interesting and the writer's voice is decent. Hopefully her future novels are much tighter and she adopts a tough love stance in her editing. She's got potential, for sure.
My biggest gripe? The MMC is a singer in a band and meets the FMC at a club where his band is performing.
The author would have benefitted from cutting that particular element from the story, but while that was the most egregious, it wasn't the only opportunity to pair down distractions.
I was also disappointed by the handling of alcoholism representation. I thought there were a lot of opportunities to use her addiction as the primary conflict instead of the toxic best friend. The FMC should have been her own worst enemy, but instead functional alcoholism was displayed without any real fallout and we have a love/hate toxic BFF situation in its place. While I don't think all female friendship rep should be sunshine and rainbows, this seemed to exist solely to create jealous tension over a mutual love interest and that's a real slog for me.
So what did I like? The secret society, the demon hunting... the bones of the story were interesting and the writer's voice is decent. Hopefully her future novels are much tighter and she adopts a tough love stance in her editing. She's got potential, for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
“Stop trying to run from this. I am well aware of the little wall you built between our connection, but know this, I will always find you.”
Remi doesn’t want to attend college, but then her grandmother dies. In her will the stats that she wants Remi to attend Columbia University, it’s even already paid for. Before she moves in to her new dorm, Remi receives an invitation to the Order of the Scarlet Quill. With this invitation a whole new secret world opens up to Remi. A world with magic, demons and secrets where Remi will be tested to see if she is worthy.
The premise of this book made me read this book. And I have to say I enjoyed it, it’s fast paced, had good written descriptions and a forbidden romance that gave the right amount of tension. Remi(FMC) is a character that doesn’t really trust anyone and that has a lot of anxieties. For me she felt young and sometimes a little frustrating, but it is a character that can grow and develop in the rest of the series. It felt like the author has a plan and knows how she wants to go further with Remi.
I think this book is a wonderful steppingstone for the rest of the series. While reading I had the feeling the author hit Easter eggs and wrote things a curtain way to use as a stepping stone. But this book also left me with a lot of questions, so I cant wait to read the second book.
Tropes
-Secret Society
-Forbidden love
-Dark urban fantasy
-Demon hunters
-FMC Anxiety rep
-Grumpy guardian MMC
-Open door spice
Remi doesn’t want to attend college, but then her grandmother dies. In her will the stats that she wants Remi to attend Columbia University, it’s even already paid for. Before she moves in to her new dorm, Remi receives an invitation to the Order of the Scarlet Quill. With this invitation a whole new secret world opens up to Remi. A world with magic, demons and secrets where Remi will be tested to see if she is worthy.
The premise of this book made me read this book. And I have to say I enjoyed it, it’s fast paced, had good written descriptions and a forbidden romance that gave the right amount of tension. Remi(FMC) is a character that doesn’t really trust anyone and that has a lot of anxieties. For me she felt young and sometimes a little frustrating, but it is a character that can grow and develop in the rest of the series. It felt like the author has a plan and knows how she wants to go further with Remi.
I think this book is a wonderful steppingstone for the rest of the series. While reading I had the feeling the author hit Easter eggs and wrote things a curtain way to use as a stepping stone. But this book also left me with a lot of questions, so I cant wait to read the second book.
Tropes
-Secret Society
-Forbidden love
-Dark urban fantasy
-Demon hunters
-FMC Anxiety rep
-Grumpy guardian MMC
-Open door spice
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First half of the book was slow but it pick up the pace approximately the last 100 pages with Remi starting her training as a Scarlet and going out for missions. There were a lot of twist and turns in the story and a lot of tension (attraction) between Remi and her Guardian Josh. Enjoy the chemistry between Remi and friends, the banter between the characters seem relatable and easy to understand. There is a little bit of spice in the book which wasn't consist throughout the book, it was nice because it adds to the tension between Remi and Josh "forbidden love". There was a lot of action in rhe book and mysterious in the book to keep you wanting more and needing to know what is going to happen next. The book ended with cliffhanger with Josh's POV which makes me excitement for the next book in the series!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Holy heck, why do you gotta leave me on a cliffhanger...
I love that this book has a fiesty FMC. It's a bit of a religious feel at parts, but it plays a part in the fight against demons. A secret society, forbidden love, secrets among family/friends, and fighting to save all those you care for... I need more!
I love that this book has a fiesty FMC. It's a bit of a religious feel at parts, but it plays a part in the fight against demons. A secret society, forbidden love, secrets among family/friends, and fighting to save all those you care for... I need more!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
First and foremost, thank you to the author and her lovely team for providing me with an early copy of Deck of Scarlets in exchange for an honest review!
ⓐⓡⓒ ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes:
🗡️Moody Male Guardian
🗡️FMC Anxiety Rep
🗡️Forbidden Love
🗡️Set In New York City
🗡️Secret Society
🗡️Open Door Spice
🗡️Demon Hunters
🗡️Dark Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
Much to her dismay, Remi Watson finds herself as a freshman at Columbia University per the wishes of her late Grams. Prior to the start of the school year, she receives a curious invitation from the Order of the Scarlet Quill, a secret society of demon hunters, Scarlets. Despite her resistance, Remi is inducted into the Order and begins learning about a world she never knew existed. To top it off, her best friend’s boyfriend, Josh West, a Tutelary Saint and guardian, is her guardian. Remi will need to learn how to navigate her new life and protect those she loves before the world as she knows it falls into the hands of an unknown, dangerous predator.
My thoughts 💭
The first half of the book was a little slow for me. As much as I love fantasy, I always find this to be the case with many stories (even the most popular books everyone raves about!) I know the authors need to build the scene and set up the world, but it can be a bit of a drag. Regardless, I don’t fault any book for this because it is a necessary “evil”, but once Remi formally became a Scarlet and started to take part in the action, I was drawn in. The last 100 pages or so had me hooked!
I really enjoyed the banter between the characters - this was one of my favorite components of this story! I enjoyed the chemistry between Remi, her friends, and of course, Josh. There were moments where I felt the interactions between characters or general elements of the story were rushed, but I didn’t feel like it took away from the story. For instance, I would have loved to learn more about Cillian and Emilia beyond these characters just being a seasoned Saint/Scarlet duo that is stationed in the field hunting demons.
There’s still many unanswered questions about the Order and intentions of different characters that can be expanded on in future installments of this series. I am really looking forward to where the story leads us next and the undeniable connection between Remi and Josh. I definitely recommend this series and will continue reading once the next book has been released!
Favorite line from the book that made me literally lol:
“I thought of my sick obsession with vampire romance books at the ripe age of thirteen. ‘Damn, and here I thought my dream man, Edward Cullen, lived.’
Josh howled, almost losing his balance. ‘Nowhere near that disco ball.’”
ⓐⓡⓒ ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Tropes:
🗡️Moody Male Guardian
🗡️FMC Anxiety Rep
🗡️Forbidden Love
🗡️Set In New York City
🗡️Secret Society
🗡️Open Door Spice
🗡️Demon Hunters
🗡️Dark Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
Much to her dismay, Remi Watson finds herself as a freshman at Columbia University per the wishes of her late Grams. Prior to the start of the school year, she receives a curious invitation from the Order of the Scarlet Quill, a secret society of demon hunters, Scarlets. Despite her resistance, Remi is inducted into the Order and begins learning about a world she never knew existed. To top it off, her best friend’s boyfriend, Josh West, a Tutelary Saint and guardian, is her guardian. Remi will need to learn how to navigate her new life and protect those she loves before the world as she knows it falls into the hands of an unknown, dangerous predator.
My thoughts 💭
The first half of the book was a little slow for me. As much as I love fantasy, I always find this to be the case with many stories (even the most popular books everyone raves about!) I know the authors need to build the scene and set up the world, but it can be a bit of a drag. Regardless, I don’t fault any book for this because it is a necessary “evil”, but once Remi formally became a Scarlet and started to take part in the action, I was drawn in. The last 100 pages or so had me hooked!
I really enjoyed the banter between the characters - this was one of my favorite components of this story! I enjoyed the chemistry between Remi, her friends, and of course, Josh. There were moments where I felt the interactions between characters or general elements of the story were rushed, but I didn’t feel like it took away from the story. For instance, I would have loved to learn more about Cillian and Emilia beyond these characters just being a seasoned Saint/Scarlet duo that is stationed in the field hunting demons.
There’s still many unanswered questions about the Order and intentions of different characters that can be expanded on in future installments of this series. I am really looking forward to where the story leads us next and the undeniable connection between Remi and Josh. I definitely recommend this series and will continue reading once the next book has been released!
Favorite line from the book that made me literally lol:
“I thought of my sick obsession with vampire romance books at the ripe age of thirteen. ‘Damn, and here I thought my dream man, Edward Cullen, lived.’
Josh howled, almost losing his balance. ‘Nowhere near that disco ball.’”
This is my first book by this author and so glad I read this. It's about Remi whose whole plans change because when her grandmother passed it stared in her will that she wanted her to go to Columbia University.
I think it was good for her to go there because her friends she had, I don't believe were good for her. Once she gets to the University, there are some secrets that she starts to uncover and learns things never knew existed! She also meets Josh who becomes her guardian within a secret society. He is a bit moody to so never knows how he feels about her.
There is definitely some chemistry between the two but unfortunately he's her best friend’s boyfriend. This book is a slow burn book and hoping gets a little more to it in the next one. Really liked this and can't wait for next!
I think it was good for her to go there because her friends she had, I don't believe were good for her. Once she gets to the University, there are some secrets that she starts to uncover and learns things never knew existed! She also meets Josh who becomes her guardian within a secret society. He is a bit moody to so never knows how he feels about her.
There is definitely some chemistry between the two but unfortunately he's her best friend’s boyfriend. This book is a slow burn book and hoping gets a little more to it in the next one. Really liked this and can't wait for next!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
No
I really really enjoyed this and the only reason it took me a moment to get done was cause of school. But oh my god this reached and scratched a niche that I love so much. Dark Romantasy with horrific monster, tension and angst! Yes give it all to me. This reminded me a lot of Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare but BETTER.
This story gives us Remi Watson, a young woman from New York that is about to start college at Columbia. Something requested to her by her deceased grandmother. And quickly Remi is thrown into a world of demons and demon slayers/secret society. And on top of that her best friend’s boyfriend is her guardian.
Forbidden love ☑️
Deception ☑️
Enemies ☑️
There is a little spice, one open door scene, and I love that we only really got one. It adds to the tension and the “forbidden love” into it. I was NOT expecting that ending and I appreciate we get a little piece Josh’s POV. I can’t wait for more of this series. It was like an action packed movie in my head as I read.
This story gives us Remi Watson, a young woman from New York that is about to start college at Columbia. Something requested to her by her deceased grandmother. And quickly Remi is thrown into a world of demons and demon slayers/secret society. And on top of that her best friend’s boyfriend is her guardian.
Forbidden love ☑️
Deception ☑️
Enemies ☑️
There is a little spice, one open door scene, and I love that we only really got one. It adds to the tension and the “forbidden love” into it. I was NOT expecting that ending and I appreciate we get a little piece Josh’s POV. I can’t wait for more of this series. It was like an action packed movie in my head as I read.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes