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shannonvonpesach's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
because even though the fMC is constantly described as a romantic and why she is that way she seems rather emotionless at times which may be because of the third person narrator who can make it hard to relate or feel with the MC...
on the topic of the third person narrator...
If this narrator has to be the choice don't give your fMC a name like Evangeline, beautiful name, but the min. 3 times per pages she is referred to as Evangeline absolutely destroys the reading flow. At least give her a nickname...honestly if the fMC would be referred to as Eve/Eva for at least half if the time it would cut down the number of pages to probably 350.
It also honestly felt like this book was only an introduction as we don't get much worldbuilding or explanations regarding anything geographical, political or societal in this fantasy world but for it simply being an introduction to the characters it lacks the deeply getting to know the characters.
What I did like:
- morally grey and imperfect(thus maybe less relatable) MCs
- a nice slowburn
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment
c_l_ara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence
moanareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Body shaming, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
bectothebooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Confinement
caprisun44444's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Since i got to knew jacks in carval i really couldn’t stop thinking about him. Like how can a character be portrayed so briliant . I was switching from he’s extremely attractive to what a toxic mf how did we fall for him again. And thats whats so brilliant. Stephanie garber can manage to fully protray how it feels to have a manipilative/toxic person beside you. And i haven’t even read the second book (the ballad of never after) so i don’t know if he really is toxic or a good one after all. Never the less i really enjoyed reading this book and i’m m so excited to see how the story continues.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
amre23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Self harm, and Torture
restlessreason17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
Most of the book just felt really forgettable?? I don't know why, but nothing really...stuck. I couldn't visualize anything beyond Jacks, who was described again and again and again, and Evangeline. I have NO idea what any iconic landmarks look like (descriptions were light for some reason?? Like why wasn't the literal castle given more details, especially when she's ENGAGED TO MARRY THE PRINCE???)
Also. Someone please explain that cemetery scene. 🤮 I hated that.
And oh gosh. The plot was SO convoluted imo.
Is Jacks supposed to be the love interest? I sure hope he's not. I literally couldn't tell. He's LITERALLY USING HER and more often than not he's portrayed as sexy boy. No. Literally no.
That's all :)
Graphic: Toxic relationship
tak_everlasting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Spoiler alert, Garber could not.
Every interesting aspect of this book has been done better elsewhere, and the whole thing felt like a collection of interesting premises that are never explored. There was no depth to the characters or their relationships, there is absolutely no set up and pay off, and the emotionally abused girl is villified.
Defending the clunky writing style by saying that it's "YA" is an insult to young adult books everywhere. The writing style doesn't convey emotions well and holds back the story from reaching it's full potential, stripping the tension from many places by infodumping in the middle of action scenes, and skipping over any bonding time these characters may have had with one another. It's bad writing, and you can call it that.
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Confinement