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amre23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Torture, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
restlessreason17's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
(Note: I read this before reading Caraval [didn't even know these were connected until reading reviews]; idk if that'll affect the way I thought about the book)
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. WHY DID HE TOUCH HER LIKE THAT? SHE DIDN'T LIKE HIM AT A L L??? BRO WAS WHISPERING AND LICKING HER NECK AND SAYING "I WANT TO BITE YOU" WHILE ONE FINGER WENT INTO HER CORSET??? AND HE HELD HER SO CLOSE?? SHE DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS AT ALL?? AND WHAT ABOUT THAT FIRST NIGHT OF THE BIG BALL THING?? S T O P
And oh gosh. The plot was SO convoluted imo. first you think it's Jacks, then Marisol, and then it's Apollo's brother??? Like??? Bestie where was the foreshadowing? You played it so heavy-handed with Marisol being the possible culprit, but we met Tiberius ONCE. ONCE before Apollo dies, and ONCE after. I don't understand.
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 :)
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 :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
tak_everlasting's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
This feels like someone read The Cruel Prince and said "I could write that!"
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Violence
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
eetishmeh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
[This review was written without reading the perquisite Caraval books.]
Not my cup of tea, but from an objective standpoint I can tell how well-written it is. I adored the worldbuilding and the Magnificent North, but Evangeline tends to think in repetitive sentences whicu got tiring quick 🥲
The starting was meh for me (rofan veteran readers may think differently; I don't usually read this genre), but it picked up later with the mystery. Would've brought this up to 4 stars if not for some situations I thought were overly possessive in terms of interactions (Jacks nipping Evangeline's ear and gripping her by the waist even though she was uncomfortable 😠He didn't have to go that far ) which I believe were unnecessary.
I don't know how I feel about Jacks potentially being Evangeline's love interest. He's done a lot of terrible things to her so far, and lemme just say that it'll take an out-of-this-world redemption arc to get me to be on-board with that. Whenever I think I'm starting to like Jacks, he turns around and pulls a new stunt :') I have faith in Stephanie Garber, though, because I can tell she's a good writer + my friend who's read the Caraval series vouches for her ability to do that haha
Also, this book is just a walking amatonormative theme, which was off-putting especially because I'm demiromantic 🥲
Conclusion: I think I'd be better off with Caraval tbh
Not my cup of tea, but from an objective standpoint I can tell how well-written it is. I adored the worldbuilding and the Magnificent North, but Evangeline tends to think in repetitive sentences whicu got tiring quick 🥲
The starting was meh for me (rofan veteran readers may think differently; I don't usually read this genre), but it picked up later with the mystery. Would've brought this up to 4 stars if not for some situations I thought were overly possessive in terms of interactions (
Also, this book is just a walking amatonormative theme, which was off-putting especially because I'm demiromantic 🥲
Conclusion: I think I'd be better off with Caraval tbh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
raypaws's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
maddiementions's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
I liked it, and the the main character is overall fine, but I find the her naïveté and idealization of romance/“happily ever after“ to be really irksome. I can deal with an unreliable narrator, but she can be pretty silly…and it’s not endearing. Otherwise, I like her and Jacks’ dynamic and plan to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
lauraeerika's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
tbh i think it's a bit mid, but i understand why people enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder