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pennepasta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
I really like the concept of this book. Although some scenes were a little cheesy, I really liked the writing style and pace for the most part. I am already pretty invested in the universe and the world building is a perfect mix of giving the reader information and revealing certain ideas piece by piece and I really enjoyed that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Sexual violence
faitherslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Self harm, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Blood
thefebruaryfriday's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK AND ALL THE CHARACTERS!! I think that was great for the first book of the year. It made me tense anxious all the time, the twists and turns of the story surprised me every time and I really impressed.
It was great for the first book in a fantasy series, I felt like it was more focused on explaining the world and how the magic works instead of the characters but it doesn't mean we don't get great-built characters, it just means that we hope we can know more about them in the next books, see their relationship grow even more and see a bigger development.
The plot was also great, it got me hooked from the begging, I loved the short chapters, it really makes me wanna read more and V.E. Schwab's writing also helps because it made me care so much about the story and not the outside world and the time passing, I could only focus on Kell's story and I felt immersed by it. It was like breathing, you do it unconsciously but it's extremely important to you, you can't stop.
It was great for the first book in a fantasy series, I felt like it was more focused on explaining the world and how the magic works instead of the characters but it doesn't mean we don't get great-built characters, it just means that we hope we can know more about them in the next books, see their relationship grow even more and see a bigger development.
The plot was also great, it got me hooked from the begging, I loved the short chapters, it really makes me wanna read more and V.E. Schwab's writing also helps because it made me care so much about the story and not the outside world and the time passing, I could only focus on Kell's story and I felt immersed by it. It was like breathing, you do it unconsciously but it's extremely important to you, you can't stop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Slavery
rkusty23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Blood, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Self harm
library_orb's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
caryndi's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The concept for this book sounded so interesting and I really liked the cover art, so it's a shame it didn't pan out. For one, I got confused more than once about which London Kell was in/who was in each London. Part of this could have been pandemic brain, but at a couple of points in the book I literally went back a few pages for cues about which London we were in and was still confused.
I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and while the plot was fine, it wasn't anything special. The big bad at the end sort of felt like a letdown, honestly, and I'm sad we didn't get to see Black London at all.
Additionally, while (I think?) there was a bi character in this book, it was just....really, really straight. Does someone want to tell the author that just because you have a girl character and a boy character doesn't mean they have to kiss?The first time it happened I rolled my eyes because I figured we were getting into a romance I wouldn't care about. That didn't happen, but somehow that made it worse. And then the other character reciprocated down the line? For no reason? What is going on?
I don't plan to read the sequel to this one.
Recommend? Maybe if you're really, really into all sorts of fantasy, but mostly no.
I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and while the plot was fine, it wasn't anything special. The big bad at the end sort of felt like a letdown, honestly, and I'm sad we didn't get to see Black London at all.
Additionally, while (I think?) there was a bi character in this book, it was just....really, really straight. Does someone want to tell the author that just because you have a girl character and a boy character doesn't mean they have to kiss?
I don't plan to read the sequel to this one.
Recommend? Maybe if you're really, really into all sorts of fantasy, but mostly no.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
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