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literatureish_liz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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
3.5
I really wanted to like this more. The premise was so interesting and different, but the execution left a lot to be desired. I understand wanting to make your characters complex but when that isn’t done carefully, they can come across disjointed and contradictory. In trying to make Reina flawed, she came across a supremely unintelligent and hot tempered to the point of concern/cruelty. I can say something similar about almost every single character. It doesn’t make the characters seem real or complex, it makes them seem unbalanced and/or poorly written. Underneath it all is a great story with a talented storyteller, I just think it needed some character work. I will still be reading the sequel because I think this is going to get better as it goes along.
isitnaptimezo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
kmorton5061'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
amankodi's review against another edition
3.5
I usually do not read a book synopsis, and prefer going into books blind, but I did read this one and the premise really grabbed me. Reina is stuck on the outside of society and unable to show her magic. When she receives an invitation from her estranges grandmother, she makes her way to the Aguila estate as this might be her only chance to save her magic. Eva is of mixed heritage and unwanted by her family because of it. She does everything in her power to make them like her, but the call of magic becomes stronger and stronger every day. This book is definitely slow paced, which I was a little wary of as this book is over 500 pages long. While I normally do not like slower paced books, I feel like Romero Lacruz really takes time to develop the setting and the characters. Not only Reina and Eva, but also the ensemble characters and I really felt like I got to know them all. The world building was mostly well done, but there were a few sections where I was a little confused. That didn't really take away from my enjoyment of the book and I'm looking forward to the world being further developed in the sequel.
The last quarter of this book really picks up and by that point I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really like both Reina and Eva's characters and how they grow and come in to their own throughout this book. I'm interested in seeing what's next for both in the second book. The main arc of the story was also well developed, and of course I liked the romantasy elements of the book. I don't always look for a romance in this book, but I liked how some was introduced towards the end. Overall, I'm looking forward to the sequel and while this was a slow paced book, I think it worked for this story.
The last quarter of this book really picks up and by that point I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really like both Reina and Eva's characters and how they grow and come in to their own throughout this book. I'm interested in seeing what's next for both in the second book. The main arc of the story was also well developed, and of course I liked the romantasy elements of the book. I don't always look for a romance in this book, but I liked how some was introduced towards the end. Overall, I'm looking forward to the sequel and while this was a slow paced book, I think it worked for this story.
idkalexig's review against another edition
I just feel like this book has trouble with pacing and a big problem with world building. At times it throws so much information at you at one time you can’t keep track, and other times (like with descriptions of the different non human characters) it just throws out a name for things without explaining it at all. There’s potential but just couldn’t get through it.
ash2app's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
it was fine but it was SO dense, and the pacing was really really off. it distracted from the plot a lot
shmadsie's review against another edition
1.0
This just wasn't for me. I feel like half the internet when I was first discovering it was characters or celebrities with "kawaii" animal features and I have just never, ever been into that and it is an active turn-off for me - a squick I'm not even totally sure why I have, I just know I do. That's not to say it can't be overcome, because it can and has, but this never even tried because it expected you to love it already and no. Really the only parts of this I enjoyed were that the gory parts were gory - but the characters were meh (Maoir was the only one I really vibed with) and the plot just never grabbed me. Plus Eva and Reina - while having different struggles - sounded super similar at times, like the same voice and that wasn't great.
hmcheese's review against another edition
Think I need to read this one to really understand what’s happening
hello_summertea's review against another edition
Writing and characters are good. Setting and plot seem to be building where I stopped. Just didn’t connect with the book as I thought I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent