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kimduindam's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this book and couldn't put it away. It's 01:35 at night and I just finished it.
I will read the second book too, but not right now.
Content warnings: Sexual content. there is only one detailed sex scene in this book and it is the bonus scene on the end, so if you don't like to read spice you can still read this book and just not read the bonus scene. There are some more scenes throughout the book talking about sex and getting horny but nothing detailed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
spaceseal's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
The first 80% of the book would have gotten a bit over 4 stars from me: I absolutely fell in love with the world and how vampirism is handled so differently. The plot was actually interesting for a romance book, and I got invested in it enough to consider the plot a mix of romance and mystery, and I expected it to evolve more as the story went on. The relationship felt real and relatively well paced, if a bit fast and jumpy at times. The issues that come up are handled ok in my opinion, but this is the thing where we kind of slip into the rest 20% of the book.
The rest of the book drops it clearly under 4 stars, and if I didn't like the set up so much, I would give it 3. The ending chapters highlight that the genre of this book is more simple romance rather than a mix of romance and mystery/adventure, and after such an interesting building and storytelling, I just felt myself crunching my nose, slightly dissatisfied, and the last 45 minutes I was actually disappointed. It is FINE for the romance genre, since the bar is not that high, but I felt like the whole world and the relationship was simplified to a very general happy ending (and not the spicy kind!) that was not specific to these characters or this story in any way.
Also I think that the whole biting kink at the beginning felt a bit spicy, but it desperately needed to evolve into something more, chemistry wise. I think that the book tried to dip its toes in there a bit, but lacked the courage or will to explore it more, which kind of left it feeling a bit... well, like a racial kink, when you take into account the rest of the world.
Still, I think that this world is worth getting into. It's not anything too deep, but interesting and different. And the characters are lovely!
The rest of the book drops it clearly under 4 stars, and if I didn't like the set up so much, I would give it 3. The ending chapters highlight that the genre of this book is more simple romance rather than a mix of romance and mystery/adventure, and after such an interesting building and storytelling, I just felt myself crunching my nose, slightly dissatisfied, and the last 45 minutes I was actually disappointed. It is FINE for the romance genre, since the bar is not that high, but I felt like the whole world and the relationship was simplified to a very general happy ending (and not the spicy kind!) that was not specific to these characters or this story in any way.
Also I think that the whole biting kink at the beginning felt a bit spicy, but it desperately needed to evolve into something more, chemistry wise. I think that the book tried to dip its toes in there a bit, but lacked the courage or will to explore it more, which kind of left it feeling a bit... well, like a racial kink, when you take into account the rest of the world.
Still, I think that this world is worth getting into. It's not anything too deep, but interesting and different. And the characters are lovely!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Self harm, Violence, and Death of parent
melonmachinery's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
At first the story is fun, very reminiscent of things you'd find on Quizilla and Wattpad (for the younger generation) in an endearing way, but once the middle school nostalgia wears off mid to 3/4 of the way through the story is rushed, flat, uncomfortable in its dealings with both real and fantasy racism, and the resolution is just sloppy.
The characters are all 1 dimensional. Wesley is Mexican American and you can tell because he says Sí-Yes when he's rushed. Vincent's line about not wanting to exist if it harms others fell flat in its delivery and how it changed Wes's opinions instantly. The real world internet references and usage is so incessant, the characters must have gotten their education at Tumblr University. The romance is rushed, which I did expect since most romance novels do, loving the "insta-love" plotline. The entire moment on top of the mausoleum roof was embarassing. You just wanted to shake the characters and ask why they suddenly are so relaxed about being chased by bad guys they can get each other hard in the cemetary. Wes's vampire kink tended to be embarrassing at best and uncomfortable at worst given the in world context of vampires and what he specifically wanted to do. Vincent is supposed to be sexy and predatory in these moments but most of them made me laugh.
The whole thing with the pharmaceutical company and dead mom was trying to take on something large but failing to deliver, which is also how the story ended for Wes and Vincent. I didn't particular care for Wes's struggles about the revelation of his mom's death since he seemed very blasé himself about selling all her items and changing things once it was confirmed. Their choice to leave the company be and take care of themselves because they wouldn't get support since the government doesn't see vampires as people with rights in particular was discomforting in ways hard to describe.
I could go on. It was an easy read, but not in a good way. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone but wouldn't actively stop people from reading it. Hopefully the author will grow in time.
The characters are all 1 dimensional. Wesley is Mexican American and you can tell because he says Sí-Yes when he's rushed. Vincent's line about not wanting to exist if it harms others fell flat in its delivery and how it changed Wes's opinions instantly. The real world internet references and usage is so incessant, the characters must have gotten their education at Tumblr University. The romance is rushed, which I did expect since most romance novels do, loving the "insta-love" plotline. The entire moment on top of the mausoleum roof was embarassing. You just wanted to shake the characters and ask why they suddenly are so relaxed about being chased by bad guys they can get each other hard in the cemetary. Wes's vampire kink tended to be embarrassing at best and uncomfortable at worst given the in world context of vampires and what he specifically wanted to do. Vincent is supposed to be sexy and predatory in these moments but most of them made me laugh.
The whole thing with the pharmaceutical company and dead mom was trying to take on something large but failing to deliver, which is also how the story ended for Wes and Vincent. I didn't particular care for Wes's struggles about the revelation of his mom's death since he seemed very blasé himself about selling all her items and changing things once it was confirmed. Their choice to leave the company be and take care of themselves because they wouldn't get support since the government doesn't see vampires as people with rights in particular was discomforting in ways hard to describe.
I could go on. It was an easy read, but not in a good way. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone but wouldn't actively stop people from reading it. Hopefully the author will grow in time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
adrienanthony's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
princejello's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I find this world's vampires fascinating and how they are within society. I also love myself some witty banter!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
viselik's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I quite enjoyed the story, and it was goofy in the parts that were needed but also was serious when needed. I didn't like the fact the content warnings were in the back, though, it sort of ruined the point of them for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
ctara2123's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Death of parent
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
dododenise's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
A very fun read! They are utter idiots but they are so loveable I forgive them everything they do. I have no idea how they survived this book, but good for them.
The story itself was very predictable but it really didn’t bother me. In a way, it was relaxing. There was a tendency to slip in moments that would fill me with tension because in stories these things usually meant problems but this book immediately resolved it. These quick relief moments were new and fun.
The romance was quite average. Not a lot of major feelings about it, but it did make me happy and I did root for them.
The story itself was very predictable but it really didn’t bother me. In a way, it was relaxing. There was a tendency to slip in moments that would fill me with tension because in stories these things usually meant problems but this book immediately resolved it. These quick relief moments were new and fun.
The romance was quite average. Not a lot of major feelings about it, but it did make me happy and I did root for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Alcohol
anntharai's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment