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bodagirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
The aspects of the story I really enjoyed were the historical elements that were woven in (though I wonder along with Diana how Matthew was able to know so many influential thinkers so well) and the idea that demons aren't actually from Hell, but rather randomly popped up as super creative or gifted people. However, the possible connection between "demonic" and some mental health disorders or the Autism spectrum in problematic, even though the demons we meet seem to be fairly well adjusted.
I grabbed the whole series from a used bookshop, so I will probably continue to see if it improves.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
stwriter92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
"Let me go, Matthew," I struggled in his arms.
"No"
No man had ever refused when I asked him to stop doing something---whether it was blowing his nose in the library or trying to slip a hand up my shirt after a movie. I struggled again. Matthew's arms got tighter.
"Stop fighting me," he sounded amused. "You'll get tired long before I do, I assure you." (p. 191).
"This is not a game, Diana! Matthew would willingly turn his back on creatures he has known for centuries to protect your right to be whatever you imagine you want to be in your fleeting life. I'm begging you not to let him do it. They will kill him if he persists."
"He's his own man, Ysabeau," I said coldly. "I don't tell Matthew what to do" (p. 276)
Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Child death and Animal death
12dejamoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I found this book pretty hard to form a clear opinion. I think that's because I didn't know by what metric to judge it. Like, is it a crummy romance? Is it a YA Twilight-esque book? Is it one of those ostensibly 'higher quality' romances that everyone on the internet loves? It's kind of all three and so it's really difficult to judge the correct level of belief suspension needed. The book opens on an interesting fantasy premise, with library girl doing library things. We love a library girl. Then we are introduced to Matthew and it's like yeah I like this guy, he's got that Edward vibe with less creepiness and more nuance. Great, now we're doing some library stuff, we're having brunch, we're doing yoga (btw what a fucking funny idea that's genius). But now,
There are lots of good points to this! I like many of the characters, I like the concept of the three creatures, I like the library scenes. I like the alchemy stuff (mostly). I like the idea of many of Diana's powers and I really enjoyed reading many of the scenes of her using them. It's major Twilight vibes but Deborah Harkness clearly did more research than Smeyer so it's refreshing whilst still being comforting and familiar. Definitely a lot of good in here but there was also a lot of crap.
Diana herself is pretty likable at first. As I said, we love a library girl. There are hints that she's not like other girls, but to me it seemed like she was authentically sporty, non-makeup-wearing, and bookish rather than your classic Bella figure who reads Jane Austen because she's ~different~. However I felt like that authenticity started to chip away the further into the book we got. The place where I had to put the book down and be like no fuck that was when she suddenly announces that she
Matthew was also likable at first. Mysterious vampire love interest. This is why we're here. We also love a hint of danger which at first Diana seems to genuinely feel. What did get very old was him knowing literally every historical figure of note. Like he did not need to do that. How boring. Also can we STOP describing how love interests smell in terms of some complex selection of herbs, spices, and flowers. Nobody smells like those things unless they are wearing aritificial fragrances or they've just walked out of a rose garden like seriously stop describing Matthew's smell as 'spicy' it drives me insane.
There were definitely some weird writing moments. Exposition was delivered so weirdly at times. Special mention goes to when Baldwin and Matthew explain to each other the history of their father as if they both don't know it. Like they're both adding details like they're explaining it to someone else but no they're literally just recounting the events to each other. Also, you can definitely tell this was written by an American. Like the definition of the word 'fresher' as a Cambridge term for freshmen. It's literally just a British term, Cambridge isn't special. This is also evident when Diana describes a British intensive care hospital wing. Are they different in America? I've only ever seen them on American TV and ngl they look exactly like what you're describing I'm so confused. Definition of a person who did their year abroad/gap year/placement etc in another country and takes it on as their entire personality.
I really hate the trope in any media where their family is just this annoying burden who they seem to hate? Like your aunts aren't stopping you from being with this man they are just giving you very sensible thinking points and trying to have a discussion and you just have to act like they're so annoying and stupid and 'just don't get it'. Diana has no reason to dislike her aunts but her descriptions of them are often so dismissive and subtly cruel I never get why media insists on doing this.
Further important points are: we love Ysabeau. She gives me Rosalie vibes and this can only be a good thing. Also
"Matthew swung me onto his back like a child and walked through the twilight' SORRY nooo that HAS to be a reference
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy, Abortion, War, and Sexual content
greeneyed_ives'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
jen_b'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
lulibelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
mb_murray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I very much enjoyed getting wrapped up in this book and its characters. While there are aspects that might seem a bit overplayed (our main heroine falls for the "dark prince" in the matter of a week...) I was more than willy to overlook them because the history and the intrigue made it worthwhile.
I highly recommend for fans of fantasy that incorporates history, mythology, and folklore. I can't wait to read the next two!
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
linesiunderline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Did I think I would really enjoy this one so much, to the point that I put the second audiobook on hold before I finished the first? I did not. But Vampire Matthew has quite a presence. So does Oxford and all of the witchy atmospheric business. I’m all in.
If you are an Outlander fan, this one is for you. I have to go watch the TV series now.
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, and Xenophobia
readwithde'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? No
3.25
This is a book of 3 stories, really: first, Diana and Matthew finding each other and choosing love over the rules of the Congregation. This is the primary plot and takes the most space, as it should. We do get early POV chapters from Matthew that glimpse his secrets, but as a reader, I didn't appreciate being kept in the dark so much, especially as he tends to keep literally everything a secret.
The romance is interesting at first, then picks up and becomes intense and truly lovely,
The second story is about Diana's parents and their choice to get married and have a family
This story is revealed in bursts, and is often confusing to follow. While I find it interesting and evocative, it leaves quite a few plotholes that are never directly answered. In fact, many important rules about magic and powers are handed out nonchalantly, making it easy to be confused if you don't pay close attention.
Finally the third story involves Ashmole 782 and the people who want to use it,
The whole series seems to be centered on this book, but it is never explained why it is so dangerous, vital, or anything else other than what it may contain in an alchemical sense. It makes it hard for me to care who wants it or why when no one knows what is inside or why it's dangerous. A definite problem that is only obvious when not distracted by Diana and Matthew's romance or some disgruntled friend, ally, or enemy.
Overall, I love the concept, but it didn't need to be so detailed, so cerebral, or so lengthy. Likewise, the final 50 pages add two brand new characters from out of nowhere; they end up causing upheaval to the entire plan and structure. Some better pacing could fix many of these issues and smooth out the extra plotlines.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
paperpaladin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Vampire romances are not my cup of tea. I can see why people like them but the overly protective, borderline stalking is just a turn off for me. So that puts me and this book at odds immediately. However I will say that it is well written but entirely too slow. The plot doesn't feel like it starts moving until halfway through the book and even then it will start and stop a ton. About 60% in I thought things were about to get really intense for the rest of the book but instead the problem was resolved and then back to the slow burn.
Also this book was a lot about magic racism which is just not super fun. I am glad that everyone is working together to stop that but I was looking for something more magical and less disheartening.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Torture
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Sexual content, and Addiction
Minor: Miscarriage