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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 ⭐️
Overall incredible vibes, solid world building for a closed cast story, and some interesting supporting characters.
My biggest critiques are that 1) it felt very much like a dramione fic as soon as the plot was rolling and 2) the FMC did a lot of sweating and chilling and blushing and I like more complex or creative emotional exposition
Still gonna read #2 though because again, STUNNING dark academia premise and aura and atmosphere.
Overall incredible vibes, solid world building for a closed cast story, and some interesting supporting characters.
My biggest critiques are that 1) it felt very much like a dramione fic as soon as the plot was rolling and 2) the FMC did a lot of sweating and chilling and blushing and I like more complex or creative emotional exposition
Still gonna read #2 though because again, STUNNING dark academia premise and aura and atmosphere.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t think this book is being given the love it deserves. The world building and magic system are top tier. MC has a bit of Frodo/imposter syndrome going on. But she also has a lovable Sam helping her out. It’s long, but it never drags. I can’t wait to read the second book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Took me a little bit to get into the story but once I was in it I could not put the book down. Likeable characters and hated characters written well, the plot was interesting and felt like it progressed at a good pace. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
Not bad, but longer than I feel it needed to be. If you like fantasy, dark academia, etc, you’d probably like this.
There are books that haunt us, that obsess us, that make reading a new story almost impossible, because the story we've just read has touched us to the very depths of our being. Curious Tides is one of those books for me.
Emory, a young woman returning to university after the tragic death and disappearance of several students, of whom she is a survivor. We follow this young woman who will do anything to find her missing best friend. Emory is forced to renew his relationship with Baz, a member of Eclipse House.
The author's writing is beautiful and clear. The author has created a world that is easy to grasp. Of course, there is still so much to discover. The description of the characters' emotions is gripping. I loved both hating and loving certain characters, or even feeling deep sadness for others. The magic system based on the phases of the moon is a fantastic idea!
Baz, bearer of the magic of the eclipse, the son-time! He's my favourite character. I love it when a male character exposes his fears and weaknesses, while showing immense courage to venture off the beaten track.
Kai is a character who touched me deeply. I saw in him a younger version of myself. It was as if he had taught me to love myself a little more.
Keiran is a character I'd like to meet, study and understand.
Romie, the dreamer who inspires us to dream and to pursue our own destinies.
Emory. At first I liked her... But over time I came to see her jealousy of her best friend as oppressive and unjustified, because in my opinion she's as talented as anyone else. Nevertheless, I'm glad to see that she's beginning to realise this.
I immediately fell in love with the story, the world and the characters. I'm at a loss for words to express how much this story was love at first sight... Thank you, Pascale, for this story that swept me off my feet.
Emory, a young woman returning to university after the tragic death and disappearance of several students, of whom she is a survivor. We follow this young woman who will do anything to find her missing best friend. Emory is forced to renew his relationship with Baz, a member of Eclipse House.
The author's writing is beautiful and clear. The author has created a world that is easy to grasp. Of course, there is still so much to discover. The description of the characters' emotions is gripping. I loved both hating and loving certain characters, or even feeling deep sadness for others. The magic system based on the phases of the moon is a fantastic idea!
Baz, bearer of the magic of the eclipse, the son-time! He's my favourite character. I love it when a male character exposes his fears and weaknesses, while showing immense courage to venture off the beaten track.
Kai is a character who touched me deeply. I saw in him a younger version of myself. It was as if he had taught me to love myself a little more.
Keiran is a character I'd like to meet, study and understand.
Romie, the dreamer who inspires us to dream and to pursue our own destinies.
Emory. At first I liked her... But over time I came to see her jealousy of her best friend as oppressive and unjustified, because in my opinion she's as talented as anyone else. Nevertheless, I'm glad to see that she's beginning to realise this.
I immediately fell in love with the story, the world and the characters. I'm at a loss for words to express how much this story was love at first sight... Thank you, Pascale, for this story that swept me off my feet.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This magic system is GORGEOUS — so unique, so clever, so interesting. Absolutely love it.
……the main character??? Really could have left her. Emory is so frustratingly “woe-is-me” the entire time that I’m not sure she has much of a discernible personality beyond that.
Baz, however — baby, awkward nerd who is sadly completely obsessed with Emory. Their romance arc did nothing for me — actually sort of ruined the plot towards the end — and I really don’t look forward to having to deal with an obnoxious amount of yearning in the other books of this series….which means I probably won’t read them, a tragedy when the magic system is so fun.
And as fun as the magical premise was, the world building reeeaaallllyyyyy tested your capacity to give a shit. Like we really just drowned in details and info dumps and repeats and lore; Lacelle really made us work for it. The enjoyment was not without pain.
Other thoughts/complaints:
-Kai, a side character we only see in about four different scenes, was my favorite to read about. He only needed about two of those scenes to steal my heart, he deserves so much better
-I really thought there was some sort of soul-bond/brand thing happening in the beginning and was quite disappointed when it didn’t end up in that direction
-this is marked as ”dark academia” and while it has those vibes, we never actually see any of the characters going to school. The “dark academia” is relegated to scenery only.
-a lot of the plot is pretty predictable
-this is very YA — which isn’t really surprise but it must be noted that the YA of it all got more and more apparent as the book went on.
A strong idea with a weak romance and an overwhelming amount of world-building.
……the main character??? Really could have left her. Emory is so frustratingly “woe-is-me” the entire time that I’m not sure she has much of a discernible personality beyond that.
Baz, however — baby, awkward nerd who is sadly completely obsessed with Emory. Their romance arc did nothing for me — actually sort of ruined the plot towards the end — and I really don’t look forward to having to deal with an obnoxious amount of yearning in the other books of this series….which means I probably won’t read them, a tragedy when the magic system is so fun.
And as fun as the magical premise was, the world building reeeaaallllyyyyy tested your capacity to give a shit. Like we really just drowned in details and info dumps and repeats and lore; Lacelle really made us work for it. The enjoyment was not without pain.
Other thoughts/complaints:
-Kai, a side character we only see in about four different scenes, was my favorite to read about. He only needed about two of those scenes to steal my heart, he deserves so much better
-I really thought there was some sort of soul-bond/brand thing happening in the beginning and was quite disappointed when it didn’t end up in that direction
-this is marked as ”dark academia” and while it has those vibes, we never actually see any of the characters going to school. The “dark academia” is relegated to scenery only.
-a lot of the plot is pretty predictable
-this is very YA — which isn’t really surprise but it must be noted that the YA of it all got more and more apparent as the book went on.
A strong idea with a weak romance and an overwhelming amount of world-building.