Reviews

House of Beating Wings by Olivia Wildenstein

jmonrel's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

leathiabailey's review

3.0

3.5 ⭐️s. I was a little underwhelmed by how easy it was for her to find the Crows and by her naivety. I wished Fallon's character would've been stronger vs boy chasing as it was written. I'm hoping the next book the character development is better but I enjoyed the overall concept of where this is going and the twists.

ash3637's review

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

zuza_30's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

cleen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative 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

4.0

rasbneon's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

4.5

soavanpelt's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mystic_bookwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Fallon was just such an annoying FMC. I think the only reason I didn’t DNF this book was because of how great the narrator was. 

Fae rule over half fae and humans. The latter two are lower class and the prince, Dante, is kind to Fallon. So she falls in love with him and no matter how much people try to tell her that he’d never marry her, no matter his actions or words, she just continues to assume the best of him and refuses to hear anyone out. This is what’s so annoying. She’s then told a prophesy that if she frees these 5 crows she will become queen. She ASSUMES this means Dante will be king and marry her…. After he says and does things to prove he doesn’t truly care about her. It just got so annoying and frustrating. Then on top of it all she was just so damn obtuse about things along her journey to free these crows. Honestly, if it wasn’t for being annoyed at every other thought of hers being about her making Dante king and her being his queen, I probably could have looked past this. 

I’m not sure if I care enough to go on to the second book. The only reason I would is because there are side characters I did actually really like. However, I won’t be buying it on audible, I’ll read it on KU if I decide to continue it 

ritaxo's review

4.0

Loved this book! It was a very long book and was drawn out in some parts, but I definitely appreciated it in the end. In this book, the hero isn’t introduced until the second half of the book, and doesn’t get much screen time just like in ACOTAR. The fmc annoyed me a little bit in the beginning because of her obsession with the prince, but thankfully in the end she lets go of it.

jlreadstoperpetuity's review

4.0

The Italian references in House of Beating Wings are a delightful addition that adds depth and richness to the story. Conceptually, had some brownie points for seamlessly combining mythical creatures + political anarchy + magic system.

However, while the book excels in incorporating Italian influences, it falls short in terms of world-building and pacing. The world in which the story is set could have been further developed, with more exploration of its various realms and the mythological creatures that inhabit them.

Additionally, the pacing of House of Beating Wings is slow, which can be frustrating for readers seeking a fast-paced fantasy adventure. While the slow pacing allows for character development and intricate plot twists, it often feels like the story meanders, taking too long to reach its climax.

Nevertheless, this is a series I'd love to continue reading