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The characters and world were just SO lush and immersive and the writing is so beautiful. The world was almost a character of its own, especially with the encroaching mist and the eerie forest and what lies within. I got chills down my back multiple times during this read.
I love Elspeth as a character SO much- she can be a liiiittle naive and hypocritical at times, but honestly, I love the way she spoke to the Nightmare and Ravyn, with her wit and sass. She's smart, but as she develops, starts to become aware of her own faults and judgements, which I can appreciate. And Ravyn is so elusive and secretly caring and UGH. And THE NIGHTMARE?! What an incredible character LIVING inside of Elspeth's head. It's a lil bit enemies to lovers (which I love) and I found the romance to be just so lovely, if a little rushed (in a YA sort of fashion), but it still got me kicking my feet. There's also some found family, which I absolutely adore.
I think the audiobook, narrated by Lisa Cordlieone, was fantastic. I think she nailed the characters voices and cadences, especially the Nightmare's.
Very much looking forward to Two Twisted Crowns!
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Abandonment
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury
There’s fake courtship, there’s forbidden magic, and there’s twisting lore. Rachel Gillig has been able to balance the morbid and eerie with bursts of emotion that bring characters to life on the page. Also, there’s a grumpy 500-year-old monster in the mix. What’s not to love?
If you enjoy authors like V. E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Vanessa Len (Only a Monster), and Kristin Cashore (Graceling), you’ve found a new name to add to the collection of favourites.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
Pure addiction.
I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t work.
What an ending. What beautiful, poetic writing. What well written side characters and a very desirable MMC.
And I adored the main character Elpeth too - not too keen on the name though.
Heavily surprised and impressed.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content
Elspeth is a strong protagonist, used to doing everything in her own. A strong female character is really nice to see, with both her strength as well as her wits.
I enjoy the relationship a lot between Elspeth and Ravyn, and enemies to lovers/fake dating trope. I hope their relationship Will get to develop more in the next book since it took off a bit late in this one.
The relationship between the nightmare and Elspeth adds a bit of comedy relief in a way, their relationship playful but also deadly.
The plot and characters really compliment each other and I’m excited to get to learn more in the next book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment
I recommend waiting until the series is complete tbh.
The magic system is fascinating & the lore is intriguing. It’s like a dark and twisted fairytale full of riddles & rhymes. An epic quest full of shock & horror and a sprinkle of slow-burn romance.
It’s not FTB but the spice is mild.
Idk if this is categorized as a romance, but unless there’s an HEA- I might trash it in my fury & rage! I am REELING after that ending!! Toddler tantrum level 3000!!!
Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism