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bellebookcorner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings regarding this book….
There are some parts that I like and some parts that didn’t really work out for me even though the blurb sounds very interesting.
The characters are well developed and very complex, there’s a lot of morally grey characters with their own secrets and reasons for their actions which sometimes makes it hard for me to pin point the culprit behind Venus’s (FMC) mom murder.
Venus was a great character, I admire her love for her sister, her intelligent and her strength.
The world building is unique but at the same time it’s also quite complicated, especially regarding the witches and their powers.
I struggled to remember all the terms and information given at the beginning which sometimes can be confusing for me.
I found out there’s a glossary at the end of the story that explains some of that information. It would be nice if it was put at the beginning of the story.
This story felt too long and also dragging in some parts, the main plot also didn’t start until it hit the 30% mark. Although, the last few chapters are quite intense and I was surprised by that plot twist!
Just a warning that some parts/topics in this story can be sensitive to some readers, there’s a list of trigger warnings inside the book but I’ll listed here for you if you want to know beforehand.
For a debut novel, it was pretty good – I love the plot idea and the unique world building.
It would've been better if the length was shorter and maybe made this into a series so the readers can immersed into the world building slowly.
Thank you to Turn the Page Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: This story contains morally grey characters, complicated parent-child relationships, police brutality, fantasy violence, fantastical racism, magical coercion, gun violence, politics, parental death, child death, and dying/death.
In addition, there are depictions of post-traumatic stress disorder anxiety, and depression.
Self-harm, blood, gore, sexual situation, fantasy drugs, underage drinking and profanity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Grief, Death, Cursing, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
trapwomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
5.0
Didn’t read yet. Making sure that the author has support instead of the review bombing before the book is even released.
https://x.com/xiranjayzhao/status/1732468237106114727?s=46&t=j2V7Qsp9EMtYfP5yDs73wg
https://x.com/xiranjayzhao/status/1732468237106114727?s=46&t=j2V7Qsp9EMtYfP5yDs73wg
radusreads's review against another edition
4.0
This cover is just gorgeous and this book is set in DC with so many different types of magic. There are back stories and history and grudges. There's power struggles and political machinations always for the self interests not the people.
Venus the fmc can produce love potions for all sorts of reasons but not always romantic, they are compulsions for a love of an idea, familial love, repairing a friendship, or to love something else more to give up an addiction. It's fascinating cause the one effected if they got more than one can overdose so if the witcher isn't aware they've already been dosed something bad can happen. Also to produce these potions is very painful.
In the midst of the magic there are Witcher vs human protests and fights happening. There is so much happening you really have to pay attention to catch it all.
jasminedaria's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Definitely a 5-star read, and I am so excited we decided on this book for our book club. Characters were relatable and experienced development, though everyone may not have been likable. There were no loose threads in this story - every plotline had a resolution. The actual formatting of the chapters was so accessible and easy to read. Would highly recommend for readers who like YA/Sci-Fi, but also readers who enjoy reading about complicated family dynamics and social issues, power vs nature vs magic vs fate, friends to lovers storylines, diverse characters, and stories set in fictional versions of real places.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Police brutality, Hate crime, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
staceyreece's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kkaaccyy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
imiji's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.25
a lot of really interesting worldbuilding and plot concepts thrown into a debut with a very fun snappy fantasy cw show-like feel, and i appreciated that the book never shied away from the often gruesome and bleak costs exacted by magic. that said, the prose is pretty severely overwritten and strangely paced, to the point that the way individual sentences were crafted would actively detract from my enjoyment of an otherwise interesting scene. i also wish there had been a little more work on the implications of venus's and presley's deviations for their character arcs and their relationships -- the idea of a "deviation" due to trauma is pretty thematically loaded and it just felt so static/underutilized throughout the book. some very confusing messaging about ways to achieve political change for oppressed people also in the way that the story arc treats DC politicians vs activist groups.
carlivija's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
terrio92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
adleekay's review
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5