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pinakamataas's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Finally some Arion and Violet action (and no, I’m not talking about them having sex, but she went and broke his curse and was being super badass about it)! While she’s super incapable in many aspects, she definitely has good instincts.
There are more revelations (I knew something was up with her parents), and while they are horribly annoying, I like how Violet stands her ground and the men are not infantilising her by stepping in with their macho power.
And I think I’m mostly team Arion (what with him being mostly morally black) being the only one who’s actually upfront about his feelings, but also being kept in the dark the most, and here I got to see him finally get a couple of truly precious scenes and I’m happy for him 😅
But mostly I appreciated the possessed demon triplets and Shera rooting for him, and messing with Violet.
ib_reading240's review against another edition
It is dragging, this entire series could probably fit in a single 500 page book with removing the useless info, curiosity kept me going but that ran out with not enough payoff
thisiswhyshedied's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
noetical's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
I just love this series. I laugh, I cry (really ugly cry, honestly), and parts just break my heart.
I have to be honest, guys. I'm not usually the girl into the douche bad boy, but I love Arion. His story is so fucking heartbreaking, and it feels like ... honestly, he's a terrifying monster, but it isn't surprising that that is what the curse made him given what he had to give up to become immortal. Especially when combined with how much the "love of his life" abused him (that's in quotes not because I doubt Arion's sincerity about Idun, but because she never loved him...abuse is not love).
I still struggle a bit with the idea of redemption - like, how much is enough to pay for the fucking horrific shit done in the past? I don't think, frankly, that Idun could EVER pay enough for the shit she's done (the details about her and Caroline made me physically ill...I had to step away from the book for a minute). And I am angry at how everyone was so weak that they would not only allow Idun to get away with that kind of shit, but actually still love her, be loyal to her, and even get swept into her dismissive mindset towards the innocent, kind Simpletons.
But I'm riveted to the story.
Re-read May 2019
I don't really have more to say than what I said above, except to underscore the crying bits. Man, the last 5% of this book had me bawling my eyes out, even on the re-read. Maybe more on the re-read, because I know these Simpleons now, and what they've endured is just unspeakable.
One other thing:
Furthermore, I don't think her only purpose was raising the forgotten Simpletons. I think her purpose was so much more. The monsters had become apathetic, and the world was falling to pieces. The Van Helsing was on the verge of breaking because he couldn't keep up on it. And Idun is pretty much evil incarnate. I think the universe (or perhaps Pandora) is trying to correct a very big error in the entirety of the monster structure, in order to maintain order. Orient the head monsters around a heart (Violet) rather than around evil (Idun) so that they can do their jobs. Change a system that's breaking, and end the petty bullshit that led to the breakdown. She was perfectly created and placed to matter to each of the six families - our four guys, obviously, but she's born of a Portocale and is also a spontaneously occurring Neopry, so the other 2 families are looped in - and that makes her the only person who is really capable of reaching past the grudges and vendettas, and creating real change.
I have to be honest, guys. I'm not usually the girl into the douche bad boy, but I love Arion. His story is so fucking heartbreaking, and it feels like ... honestly, he's a terrifying monster, but it isn't surprising that that is what the curse made him given what he had to give up to become immortal. Especially when combined with how much the "love of his life" abused him (that's in quotes not because I doubt Arion's sincerity about Idun, but because she never loved him...abuse is not love).
I still struggle a bit with the idea of redemption - like, how much is enough to pay for the fucking horrific shit done in the past? I don't think, frankly, that Idun could EVER pay enough for the shit she's done (the details about her and Caroline made me physically ill...I had to step away from the book for a minute). And I am angry at how everyone was so weak that they would not only allow Idun to get away with that kind of shit, but actually still love her, be loyal to her, and even get swept into her dismissive mindset towards the innocent, kind Simpletons.
But I'm riveted to the story.
Re-read May 2019
I don't really have more to say than what I said above, except to underscore the crying bits. Man, the last 5% of this book had me bawling my eyes out, even on the re-read. Maybe more on the re-read, because I know these Simpleons now, and what they've endured is just unspeakable.
One other thing:
Spoiler
I think the characters still don't entirely understand what Violet is - not surprising, because she doesn't understand - and they continuously condescend or underestimate her. The fact is, I don't think she's an omega. Lots of reasons for that, but primarily because she wanted to learn to use her monster, and go on the offense. She only stopped because her mom made her promise not to. That's not an omega thing. Also, she's just capable of some incredibly powerful things - things no one imagined would be possible, like raising all the Simpletons, or even raising Arion; her potions are extra powerful; she can see the past / death windows really easily, which is unheard of; she can take more damage than any non-alpha; and so much more - that everyone just brushes off.Furthermore, I don't think her only purpose was raising the forgotten Simpletons. I think her purpose was so much more. The monsters had become apathetic, and the world was falling to pieces. The Van Helsing was on the verge of breaking because he couldn't keep up on it. And Idun is pretty much evil incarnate. I think the universe (or perhaps Pandora) is trying to correct a very big error in the entirety of the monster structure, in order to maintain order. Orient the head monsters around a heart (Violet) rather than around evil (Idun) so that they can do their jobs. Change a system that's breaking, and end the petty bullshit that led to the breakdown. She was perfectly created and placed to matter to each of the six families - our four guys, obviously, but she's born of a Portocale and is also a spontaneously occurring Neopry, so the other 2 families are looped in - and that makes her the only person who is really capable of reaching past the grudges and vendettas, and creating real change.
basil4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
melsbookishaddiction's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
This series just keeps getting better and better. I love these characters and can’t wait to continue on with this series to see where alllll the characters end up!
samskiejo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.25