You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a tough book to rate. The storyline was great, however the "bad guy" I kind of figure out. The ending however kind of threw me for a loop and it's what saved the book from getting a lower score.
I wish there was just a little more focus on the characters in the book. Why they tic they way they do.
I found the tarot portions of the book very enjoyable.
I wish there was just a little more focus on the characters in the book. Why they tic they way they do.
I found the tarot portions of the book very enjoyable.
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The prose of the book with the occult history, tarot cards and cutthroat academia lured me in but I was just left feeling like I wanted more from it. There was just a lack of atmosphere. The occult, tarot and poisonous narcotics had so much potential! They were central to the plot but I felt nothing was done with them. Just the occasional sprinkle of tarot readings that felt like an essay and a poison based murder that didn’t have any weight to it . Things only picked up in the last 20% of the book but it just felt rushed. I was supposed to shocked by Rachel actually being a cutthroat academic murderer but it just didn’t hit for me as all the characters felt underdeveloped. It did felt like a professor wrote a book based on the history of the occult but forgot the atmosphere and made it clinical. I did however enjoy the museum setting and insights into the research and curation.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.8
I think it's a shame people refers to this book as a drag. Minus the deaths happening in this book, it does paint a very familiar picture of the world of museums and partially how academia is/can be in those settings. Albeit maybe not as dramatic, there is truths hidden in this book known to those in the field. Source: I'm a conservator-restorer, and while I unfortunately had health issues destroying my dreams, I did have the pleasure of frequenting museums and whatnot while studying for my degrees. So for someone who knows their way around museums, I thouroughly enjoyed it for what it was, and it made me ache for my lost dreams as a lot of this book reminded me of all the good times I had.
I think it's a shame people refers to this book as a drag. Minus the deaths happening in this book, it does paint a very familiar picture of the world of museums and partially how academia is/can be in those settings. Albeit maybe not as dramatic, there is truths hidden in this book known to those in the field. Source: I'm a conservator-restorer, and while I unfortunately had health issues destroying my dreams, I did have the pleasure of frequenting museums and whatnot while studying for my degrees. So for someone who knows their way around museums, I thouroughly enjoyed it for what it was, and it made me ache for my lost dreams as a lot of this book reminded me of all the good times I had.
dark
mysterious
reflective
Took me a moment to get into the story but then I was eating it up. Not what I expected.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Picked this one up in the airport as the cover art was amazing and so captivating, but also the blurb really hooked me.
I’m new to dark academia, after reading If We Were Villains and it definitely gave off the same really interesting and captivating vibes.
I absolutely loved the NYC museum setting but I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters at all and they were all rather annoying. I did find it a really easy read with a few twists and turns and a very well thought out plot, but the ending fell a bit flat for me and the last major twist didn’t have the impact I think that was intended. I also thought it did drag on a lot in the middle of the book and it could have been shorter for more impact. The descriptions were also a bit much and slightly confusing at times.
Overall it was an interesting and unique read, where I found myself very interested in the Tarot aspect as I haven’t seen a lot of books around that subject line and while I would recommend The Cloisters, I do feel like it is more of a “filler” read than something to scream from the rooftops about.
I’m new to dark academia, after reading If We Were Villains and it definitely gave off the same really interesting and captivating vibes.
I absolutely loved the NYC museum setting but I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters at all and they were all rather annoying. I did find it a really easy read with a few twists and turns and a very well thought out plot, but the ending fell a bit flat for me and the last major twist didn’t have the impact I think that was intended. I also thought it did drag on a lot in the middle of the book and it could have been shorter for more impact. The descriptions were also a bit much and slightly confusing at times.
Overall it was an interesting and unique read, where I found myself very interested in the Tarot aspect as I haven’t seen a lot of books around that subject line and while I would recommend The Cloisters, I do feel like it is more of a “filler” read than something to scream from the rooftops about.