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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was more of a 2.5. Great potential, boring ending
Solid 3 star book
Overall, I enjoyed this! The setting and characters are all very interesting. However, I did struggle with the plot of this book a little. Firstly, it didn't really have one. For much of the first half of the book I didn't know where the book was going. It wasn't clear what direction it was going to take. The reader was more so just along for the ride watching the dynamics of the characters unfold. Secondly, this book doesn't really present anything new. Once you do figure out the plot and it unravels, it isn't very original. All the bits and pieces felt unoriginal.
Now, however, I did overall enjoy the book as I did enjoy reading about the dynamics, characters, setting, and the tarot cards. I think my points made earlier are the reason why the book is rated so low however I do not think there is anything outwardly wrong with the book. It is just a quiet book that is an interesting book about dynamics in a cool setting.
Overall, I enjoyed this! The setting and characters are all very interesting. However, I did struggle with the plot of this book a little. Firstly, it didn't really have one. For much of the first half of the book I didn't know where the book was going. It wasn't clear what direction it was going to take. The reader was more so just along for the ride watching the dynamics of the characters unfold. Secondly, this book doesn't really present anything new. Once you do figure out the plot and it unravels, it isn't very original. All the bits and pieces felt unoriginal.
Now, however, I did overall enjoy the book as I did enjoy reading about the dynamics, characters, setting, and the tarot cards. I think my points made earlier are the reason why the book is rated so low however I do not think there is anything outwardly wrong with the book. It is just a quiet book that is an interesting book about dynamics in a cool setting.
Yes, it's slow. Yes, the murder doesn't happen until 50% in and it doesn't pick the pace up until 75%. Yes, the narrator can be unlikeable (as is almost every character.) But I liked this.
I liked the slow obsession Ann builds with tarot, from her scathing rejection of it in the beginning to knowing it deeply by the end. I liked the messy romantic polygon that's never really clear. I liked the academic world perceiving Rachel as perfect but we see her codependency and inner anxieties flair when triggered. I liked Ann's rejection of her home town, of her family, of her lower class disadvantages and how easily wooed she is by wealth and privileged people around her -- while also incredibly critical of those people. Ann is made up of a duology of parts, parts that both reject everyone and everything around her while desperately and deeply wanting their approval. I started the book by disliking her, it's hard to like a narrator who hates everything around them, but I warmed up to her as she warmed up to New York and her work.
I've read reviews that feel this was too academic, that it gets bogged down in academia. I actually felt the opposite - yes, there are info dumps to set up the history of tarot but once that's done, much of the academia disappears. I honestly have no clue what this paper Ann and Rachel were writing was about; it serves as a plot device but is rather empty of meaning itself. The true history of occult tarot? And nobody asks for proof of the deck Ann discovered? Also, where the hell was the antiquities dealer getting these? What did her undergrad advisor have to do with any of this? How does she credit his thrown away notes in her paper? What journal is going to accept this paper? The whole basis for the paper is sketchy as hell.
It's also clear the author lives on the professorial side of museums and libraries, as much of the portrayal of museums and libraries felt or was incorrect. If only academics knew how librarians felt about them ;)
SPOILERS!!!:
I wished Hays leaned slightly into the tarot deck having a supernatural element, for it to be alive and have a will of its own. It's there for anyone to interpret but could have made for some nice spookiness. Not a lot, it could easily become cheesy, but a hint. After all, Patrick, Rachel, and Ann become obsessed with this deck. Patrick, enough to abandon the duties of his job as he hunts down cards. Rachel, as she commits murder to own the deck, even though she refuses to be read out of superstition. Ann, as she is won over by the cards and eventually commits murder to avenge them. The final reading of the cards, where Rachel caves to allow Ann to read her, was cinematic and clever. 4 Aces to symbolize the people Rachel has murdered and the Devil to symbolize her own end. If this is ever adapted, I can see that climax playing out wonderfully.
I liked the slow obsession Ann builds with tarot, from her scathing rejection of it in the beginning to knowing it deeply by the end. I liked the messy romantic polygon that's never really clear. I liked the academic world perceiving Rachel as perfect but we see her codependency and inner anxieties flair when triggered. I liked Ann's rejection of her home town, of her family, of her lower class disadvantages and how easily wooed she is by wealth and privileged people around her -- while also incredibly critical of those people. Ann is made up of a duology of parts, parts that both reject everyone and everything around her while desperately and deeply wanting their approval. I started the book by disliking her, it's hard to like a narrator who hates everything around them, but I warmed up to her as she warmed up to New York and her work.
I've read reviews that feel this was too academic, that it gets bogged down in academia. I actually felt the opposite - yes, there are info dumps to set up the history of tarot but once that's done, much of the academia disappears. I honestly have no clue what this paper Ann and Rachel were writing was about; it serves as a plot device but is rather empty of meaning itself. The true history of occult tarot? And nobody asks for proof of the deck Ann discovered? Also, where the hell was the antiquities dealer getting these? What did her undergrad advisor have to do with any of this? How does she credit his thrown away notes in her paper? What journal is going to accept this paper? The whole basis for the paper is sketchy as hell.
It's also clear the author lives on the professorial side of museums and libraries, as much of the portrayal of museums and libraries felt or was incorrect. If only academics knew how librarians felt about them ;)
SPOILERS!!!:
I wished Hays leaned slightly into the tarot deck having a supernatural element, for it to be alive and have a will of its own. It's there for anyone to interpret but could have made for some nice spookiness. Not a lot, it could easily become cheesy, but a hint. After all, Patrick, Rachel, and Ann become obsessed with this deck. Patrick, enough to abandon the duties of his job as he hunts down cards. Rachel, as she commits murder to own the deck, even though she refuses to be read out of superstition. Ann, as she is won over by the cards and eventually commits murder to avenge them. The final reading of the cards, where Rachel caves to allow Ann to read her, was cinematic and clever. 4 Aces to symbolize the people Rachel has murdered and the Devil to symbolize her own end. If this is ever adapted, I can see that climax playing out wonderfully.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
This will go down as one of the best books I have ever read. I have chills finishing it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 3.5 stars
The Cloisters by Katy Hays is a book with a beautiful cover and equally beautiful writing. This is a realistic fiction, mystery with some dark academia elements. Set in a museum, we follow our main character as she dives into a mysterious world of tarot cards and death.
The atmosphere that you expect from a dark academia is very much present and it's written well. I loved the descriptions and how Katy Hays' writing made it feel very luminous and intriguing. The vibes, the mystery, the atmosphere really elevated the book.
The concept of the book is very refreshing and enough to keep you reading. It's also a very quick and short read.
Where the book fell flat for me was the characters and pacing. Despite being a short book, the start of the book felt like it was dragging on. It truly didn't feel like anything had happened in the first 100 pages and for a realistic fiction, we could've done with more action.
Our main character just felt like she was there with the exception of the last 50 pages. I couldn't describe a single personality trait until the end.
Overall, a decent and enjoyable read with great vibes. If you read for the atmosphere, you're going to enjoy this one.
The Cloisters by Katy Hays is a book with a beautiful cover and equally beautiful writing. This is a realistic fiction, mystery with some dark academia elements. Set in a museum, we follow our main character as she dives into a mysterious world of tarot cards and death.
The atmosphere that you expect from a dark academia is very much present and it's written well. I loved the descriptions and how Katy Hays' writing made it feel very luminous and intriguing. The vibes, the mystery, the atmosphere really elevated the book.
The concept of the book is very refreshing and enough to keep you reading. It's also a very quick and short read.
Where the book fell flat for me was the characters and pacing. Despite being a short book, the start of the book felt like it was dragging on. It truly didn't feel like anything had happened in the first 100 pages and for a realistic fiction, we could've done with more action.
Our main character just felt like she was there with the exception of the last 50 pages. I couldn't describe a single personality trait until the end.
Overall, a decent and enjoyable read with great vibes. If you read for the atmosphere, you're going to enjoy this one.