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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This book has all of the elements to be great, but it just fell flat for me. I love Rory and the love interest, but man I hated the plot. Everything was too easy and too convenient but could’ve been so much more clever.
Some of the writing was unnecessary descriptions or scenes that could’ve been summed up much easier. It took me out of the story a lot.
I will read the sequel though because I’m obsessed with their story now.
Some of the writing was unnecessary descriptions or scenes that could’ve been summed up much easier. It took me out of the story a lot.
I will read the sequel though because I’m obsessed with their story now.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF 84% Interesting premise but unfortunately I found it dull and repetitive
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Why would I take a book rec from TikTok?
adventurous
dark
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
I’m stuck between three and four starts for this, so I guess 3.5? I enjoyed the romance just as much as any other book and read this is under 24 hours, so it was clearly engaging but there are some things that bother me about the book in hindsight.
Despite Caius being blonde (I have no idea why, but I hate a blonde MMC), I liked him as a character. We get some insight into his tragic backstory and though the FMC hates him at first, the author did a good job at getting him to feel like a real character and not just a hot guy in a romance book. I also thought the world building was creative and wished that the whole breakdown of Seraphim, Fey, Sibyls, etc. was explored further. I figured out Rory’s mom’s prophecy pretty immediately, but it was still fun in the sense of waiting to see how it plays out.
On the other hand, I wish this book had been longer and more nuanced. Rory initially hates Caius, but doesn’t act like it. This book isn’t an enemies to lovers, but it’s trying to be, and I wish we had had more time with Caius being the villain and Rory’s begrudging mental shift. Similarly with Caius, he judges her immediately and then just as fast back tracks into insta-lust. As a result, the jumpscare of Similarly, we didn’t learn enough about Rory’s friends to distinguish between them and they all kind of felt like background wallpaper to me. Lastly, I did enjoy the creativity of this world but it feels weird to me about how nice Vincula is. All the characters comment on how it’s actually better than the non-prison realm. I get that the punishment is your old life going on without you and then you forgetting the family you make in Vincula when you leave, but again, it doesn’t seem like enough of a punishment.
I think all my qualms with this book would’ve been fixed had it been longer, more complex, and, honestly, darker. I wished we’d had time where we thought Caius was the bad guy, time to develop each of Rory’s friends, and time to be scared on her behalf of being in a prison realm.
I am looking forward to reading the next book with the hope that we get a huge information dump on all the different kinds of mystics and how the realms interact.
Despite Caius being blonde (I have no idea why, but I hate a blonde MMC), I liked him as a character. We get some insight into his tragic backstory and though the FMC hates him at first, the author did a good job at getting him to feel like a real character and not just a hot guy in a romance book. I also thought the world building was creative and wished that the whole breakdown of Seraphim, Fey, Sibyls, etc. was explored further. I figured out Rory’s mom’s prophecy pretty immediately, but it was still fun in the sense of waiting to see how it plays out.
On the other hand, I wish this book had been longer and more nuanced. Rory initially hates Caius, but doesn’t act like it. This book isn’t an enemies to lovers, but it’s trying to be, and I wish we had had more time with Caius being the villain and Rory’s begrudging mental shift. Similarly with Caius, he judges her immediately and then just as fast back tracks into insta-lust. As a result, the jumpscare of
Spoiler
Rory recognizing Caius as the Bane holds absolutely no water because, nearly in the same breath, she’s super attracted to him. It never left me with any doubt as to Caius’ actions and so I knew immediately that it was Gedeon.I think all my qualms with this book would’ve been fixed had it been longer, more complex, and, honestly, darker. I wished we’d had time where we thought Caius was the bad guy, time to develop each of Rory’s friends, and time to be scared on her behalf of being in a prison realm.
I am looking forward to reading the next book with the hope that we get a huge information dump on all the different kinds of mystics and how the realms interact.
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
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
dark
medium-paced