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tigger89's review
- 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
4.5
This book does contain blood magic. I've given it a good, hard look, and I think it avoids coming too close to invoking blood libel, for the following reasons. First, the magic doesn't have to involve the unwilling taking of someone's blood for the benefit of another. While it can take that form, in the form presented as good the blood is freely given and the magic is viewed as a positive thing of beauty. Second, while there are powerful people who take the magic for their own profit, they are not Jewish-coded in any way I noticed. And third, Jewish tradition is explicitly present elsewhere in the story and used as a source of positive strength. Obviously this is something each reader will have to decide their own comfort level on, that's just the reasoning I followed for my own feelings.
The only thing I didn't like was the romance. I didn't mind Esther's romance, though. I thought that was fine, and just messy enough to make me feel like she earned it. What really ground my gears was Joanna's romance. It's okay for characters to be single. She didn't need a man, and furthermore I never got any kind of vibe that he was particularly right for her. It felt like it was shoehorned in because the author thought she needed to end up with someone in order to be happy, and he was the most convenient guy.
Now, the most important part of the review: does the dog and/or cat die?
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
tallulahlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery
manonh90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Body horror
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gun violence
trippyotter's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
But everything wraps up nicely in the last 50 or so pages. That being said, this would be a great starting point for a spin-off or the next gen.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Kidnapping
campisforever's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read with care and caution.
I do agree that Collins and Nicholas should have been endgame.
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Classism, Gore, Grief, Medical content, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement
prynne31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood and Medical content
Moderate: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
katieimre's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Medical trauma
blewballoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Medical content
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
- library guardians
- Magic books
- Complex family dynamics
- Multiple pov
- Mysterious
- Sprinkle of romance
- Bisexual MC
- Also a cute dog and cat
This was super mysterious especially at the beginning. I really enjoyed the magic and the intertwining povs. A hint of dark academia. Really interesting characters and complicated family dynamics. Funny at parts as well. There was a lot of build up to a main kind of conflict and that felt a bit too easily resolved. But the build up was fascinating and the ending was good after that too
Graphic: Blood and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Medical content, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Slavery and Colonisation
Medical content: Needles/syringes