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yarisbooksandbevs'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Confinement, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
Minor: Self harm, War, Alcohol, and Child abuse
sammymilfort's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Grief, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Torture
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This is set up to get at least one sequel, but the story told here is very satisfying even if nothing else follows it. Cassiel and Avitue are a great couple, figuring out how to get past the baggage of their pasts and the demands of their present in order to have any shot at building a future.
The main storyline deals with the romance between Cass and Avitue. Their relationship has several outside forces who would detest their relationship and try to destroy them if they're discovered to be colluding instead of in opposition. Learning to love one another advances both storylines, putting Cass against her family and Avitue against her fellow demons, though Cass's family are more relevant to this particular story. There's also a strong and complicated bond between Cass and one of her siblings, complicating her willingness to entirely sever ties with her family, if it's even possible.
I enjoyed this and I'm interested in reading the promised sequel.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Self harm
Minor: Eating disorder, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Body shaming, and Death
cleo_reads's review against another edition
4.5
This is such a promising debut! I enjoyed this so much. At it’s heart, it’s the story of a woman learning how to love and trust after leaving her abusive family – against the backdrop of a centuries long war between angels and demons.
There were some pacing issues and a couple plot holes. The first 3/4 ish is stronger than the last 1/4 – and I’m not sure I really buy the ending, including the way the HEA is set up (I do believe they’re in love and happy together). But I didn’t care that much because I just loved the main character, Cassiel, an ex-demon-hunter turned bookstore owner, and I was so invested in her growth and happiness.
It's an interesting mix of cozy and dark. There's a lot of cozy comfort in this book – Cassiel’s bookstore, her best friend’s coffee shop and the way the succubus Avitue initially woos her with beautiful teacups full of fragrant tea. But be warned that the dark parts are pretty dark. There’s disordered eating, self harm and so, so much shame. Read the content warnings at the beginning of the book.
It’s told entirely from Cassiel’s POV, in close 3rd person. She left her horribly manipulative and abusive mother and the rest of her family 3 years ago but is still recovering. Her mother insisted that extreme denial, asceticism and self-punishment was necessary to connect with their angelic heritage and be effective demon hunters. Cassiel really struggles with that – with learning not to deny herself and to not punish herself for her desires. I loved how Avitue helped her connect with her desires and her power. But it’s not exactly an easy journey.
Graphic: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Self harm and Violence