Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

15 reviews

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I had mix feelings regarding this one. I felt like the premise, set up, setting and overall intention of the story was very promising. I was really enjoying the set up, beginning inner workings of getting to know each character and the origin of the sequence of events. But once the main characters met I felt like the pacing was too accelerated. I wish the novel was longer so that the character relationship got to be fleshed out more and both of their overall development. I still really enjoyed the writing and getting to know the characters, the environment I just wish it was fleshed out more detail and with a balance pace. If there’s going to be another one of the series I definitely want to read it and see how this could possibly be continued as I’m not super favourable of the ending. Still value Ava’s writing and the talent she puts the world and the sapphic representation we received it.

3.25 stars ⭐️

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In a dystopian world where climate disaster has altered the earth with floods, mutated animals and more, the people of Esopus Creek struggle to stay afloat and survive, incurring debt that can only be erased by participating in the Gauntlet--a deadly battle to the death between a human "lamb" and an Angel: a special assassin created by Caerus to be a lethal humanistic machine that feels no pain or emotion, purely driven by killer instinct. 
When Inessa is volunteered by her mother to participate in the Gauntlet, she feels any hope for survival is futile. But the games take an unexpected turn when Inessa and Mel, the Angel assigned to kill her, find themselves in a precarious situation where they are forced to rely on each other before both are killed by mutated beasts that roam the woods outside Esopus Creek. 
Reminiscent of Hunger Games, Ava Reid blends mid 2000's dystopian with Science Fiction this high stakes enemies to lovers romance. 
Reid is a talented writer building beautiful worlds you can dive into. Unfortunately, Fable for the End of the World fell flat, lacking depth. The romance felt unrealistic and "instant" solely based on looks and lust vs any real connection or shared interest.  Even more disappointing, this plot had so much potential and wasted opportunity, specifically with Mel's origins, and the side plot with Inessa's father and secret society. While I can see that the lack of information and open-ended resolutions lends to a possible sequel, as a stand alone Fable overall was lackluster and dissatisfying, relying on tropes and nostalgia to carry it through.   

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious medium-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

what was that ending ava pls 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings