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cala_p's review against another edition
Copy received from The Next Step PR. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.
DNF @ 20%. I struggled to get into this one. I feel like much of the beginning story/info was repeating and info dumping a bit too much to get into. I was hoping for the romance to kick off sooner and hook me in, but that isn’t the case. Also punctuation got distracting.
DNF @ 20%. I struggled to get into this one. I feel like much of the beginning story/info was repeating and info dumping a bit too much to get into. I was hoping for the romance to kick off sooner and hook me in, but that isn’t the case. Also punctuation got distracting.
aliasaurora's review against another edition
1.0
Trigger warning for animal death! The FMC’s kittens are killed in the beginning of the book, which pissed me off more than the 3 humans who are also killed in the first 10% of the novel, because WTF. Don’t just spring that on people!
FMC just found out she’s a witch and her aunt sends her a grimoire, so naturally her first act as a newbie witch is to make a sleeping potion and immediately drink way too much after the first drops don’t work after she waited 10 seconds or whatever. She didn’t even finish reading the instructions before deciding to knock back enough to fall asleep for three weeks. Too stupid to live, I’m telling ya!
Honestly don’t even know why she needed the sleeping potion at all, because she has no problem falling asleep on the floor sleeping with the potion, heading to the airport, using the potion again on the plane from England to Massachusetts, and still manages to fall asleep in the car on the way to her destination, where she is given even more potion upon arrival, enough to put her out for “a few days,” says her aunt. She wakes up at 4 AM from a nightmare and get this… goes back to sleep. Jaysus! Get this woman some stimulants for her narcolepsy and take that dang potion away from her, FFS!
Her first day out on the town, FMC goes out for mimosas with her aunt and then there’s a random misplaced chapter?? Chapter thirteen in my ebook seems to have been replaced by an identical copy of chapter sixteen, so i have no idea where the aunt headed off to, and then she’s and is again, TSTL and lets him take her to a second location—literally carries her off— In a better book, the FMC would then be human sacrifice to the dark gods and either A) we cut to an investigator on the scene, and the book is actually about them figuring out whodunnit, or B) the dark god appears and turns out he’s a chiseled six-foot shadow daddy who doesn’t want to kill her, but he might just EAT her…
FMC just found out she’s a witch and her aunt sends her a grimoire, so naturally her first act as a newbie witch is to make a sleeping potion and immediately drink way too much after the first drops don’t work after she waited 10 seconds or whatever. She didn’t even finish reading the instructions before deciding to knock back enough to fall asleep for three weeks. Too stupid to live, I’m telling ya!
Honestly don’t even know why she needed the sleeping potion at all, because she has no problem falling asleep on the floor
Spoiler
in the first safe location upon running from a bad guy and fleeing a murder scene,Spoiler
for three weeksHer first day out on the town, FMC goes out for mimosas with her aunt and then there’s a random misplaced chapter?? Chapter thirteen in my ebook seems to have been replaced by an identical copy of chapter sixteen, so i have no idea where the aunt headed off to, and then she’s
Spoiler
meeting some mystery sexy strangerSpoiler
to a creepy spot in the woods without her phone.bndugan's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. The story was intriguing as hell. Aradia and Ludo's romance is intoxicating and sexy. I needed more of it! I wish that the romance would've been explored a tad bit more, but what we got was downright delightful.
This book focuses on Aradia, who discovered recently that she is a witch. We see her rediscovering her roots and her hometown. It was great to see this, and I feel like I got a better understanding of the world building from it. The ending seemed a little abrupt to me, but I am thankful for a lack of a cliffhanger. But even without a cliffhanger, I am so ready for the next book, which is wicked talent from Kassandra. I've got so many questions that I need answered (especially about the vibes I get from a not seemingly evil character. I started watching that character heavily towards the later scenes. I need to see if my suspicions are correct!)—disclaimer: I could be totally effing wrong though
This book focuses on Aradia, who discovered recently that she is a witch. We see her rediscovering her roots and her hometown. It was great to see this, and I feel like I got a better understanding of the world building from it. The ending seemed a little abrupt to me, but I am thankful for a lack of a cliffhanger. But even without a cliffhanger, I am so ready for the next book, which is wicked talent from Kassandra. I've got so many questions that I need answered (especially about the vibes I get from a not seemingly evil character. I started watching that character heavily towards the later scenes. I need to see if my suspicions are correct!)—disclaimer: I could be totally effing wrong though
brons_books's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you so much to The Next Step for sharing an advanced copy of Black Magic by Kassandra Cross with me.
This is exactly as it says on the tin!
When Aradia Black learns her true heritage she is forced to leave her home and find solitude in Valport Springs. She begins to learn why exactly she needs to be protected.
However, things take a turn when she meets handsome devil, Ludovico Cabot. Their scenes together are seriously spicy! And their tension is palpable.
It's a short and quick read, that lovers of Laura Thalassa will certainly enjoy. I do wish it was a bit longer so we could explore Ari's relationship with Marian and what exactly is going on. I also wish we had more Ludo scenes because I had to fan myself every time he came on the page.
Trust me! He's a saucy one!
This was such a fun, quick read, cannot wait for book two!
Four stars!
This is exactly as it says on the tin!
When Aradia Black learns her true heritage she is forced to leave her home and find solitude in Valport Springs. She begins to learn why exactly she needs to be protected.
However, things take a turn when she meets handsome devil, Ludovico Cabot. Their scenes together are seriously spicy! And their tension is palpable.
It's a short and quick read, that lovers of Laura Thalassa will certainly enjoy. I do wish it was a bit longer so we could explore Ari's relationship with Marian and what exactly is going on. I also wish we had more Ludo scenes because I had to fan myself every time he came on the page.
Trust me! He's a saucy one!
This was such a fun, quick read, cannot wait for book two!
Four stars!
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
Aradia Black returns to her London flat to find her mother brutally murdered. She can sense something moving around the flat - instinct screams to turn and run. Catching her breath, Aradia answers - Marian gives her directions to a safe house.
Finally in Valport Springs, Aradia tries to relax. Only to discover her mum wasnt her mum - and Marian is her aunt magic runs through her body and Valport welcomes her home.
Enter the love interest - Ludo. Aradia feels the danger - but can't fight the attraction.
This is a great start - laying the story, background for the series.
Finally in Valport Springs, Aradia tries to relax. Only to discover her mum wasnt her mum - and Marian is her aunt magic runs through her body and Valport welcomes her home.
Enter the love interest - Ludo. Aradia feels the danger - but can't fight the attraction.
This is a great start - laying the story, background for the series.
breathing_pages's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Kassandra Cross for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This is a story of magic, darkness, lust, and romance.
PLOT: After witnessing a horrible murder at her home in London, Arcadia Black's life changes forever. She discovers that she is a witch, and she has to go back home to Valport Springs, a mysterious, forest town. It's there where she starts discovering the truth about who she really is, her legacy, and the curse that has been haunting the Black women for centuries. It is there that she also meets Ludo, a dark, mysterious man that may or may not bring many troubles into her life.
THOUGHTS: I like the neo-gothic surroundings, the mystery of the town, and the secrets. I like the secondary characters and what they can be in the next books. They haven't been unfolded yet, so we have still a lot to learn. The paranormal element, the darkness, the romance are some of the things I really enjoyed.
What I would like to see more is Arcadia's character. I think it felt a bit bland how she faces some things that are happening. I would like to see her more tortured about what happened in London; and more curious as well. She is just accepting mostly everything with not many questions asked, and it seems bizarre to me.
I wouldn't mind learning more about Ludo as well. It seems little information so far, but I expect this to happen in the next book.
I defintely enjoyed the book, and I will read the next one. I hope to see more character evolution.
This is a story of magic, darkness, lust, and romance.
PLOT: After witnessing a horrible murder at her home in London, Arcadia Black's life changes forever. She discovers that she is a witch, and she has to go back home to Valport Springs, a mysterious, forest town. It's there where she starts discovering the truth about who she really is, her legacy, and the curse that has been haunting the Black women for centuries. It is there that she also meets Ludo, a dark, mysterious man that may or may not bring many troubles into her life.
THOUGHTS: I like the neo-gothic surroundings, the mystery of the town, and the secrets. I like the secondary characters and what they can be in the next books. They haven't been unfolded yet, so we have still a lot to learn. The paranormal element, the darkness, the romance are some of the things I really enjoyed.
What I would like to see more is Arcadia's character. I think it felt a bit bland how she faces some things that are happening. I would like to see her more tortured about what happened in London; and more curious as well. She is just accepting mostly everything with not many questions asked, and it seems bizarre to me.
I wouldn't mind learning more about Ludo as well. It seems little information so far, but I expect this to happen in the next book.
I defintely enjoyed the book, and I will read the next one. I hope to see more character evolution.
dianathebookish's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
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