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hb_hefner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
It surprised me many times. Definitely a book of strong woman, complicated and aesthetic world and magic, though a bit too edgy at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
asipofcozy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's been awhile since I finished a book fully. I have been picking up and putting down so many and honestly this one almost made the pile of books I haven't finished.
I really enjoyed the concept of the book, the magic, the characters and the overall arching theme. However, this is definitely a beauty and the beast retelling rather than the red riding hood that the vibes give. And when I mean you know it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling it's very obvious.
I enjoyed the characters and thought that they added to the story...somewhat. However all the side characters Raffe, Kiri, Neve, Arick, the five kings were just fillers in spaces and didn't have much personality to them.
Then there is the magic system...of which is never fully explained to us. There is a forest that is quite alive but we are never given the backstory on how it came to have magic. Then there is the whole folk lore of the five kings that once again we get very little explanation on, even the character Red keeps asking about this information and isn't given it!
Then you have the dual POV's with the sisters and I was not interested in Neve what so ever. The time gaps in this book and the jumping around created a lot of plot confusion (of which I felt like there was at least 3 different plot lines going on at once). However, Neve is well naive. While she does love her sister she only cares about herself and her own decisions and while I get she wants to save her sister she is blinded by everything.
In the end, I did enjoy some aspects of the book but wasn't totally won over by it. However, I would be interested to see Neve's development in For the Throne.
I really enjoyed the concept of the book, the magic, the characters and the overall arching theme. However, this is definitely a beauty and the beast retelling rather than the red riding hood that the vibes give. And when I mean you know it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling it's very obvious.
I enjoyed the characters and thought that they added to the story...somewhat. However all the side characters Raffe, Kiri, Neve, Arick, the five kings were just fillers in spaces and didn't have much personality to them.
Then there is the magic system...of which is never fully explained to us. There is a forest that is quite alive but we are never given the backstory on how it came to have magic. Then there is the whole folk lore of the five kings that once again we get very little explanation on, even the character Red keeps asking about this information and isn't given it!
Then you have the dual POV's with the sisters and I was not interested in Neve what so ever. The time gaps in this book and the jumping around created a lot of plot confusion (of which I felt like there was at least 3 different plot lines going on at once). However, Neve is well naive. While she does love her sister she only cares about herself and her own decisions and while I get she wants to save her sister she is blinded by everything.
In the end, I did enjoy some aspects of the book but wasn't totally won over by it. However, I would be interested to see Neve's development in For the Throne.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Blood, and Death of parent
winonasharpen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
hales_1243's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
epohlig's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was an interesting book. I actually started it before my listed start day, but had only read the first chapter or two and didn’t feel that engaged, so I put the start date to when I started reading more regularly. Besides the somewhat slow start (I’m not sure why it was slow, it could have just been me), I really liked it for a while; there was plot and character development, and I was curious about what would happen next.
I did notice, however, that it started to get repetitive in the middle-ish: there would be some kind of problem with the woods and then Eammon would go to fix it and needed Red’s help, but he refused to let her do anything… blah blah blah
The storyline did pick up a bit towards the end: there was a lot going on and it was more of what I’d been looking for from the book, but a few scenes did rub me the wrong way as well. Personally, if my sister had just disappeared to the Shadowlands, or if I’d just found out that she was in danger and I needed to leave the woods, an intimate moment with the love interest would not just make me immediately forget everything until the next chapter. Might just be me, though.
Overall, it was a pretty good book, beyond my little quibbles with certain points. I’m still unclear of if I’ll read the sequel, but it’s honestly more of a “when” question (not sure though).
I did notice, however, that it started to get repetitive in the middle-ish:
The storyline did pick up a bit towards the end: there was a lot going on and it was more of what I’d been looking for from the book, but a few scenes did rub me the wrong way as well.
Overall, it was a pretty good book, beyond my little quibbles with certain points. I’m still unclear of if I’ll read the sequel, but it’s honestly more of a “when” question (not sure though).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Murder
mckiheather's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Interesting retelling of the Red Riding Hood story. The elements of the familiar story were there but didn’t overtake the original parts that made it so engaging and new.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Torture, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
kaycie51782's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is book 1 of a series. I won't be reading book 2.
Are you familiar with the advice when writing narrative fiction "Show, don't tell"? This author from that advice VERY SERIOUSLY. There wasn't a passage in this decently lengthy book that wasn't overflowing with vivid imagery. It was exhausting to read.
The main characters glorified self harm in defense and protection of the magic in the story. It got a little sickening by the end. There were ridiculously overused phrases ("she pressed her lips into a bloodless line", "she curled her fingers until crescents were pressed into her palms", and on and on and on).
The mythology of the universe was never well explained. The author took far too long to tell any kind of back story, but continued to pour more and more foreshadowing and blocked memories until I didn't really care what happened.
Sometimes it's okay to say "This event made her mad" instead of "The scene playing before her caused her vision to redden" or something similar.
Are you familiar with the advice when writing narrative fiction "Show, don't tell"? This author from that advice VERY SERIOUSLY. There wasn't a passage in this decently lengthy book that wasn't overflowing with vivid imagery. It was exhausting to read.
The main characters glorified self harm in defense and protection of the magic in the story. It got a little sickening by the end. There were ridiculously overused phrases ("she pressed her lips into a bloodless line", "she curled her fingers until crescents were pressed into her palms", and on and on and on).
The mythology of the universe was never well explained. The author took far too long to tell any kind of back story, but continued to pour more and more foreshadowing and blocked memories until I didn't really care what happened.
Sometimes it's okay to say "This event made her mad" instead of "The scene playing before her caused her vision to redden" or something similar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
alxbryn's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Definitely not a YA novel. Do not go in expecting a fairytale. It's decent and I'll be buying the sequel for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
There are tons and tons of references to self harm as the characters all use blood as a way to channel their magic. They are cutting themselves in literally every single chapter. Beware if that's triggering.cheyraisin's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
heapofhay's review against another edition
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail