Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book has some of the best characterization I’ve read in a while. Gideon was incredibly endearing and her relationship with Harrow was incredibly unique. I think “enemies to lovers” has become a significant watered down trope in modern fantasy literature. I really enjoyed how Muir highlighted themes of abuse and guilt that poisoned Gideon and Harrows friendship/relationship for so long. Sextus and Corona were also big standouts in terms of characterization while I felt Dulcinea (lowkey) fell a bit flat compared to her importance later on.
Muir also does a wonderful job giving the reader information and clues that they have absolute no idea what to do with until the pieces are already falling into place. I had many moments where I went “oh THATS what was happing during *blank*”
I would say that the beginning of the book as well as the chapters during harrows absence following their arrival and Canaan house dragged more than they needed to. But I can recognize the necessity to slowly introduce the vast cast of characters this novel undertakes (lots of names and personalities to keep straight.)
Overall, this novel breathed some new life into YA fiction novels that I forgot the genre was capable of!
Muir also does a wonderful job giving the reader information and clues that they have absolute no idea what to do with until the pieces are already falling into place. I had many moments where I went “oh THATS what was happing during *blank*”
I would say that the beginning of the book as well as the chapters during harrows absence following their arrival and Canaan house dragged more than they needed to. But I can recognize the necessity to slowly introduce the vast cast of characters this novel undertakes (lots of names and personalities to keep straight.)
Overall, this novel breathed some new life into YA fiction novels that I forgot the genre was capable of!
No no no no no no NO NO NO NO NO NO NONOONNOONONOONONONOOOOOOO
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So this book changed my life. For better or worse, at this point I have no clue. How can I even begin to describe it? The first act was great in terms of exposition. I was immediately drawn into Gideon's and Harrow's characterization and dynamics. Gideon was just so silly and charming to me, and Harrow...well, Harrow was Harrow, the absolute best that she could be please don't touch me I am sobbing she is such a tragedy I am in tears. Then comes the second act which left me confused for the most part. I was honestly tempted to hold off reading because I had no clue what was happening. And when I thought that it couldn't get wilder, the third act comes in, and I'm just at a loss for words and the pieces of my mind fragmented everywhere. But it just gets EVEN WILDER come the fourth act when all the revalations started pouring out. It was like riding a rollercoaster without knowing that I was riding a rollercoaster. And then it ended. Just like that.
What makes this really brilliant is that the book made me EXPERIENCE what was happening. It wasn't just narrating the events of the book. It was utterly horrifying and tragic. I am in tears. The descriptions were all so visceral, and the characters were all so interesting. They got me so invested in all of them...it's such a shame that they're all either dead or were never even there to begin with. And all the things I was confused about in the beginning, they did make sense later on, and what didn't set up a good foundation for the next part of the story. I absolutely enjoyed the experience of reading this, and I am so looking forward to read the next books.
What makes this really brilliant is that the book made me EXPERIENCE what was happening. It wasn't just narrating the events of the book. It was utterly horrifying and tragic. I am in tears. The descriptions were all so visceral, and the characters were all so interesting. They got me so invested in all of them...it's such a shame that they're all either dead or were never even there to begin with. And all the things I was confused about in the beginning, they did make sense later on, and what didn't set up a good foundation for the next part of the story. I absolutely enjoyed the experience of reading this, and I am so looking forward to read the next books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
This book is quite slow at the start. But the world and character building is like clouds forming until the last third when the storm finally lands and the thunder strikes. I've never read anything like it!
My only gripe is that sometimes the language Gideon uses breaks my illusion of suspense. As far as I'm aware, the book never explains how Gideon knows phrases like "pizza face" or "shitfaced" when the world readers are immersed in don't make them make logical sense for existing. (I do not think pizza exists in this world... or at least in the past 10,000 years! Language changes.)
I am so excited to read the rest of the series!! This book would go SO HARD as an animated series ala Arcane. I hope they're making it. It'd be SO GOOD!!!
My only gripe is that sometimes the language Gideon uses breaks my illusion of suspense. As far as I'm aware, the book never explains how Gideon knows phrases like "pizza face" or "shitfaced" when the world readers are immersed in don't make them make logical sense for existing. (I do not think pizza exists in this world... or at least in the past 10,000 years! Language changes.)
I am so excited to read the rest of the series!! This book would go SO HARD as an animated series ala Arcane. I hope they're making it. It'd be SO GOOD!!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Complicated