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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have always enjoyed Atwater's prose and particularly the stories that feature intelligent well-rounded heroines overcoming trials with their cleverness. And for the vast majority of the last books in this series, I've thoroughly enjoyed them. This is the first book that lost me.
For one, the world the characters are living in has vastly changed, and there's no real explanation as to what happened or why. I think it was meant to build the tension toward the ending. The love was less believable this time too, between the otherworldly monster-who's-not-a-monster and the plucky heroine. And unfortunately the entirety of the book was set up to be a cliffhanger and was the first example of "tune in next novel!" which given the previous books have so wonderfully avoided that made this stand out as extremely disappointing.
Did I like Winnie? Sure. Did I like Quincy? Not as much as the others in the series, and even independently felt was a weak love interest. The ideas were interesting and had that interesting world building and enjoyable writing that accompany Atwater books, but this was just genuinely fell flat compared to the others. I'll probably read the next one in the series, but this was the first time an Atwater book did not compel me to go out and buy the physical copy after getting one from the library.
For one, the world the characters are living in has vastly changed, and there's no real explanation as to what happened or why. I think it was meant to build the tension toward the ending. The love was less believable this time too, between the otherworldly monster-who's-not-a-monster and the plucky heroine. And unfortunately the entirety of the book was set up to be a cliffhanger and was the first example of "tune in next novel!" which given the previous books have so wonderfully avoided that made this stand out as extremely disappointing.
Did I like Winnie? Sure. Did I like Quincy? Not as much as the others in the series, and even independently felt was a weak love interest. The ideas were interesting and had that interesting world building and enjoyable writing that accompany Atwater books, but this was just genuinely fell flat compared to the others. I'll probably read the next one in the series, but this was the first time an Atwater book did not compel me to go out and buy the physical copy after getting one from the library.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed the world that’s been created in this book, and now I need the sequels immediately. I love a competent heroine and a plot more complex than good vs evil.
adventurous
dark
funny
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Gothic fantasy set in an alternative Victorian England.
This was a satisfying read. Called to Witchwood Manor by her elderly benefactress, the heroine Winnie must use her skills and knowledge as a magician to unravel a deadly mystery and avoid vengeful faeries and the unwanted attention of a lecherous lord while attempting to act as a governess to an irritatingly misbehaved 12-year-old boy.
Winnie is at times equally helped and hindered by the strange Mr. Quincy, the self-proclaimed butler of the Manor.
The subtle, enemies-to-lovers storyline worked incredibly well in this book. The romantic element was perfectly handled, without drawing away from the main plot. The chemistry between the MC's was on point, and the ending was perfectly balanced, even with a kiss-only ending.
CW: This book contains flashbacks to previous child sexual abuse. Mildly descriptive - not explicit.
This is a sweet romance with no descriptive love scenes.
This was a satisfying read. Called to Witchwood Manor by her elderly benefactress, the heroine Winnie must use her skills and knowledge as a magician to unravel a deadly mystery and avoid vengeful faeries and the unwanted attention of a lecherous lord while attempting to act as a governess to an irritatingly misbehaved 12-year-old boy.
Winnie is at times equally helped and hindered by the strange Mr. Quincy, the self-proclaimed butler of the Manor.
The subtle, enemies-to-lovers storyline worked incredibly well in this book. The romantic element was perfectly handled, without drawing away from the main plot. The chemistry between the MC's was on point, and the ending was perfectly balanced, even with a kiss-only ending.
CW: This book contains flashbacks to previous child sexual abuse. Mildly descriptive - not explicit.
This is a sweet romance with no descriptive love scenes.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced