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the_bookish_scorpio's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
2.5
anonymousbike's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
yeehaw_agenda's review against another edition
5.0
A truly exquisite book. The premise was so creative, the twists were so unexpected, the characters were fully fleshed-out. Thank you Peng Shepherd for another banger of a novel!!
billiamslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. Before I begin, the narration in the audiobook for this was wonderful! I found this book to be very engaging, despite not really liking any character, the story was compelling enough for me to want to keep going! I wish there was some more explanation of certain key plot points and that ending may not have been so predictable, but I had a good time with this.
Lastly, I think the story told via flashbacks in this book may have been a better book if it was ever given the opportunity to stand alone.
Lastly, I think the story told via flashbacks in this book may have been a better book if it was ever given the opportunity to stand alone.
alannaghabben's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded to 4. I really wanted to like this and was super excited about the premise. I just felt that the characters were not super developed and didn't find myself connecting with them. Also thought some parts were predictable.
andybythelake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
twirlygirly's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
aprilnnp's review against another edition
4.0
I keep vacillating between 3.5 and 4 ⭐️ for this one.
On one hand, the concept of this story is fascinating and pings all my receptors - books, libraries, a little intrigue, a little magical realism, a little love story, a lot of old-college-besties history, and while I don’t love maps, my husband does and so I feel like I have an adjacent fondness for them (even though I can’t read them properly to save my life.) The book moved fast enough to hold my interest and honestly the last quarter was a real page turner. On the surface, it should’ve been at least a 4-star book for me.
But while I was reading I kept having this niggling feeling of things being just a little off, just not hitting right - and it mostly boils down to the book feeling just not quite *enough.*
I wanted *more* magic, *more* fantasy, *more* love in the love story, a whole hell of a lot more communication from all parties involved, and honestly could’ve used some better exposition all around. I found myself just not quite believing it, which left the book feeling kind of flat for me.
Still glad I read it, definitely an enjoyable reading experience, but I’m still searching for my Holy Grail book of the year.
On one hand, the concept of this story is fascinating and pings all my receptors - books, libraries, a little intrigue, a little magical realism, a little love story, a lot of old-college-besties history, and while I don’t love maps, my husband does and so I feel like I have an adjacent fondness for them (even though I can’t read them properly to save my life.) The book moved fast enough to hold my interest and honestly the last quarter was a real page turner. On the surface, it should’ve been at least a 4-star book for me.
But while I was reading I kept having this niggling feeling of things being just a little off, just not hitting right - and it mostly boils down to the book feeling just not quite *enough.*
I wanted *more* magic, *more* fantasy, *more* love in the love story, a whole hell of a lot more communication from all parties involved, and honestly could’ve used some better exposition all around. I found myself just not quite believing it, which left the book feeling kind of flat for me.
Still glad I read it, definitely an enjoyable reading experience, but I’m still searching for my Holy Grail book of the year.
lu_reads2's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75