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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
It was pretty cheesy and had a few too many stereotypes for my taste but it was a fun and easy read. The characters felt kinda flat and could use more depth as well
fast-paced
So that was definitely a cover buy, but I am really not disappointed; I had no expectations going into this and also no idea what it was about.
But I liked it; the world-building was fun, and the characters all felt complex (something a lot of books can't really do nowadays). The only thing I disliked a bit was the romance; it felt a bit bland, like there was no pining, and it was overall very instalovey (which I am not that much of a fan of), which is really not that great when it's supposed to be enemies to lovers.
Also, Aliesse kind of turned into a mushy type of situation as their relationship got more and more intense, and that's just stuff I hate.
And he was just kind of weird sometimes because if you plan revenge FOR YEARS and then suddenly the person you want to take that revenge on is hot and you are about to throw everything overboard,? Yeah, right. They also tried a somewhat love triangle type of thing, but yeah, no idea if that was intentional because they kinda made the third one a "bit" annoying.
But it was written in a cool way of nothing ever being black and white because from the beginning to the end, your perspective changes completely on who is the villain and who is the hero (and not just once), which was really cool to read.
But I liked it; the world-building was fun, and the characters all felt complex (something a lot of books can't really do nowadays). The only thing I disliked a bit was the romance; it felt a bit bland, like there was no pining, and it was overall very instalovey (which I am not that much of a fan of), which is really not that great when it's supposed to be enemies to lovers.
Also, Aliesse kind of turned into a mushy type of situation as their relationship got more and more intense, and that's just stuff I hate.
And he was just kind of weird sometimes because if you plan revenge FOR YEARS and then suddenly the person you want to take that revenge on is hot and you are about to throw everything overboard,? Yeah, right. They also tried a somewhat love triangle type of thing, but yeah, no idea if that was intentional because they kinda made the third one a "bit" annoying.
But it was written in a cool way of nothing ever being black and white because from the beginning to the end, your perspective changes completely on who is the villain and who is the hero (and not just once), which was really cool to read.
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
Overall I enjoyed this a lot. The world building is really interesting and dark. The characters all felt decently complex. The only thing I didn't love was the romance just because it felt much more tell than show. It was missing the pining before the ultimate revelation.
I liked this, especially the beginning. It just felt like it kind of fizzled out by the end. I will definitely be reading the next book, though.
Oh myyyyyy. I picked this up because the cover is beautiful (I'm soft like that). I had zero expectations going into this but HOLY CHEESEBALLS I fell in love with the story. I'm not saying this book was pefect (it had tons of flaws) but I just looooved how invested I was in the characters and the adventure.
I rooted for Bastien and Ailesse immediately. Like how can you not? Even though I hate cheesy instalove, I am a sucker for enemies to lovers tropes. And Sabine? I loooved her. That character growth. Plus the world building, the history of the Bone Criers, the French language. I just reveled in it.
But of course there were some things that irked me. Like the fact that Ailesse would have been able to save everyone if Jules hadn't gotten in the way (that girl needs to get punched in the boob). The fact that Ailesse's character turned into a mess as the book drew to a close (does love really make you THAT crazy?). And of course, the cliffhanger.
I can't believe I might have to wait a whole year for the next book.
Gorgeous cover and an interesting take on the enemies-to-lovers trope with a side of fated soulmates . I'm pretty happy with the development of feelings and the relationship but it's not the most fulfilling and there's Stockholm syndrome tones that don't sit comfortably with me.
The world building is also interesting, but isn't terribly cohesive and sound once you give things some thought. Like what exactly are Tyrus and Elara's plans, because they seem to be working against each other rather than being fated lovers. Secret enclaves of ferriers who only have one daughter also feel like they wouldn't be secret for long if they didn't die out first.
Altogether though, it's interesting enough I'll finish the duology if my library purchases the second book.
Spoiler
or at least assumed to be fated soulmatesThe world building is also interesting, but isn't terribly cohesive and sound once you give things some thought. Like what exactly are Tyrus and Elara's plans, because they seem to be working against each other rather than being fated lovers. Secret enclaves of ferriers who only have one daughter also feel like they wouldn't be secret for long if they didn't die out first.
Altogether though, it's interesting enough I'll finish the duology if my library purchases the second book.
This book was honestly disappointing. I went in with a lot of expectations but found it to feel like it was for a much younger reader group. It felt like it was marketed towards middle grade instead of teens, and the only thing that made it a teen book was the frequency of violence and one slight innuendo.
One of the biggest subplots is the romance between Bastien and Ailesse, which is not at all satisfying. In fact, their love doesn't even begin to appear until over half way into the book. I was hoping this book would be a slowburn/enemies to lovers, but there was no slowburn to be found, it was like a hint of a flame that immediately sputtered out.
Also, I'm incredibly frustrated with the character of the matrone being evil and the subplot of Sabine being Ailesse's half-sister. It all feels too corny to be real, like a lazy attempt at a subplot. This book had good bones, and could have been so good but it just missed the mark entirely.
The only thing that redeemed it for me was the worldbuilding and magic system. Ailesse and Sabine's convictions and personal assessments of Bone Crier's was an interesting way to flesh out their own character arcs, and evoke thinking in the audience. This story was founded on a truly interesting concept, but could have been executed so much better. It only really picked up at the end so now I feel obligated to read the sequel.
One of the biggest subplots is the romance between Bastien and Ailesse, which is not at all satisfying. In fact, their love doesn't even begin to appear until over half way into the book. I was hoping this book would be a slowburn/enemies to lovers, but there was no slowburn to be found, it was like a hint of a flame that immediately sputtered out.
Also, I'm incredibly frustrated with the character of the matrone being evil and the subplot of Sabine being Ailesse's half-sister. It all feels too corny to be real, like a lazy attempt at a subplot. This book had good bones, and could have been so good but it just missed the mark entirely.
The only thing that redeemed it for me was the worldbuilding and magic system. Ailesse and Sabine's convictions and personal assessments of Bone Crier's was an interesting way to flesh out their own character arcs, and evoke thinking in the audience. This story was founded on a truly interesting concept, but could have been executed so much better. It only really picked up at the end so now I feel obligated to read the sequel.
I'm sorry, it was just so boring. This is the first time this year that I had to force myself to keep reading. I LOVED the premise! The world-building, and the reaper-like magic system! I loved how each chapter had a 'moon' phase above it to tell us what phase the moon was in. But when the two main characters met up, it took a huge dive for me.
I was completely invested in Bastien's revenge. Because I agree with his stand on deserving it. But it all gets de-railed because Ailesse 'is hot.' We should even feel bad for Jules, but they try to make her unlikable on purpose. I enjoyed the love-triangle aspect, and almost thought for a second they might go for a little polygamy, but I knew better than to think this book had that kind of progression.
It's just.. the pacing was too fast. 'Someone threw a thing, something died, I tripped, I ran. 'HEY' We're next door. I pulled out a blanket.' Like what? Give me a minute to bask in the scenes! Lol, I noticed I kept coming up with excuses for other stuff I could do instead of reading. That's how much I didn't want to continue. There were too many 'conveniences,' of things that would happen just in the right way for the right thing to happen.
It was an interesting end to how it finished off, and I know a lot of people liked Sabine more. I did at first, but it kind of seemed irrelevant. Idk, it's just... the whole plot being de-railed because 'oh crap, she's hot.'
But it's a shame because the cover of the book is so GORGEOUS, I wanted to like to so bad!! I probably won't read the sequel. Sorry, I just didn't like it.
I was completely invested in Bastien's revenge. Because I agree with his stand on deserving it. But it all gets de-railed because Ailesse 'is hot.' We should even feel bad for Jules, but they try to make her unlikable on purpose. I enjoyed the love-triangle aspect, and almost thought for a second they might go for a little polygamy, but I knew better than to think this book had that kind of progression.
It's just.. the pacing was too fast. 'Someone threw a thing, something died, I tripped, I ran. 'HEY' We're next door. I pulled out a blanket.' Like what? Give me a minute to bask in the scenes! Lol, I noticed I kept coming up with excuses for other stuff I could do instead of reading. That's how much I didn't want to continue. There were too many 'conveniences,' of things that would happen just in the right way for the right thing to happen.
It was an interesting end to how it finished off, and I know a lot of people liked Sabine more. I did at first, but it kind of seemed irrelevant. Idk, it's just... the whole plot being de-railed because 'oh crap, she's hot.'
But it's a shame because the cover of the book is so GORGEOUS, I wanted to like to so bad!! I probably won't read the sequel. Sorry, I just didn't like it.
Ya dejo claro que no pienso leerme el segundo. No se si lo empecé a leer en un mal momento porque llevo una semana de mucho estrés, si no estaba yo en el mood de este libro o si efectivamente el libro es una mierda, pero a mí no me gustó y me caen mal todos los personajes.
Al principio si muy super interesante el sistema de magia y la familia de hechiceras, me parece que está muy bien creado la verdad, es muy interesante todo el lore que tienen. Pero es que en cuanto secuestran a Ailese (osea, al principio ya) todo se va a la mierda. No hay un solo personaje, excepto Ailese, al que no le quiere meter un bofetón a ver si espabila chaval. Menos mal quw Bastien remonta a medio libro porque que hartura.
Bastien es absolutamente insoportable con su rabia ciega hasta que se enamora de Ailese. Jules es absolutamente insoportable con su rabia ciega y sus celos super infantiles todo el rato. Marcel está bien pero es un pusilánime, chico imponte un poco. Sabine pintaba bien al principio por su oposición moral a matar y tal, pero resulta que es una pringada sin ningún tipo de pensamiento ni personalidad propias en el cuerpo chico. Todo el libro guiándose por la lechuza, siendo estúpida, que no sabe si odia o quiere a la matrone cuando resulta ser su madre... Es que no la soporto es tontisima la odio. Ailese es el único personaje bien hecho, que no me dan ganas de tirarme del pelo cada vez que habla, y que además tiene una evolución de personaje que me gusta.
Y luego, la trama de Odiva queriendo resucitar a su amor y que para ello tiene que matar a Ailese pero ella no quiere y bla bla bla, al final qué? Porque no los pintaban como en plan uuuu mira como reza a quien no debe y los rituales que hace y rl cráneo que tiene al cuello seguro que está haciendo algo super malo uuu y luego lo único que hacía era pedir que le devolvieran a su novio, absurdo de verdad. Y luego al final se mata para estar con él. Es que es ridículo chicos.
Y nada, la trama del siguiente libro mr parece innecesaria. Seguramente haya mínimo una escena de Ailese convenciendo a Bastien de que quiere al príncipe solo para poder protegerlo o una mierda así. Sabine ayudando a Bastian a rescatarla solo pq, una vez más, le manda la lechuza. Ailese que ahora está rn contra de matar al amouré, pero a la vez en teoría lo va a matar. Es que sinceramente me da igual lo que pase, no estoy intrigada y no le tengo cariño suficiente a ningún personaje como para seguir leyendo.
Y como último apunte, Bastien tenía que haber muerto. Si tienes los cojones a clavarle un cuchillo por la espalda a tu protagonista masculino, déjalo muerto. Esa herida tenía que dejarlo muero o, mínimo, paralítico, y no curarse con unos puntos, a mi no me jodas
Al principio si muy super interesante el sistema de magia y la familia de hechiceras, me parece que está muy bien creado la verdad, es muy interesante todo el lore que tienen. Pero es que en cuanto secuestran a Ailese (osea, al principio ya) todo se va a la mierda. No hay un solo personaje, excepto Ailese, al que no le quiere meter un bofetón a ver si espabila chaval. Menos mal quw Bastien remonta a medio libro porque que hartura.
Bastien es absolutamente insoportable con su rabia ciega hasta que se enamora de Ailese. Jules es absolutamente insoportable con su rabia ciega y sus celos super infantiles todo el rato. Marcel está bien pero es un pusilánime, chico imponte un poco. Sabine pintaba bien al principio por su oposición moral a matar y tal, pero resulta que es una pringada sin ningún tipo de pensamiento ni personalidad propias en el cuerpo chico. Todo el libro guiándose por la lechuza, siendo estúpida, que no sabe si odia o quiere a la matrone cuando resulta ser su madre... Es que no la soporto es tontisima la odio. Ailese es el único personaje bien hecho, que no me dan ganas de tirarme del pelo cada vez que habla, y que además tiene una evolución de personaje que me gusta.
Y luego, la trama de Odiva queriendo resucitar a su amor y que para ello tiene que matar a Ailese pero ella no quiere y bla bla bla, al final qué? Porque no los pintaban como en plan uuuu mira como reza a quien no debe y los rituales que hace y rl cráneo que tiene al cuello seguro que está haciendo algo super malo uuu y luego lo único que hacía era pedir que le devolvieran a su novio, absurdo de verdad. Y luego al final se mata para estar con él. Es que es ridículo chicos.
Y nada, la trama del siguiente libro mr parece innecesaria. Seguramente haya mínimo una escena de Ailese convenciendo a Bastien de que quiere al príncipe solo para poder protegerlo o una mierda así. Sabine ayudando a Bastian a rescatarla solo pq, una vez más, le manda la lechuza. Ailese que ahora está rn contra de matar al amouré, pero a la vez en teoría lo va a matar. Es que sinceramente me da igual lo que pase, no estoy intrigada y no le tengo cariño suficiente a ningún personaje como para seguir leyendo.
Y como último apunte, Bastien tenía que haber muerto. Si tienes los cojones a clavarle un cuchillo por la espalda a tu protagonista masculino, déjalo muerto. Esa herida tenía que dejarlo muero o, mínimo, paralítico, y no curarse con unos puntos, a mi no me jodas