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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm very conflicted. I loved all the folklore; I loved the world. All the different bath houses were super interesting to me and it's a shame they weren't utilized more. I really do wish in general there was just more, which for a book that's just around 400 pages is a wild thing to say. I liked Kazik and Gisela, but I couldn't bring myself to like Aleksey. he was so suspicious from the get-go and the finding out he was a bies... I mean the morality of how the throuple was going to work had me ready to tear my hair out. cause technically he's possessing Aleksey. I have to say the ending came up out of nowhere and then it just sort of ended, left open ended for I'm guessing maybe a sequel following Aleksey and the bies. I think I'd be interested in more, but I still just don't know. Also let's shout out the cover??? It's beautiful!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
O livro começou ok, mas ficou bem chatinho e se tornou tapete arrastado, nada acontecia nem com o casal nem com a trama. A segunda metade foi infinitamente melhor, mas muita coisa foi apressada e mal desenvolvida. O trouple é confuso e pouco desenvolvido com os três indivíduos ao mesmo tempo, a melhor parte do livro definitivamente foi eles dançando e se divertindo juntos no festival, queria ter lido mais momentos assim. O mistério por trás da morte da Gisela foi péssimo, sério… não esperei tanto, mas esperava mais do que aquilo né.
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
The characterization of this novel is amazing. While reading, I found myself interested in every character in the story and drawn into their backstories (and mysteries). Kazik, Aleksey, and Gisela’s POVs did not deter from the story but added to it in nice ways and their romance was great . Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the folklore showcased in this story.
Why I am not giving this five stars is because
1. The ending was a bit rushed at times. The pace could have been slowed, for I had to read back to make sure I didn’t skip anything (especially at the Crystal Palace)
2. I really wished they confronted Aleksey!!!!!! I feel the plot suffered because of it and the drama that could have occurred, ahhh I felt like screaming at the end for I really wanted to see it!
3. I wished this book had closure to what was introduced in this novel. It is clear the author plans for a sequel… but to leave on a cliffhanger like that left me unsatisfied. I read works that had sequels but closed in a way that left me wanting more but not in an unsatisfactory way like this one. I really wished the ending was more satisfying.
4. Exposition was repeated like crazy, especially about Hugo and the combs that at some points it got tiring to read
I did enjoy this novel a lot (even if it is a genre I don’t read often it made me want more) and will be looking forward to the sequel. For, I enjoyed this spirit filled poly novel and would love to go back to the beautiful settings described.
Why I am not giving this five stars is because
2. I really wished they confronted Aleksey!!!!!! I feel the plot suffered because of it and the drama that could have occurred, ahhh I felt like screaming at the end for I really wanted to see it!
3. I wished this book had closure to what was introduced in this novel. It is clear the author plans for a sequel… but to leave on a cliffhanger like that left me unsatisfied. I read works that had sequels but closed in a way that left me wanting more but not in an unsatisfactory way like this one. I really wished the ending was more satisfying.
4. Exposition was repeated like crazy, especially about Hugo and the combs that at some points it got tiring to read
I did enjoy this novel a lot (even if it is a genre I don’t read often it made me want more) and will be looking forward to the sequel. For, I enjoyed this spirit filled poly novel and would love to go back to the beautiful settings described.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
The queer Slavic folklore retelling novel of your dreams: if you’re upset that love triangles never have the boys fall for each other too, this book is for you. All three mains (but mostly Gisela and Kazik) were easy to love and root for, even if a little heavy on the “sunshine x grumpy” trope. The supporting characters were a delight as well, from Zuzanna to Wojciech and all the rusalki (let’s go lesbians). It’s a love story over anything else, but I would have loved even more lore behind the magic and saints. And there has to be a book two, that ending was Not satisfying at all!!!
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this cozy story was a lovely side quest from my normal reading. the beautiful cover drew me in, but the words inside also had a beautiful story to tell. the themes of sexuality and acceptance of love in a polyamorous relationship were very refreshing, and i’m glad that while it was an important topic, it wasn’t overly done to the point where it overshadowed the plot…
…and the plot itself was so well-done. every character changed drastically from beginning to end, in ways that made them more loveable and relatable. even the “villain” didn’t seem so bad in the end, and i enjoyed having that perspective to read from as well.
weaving in slavic folklore to the plot was not only something i hadn’t seen before, but something i enjoyed greatly. the old creatures and stories, mixed with a modern-day retelling, added an extra air of whimsy that uplifted the heavier themes of the book.
very happy with this read!
…and the plot itself was so well-done. every character changed drastically from beginning to end, in ways that made them more loveable and relatable. even the “villain” didn’t seem so bad in the end, and i enjoyed having that perspective to read from as well.
weaving in slavic folklore to the plot was not only something i hadn’t seen before, but something i enjoyed greatly. the old creatures and stories, mixed with a modern-day retelling, added an extra air of whimsy that uplifted the heavier themes of the book.
very happy with this read!