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morganewg's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Stellar book - complex plot that was enjoyable to puzzle out, and loveable characters. The magic system and Occulture at large was complex and not thoroughly explained, which I enjoyed unlike some other readers. It lends a sense of realism to the environment, since it's not like the average person could explain physics in detail to you in our world and likewise the average witch should not be able to explain magic. I would gladly read more in this universe and eagerly await more books from Smyth.jacemchale's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Totally loved this book. It sets up a series and leaves you asking questions, but it makes me excited for the next installment.
This book scratches a weird crossover itch with paranormal books and mystery books with a murder being solved by a group of three witches. I loved each one of the main characters so much even if they all have their flaws. Mallory's chronic pain makes her understandably cranky in some representation I loved, because it's truly difficult to be peppy all the time, especially with chronic pain. Diana is truly loveable with plenty of ex-girlfriends but the kind of friend to give tough love when it's needed. Cornelia experiences privileges with wealth and power and understands that systems are often unfair while also trying to battle some injustices while they try to solve murders.
I loved this book, and while the mystery isn't technically overly complicated the added magic mixed with science adds another layer to the mystery and makes it fresh and compelling.
This book scratches a weird crossover itch with paranormal books and mystery books with a murder being solved by a group of three witches. I loved each one of the main characters so much even if they all have their flaws. Mallory's chronic pain makes her understandably cranky in some representation I loved, because it's truly difficult to be peppy all the time, especially with chronic pain. Diana is truly loveable with plenty of ex-girlfriends but the kind of friend to give tough love when it's needed. Cornelia experiences privileges with wealth and power and understands that systems are often unfair while also trying to battle some injustices while they try to solve murders.
I loved this book, and while the mystery isn't technically overly complicated the added magic mixed with science adds another layer to the mystery and makes it fresh and compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Ableism
Minor: Classism, Body shaming, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
fionamclary's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.0
This book was funny and full of heart. I loved our main characters and especially related to Mallory given that a chronic illness has been increasingly disabling me for the past year and a half. I enjoyed the take on a magical culture/society that maps nicely onto the human diversity of the real world.
However, I found the lore to be frustratingly thin. It didn't make sense to me how many seemingly basic aspects of magic were unknown to Occulture before the events of the story(such as spells and people being able to travel via witchlight) , and the history of the Ternion remained vague and confusing throughout. It meant that by the end I still didn't understand what it would actually mean for someone to summon or join the Ternion , and what the motivation/thought process would be that would lead someone to this decision. I also felt that the details of how the ritual murders themselves worked were very poorly fleshed out. E.g. how does one make the death blade ? How does it work? This was super frustrating and majorly detracted from the quality of the story. However, I think this author has a lot of potential, and I'd be intrigued if a second book happens, as the ending of this book seemed to be allowing for. There's still some mysteries unsolved!
Also, I really want a movie version now just so that Nathan Foad can play Theodore. I think that would go so hard.
However, I found the lore to be frustratingly thin. It didn't make sense to me how many seemingly basic aspects of magic were unknown to Occulture before the events of the story
Also, I really want a movie version now just so that Nathan Foad can play Theodore. I think that would go so hard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Ableism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, and Murder
Minor: Medical content, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Violence
blewballoon's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Really struggling to rate this one, there are a lot of things I liked about it conceptually, but something also felt off the whole time. I think the dialogue sometimes didn't flow right and bent unnaturally to accommodate humor or to obfuscate a plot point. I figured out most of the pieces of the mystery really early on, and it was frustrating how much the book put those reveals off, even though I usually don't mind when that happens for me in a mystery book. It made The Undetectables seem incompetent. I appreciated the fibromyalgia representation, and I sympathize with Mallory, but I did find her hard to like from the beginning when she lashes out at Theodore . I loved Theodore, and Diana was pretty great as well. If there are more books in this universe I'll probably check them out. It's kind of like Halloween town for adults, which is fun, and maybe the off vibes I felt won't be as much of an issue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Grief, Death, and Chronic illness
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Ableism
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Body horror, Cursing, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement
aseel_reads's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
2.75
so much potential but the actual story did not deliever. the mystery element was so boring and didn't pack a punch. the magic system was also super surface level and boring? which is so heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Classism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexism, Bullying, Ableism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Chronic illness, Body horror, and Death
lbelow's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
I am a person with fibromyalgia in a flare reading about a fantasy character with fibromyalgia fighting off a flare and it is everything. This book made me feel so seen! I love the complex relationships between Mallory and her friends, and how they all vow to do better in the future. I love the little nuances sprinkled through that seem inconsequential but become turning points in the book. I love the humour and the love and the depiction of grief. Everything, EVERYTHING in this book was just magical!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Chronic illness, Ableism, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Death, and Murder
crownoflaurel's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Ableism, and Blood
fromjuliereads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
I went into this book based on an author I like posting about it (Lillie Lainoff), the tagline, and the synopsis. And I wasn't disappointed! I was looking for a unique premise and awesome characters, and this book definitely delivered on both!
Let's get the minor notes out of the way first. I think that this definitely had a slower pace than I expected as a fantasy mystery. There are a few spots in the middle that lagged - but the characters do keep you interested! I think this might be more a debut thing since the author has written more short stories previously. And nothing against the book, but I did guess the villain earlier than the characters.
But my list of good far outweighs those notes!!
- I really loved these characters! They are quirky, badass, and relatable! Mallory is taller than average, Cornelia wears glasses and is blunt, and Diana is plus-size and THEY ARE ALL SMART IN THEIR OWN WAYS. They have their strengths and distinct personalities and they all love each other for who they are. It's honestly one of my favourite friendships I've read.
- queernormative characters - like, lots of them. And there are multiple nonbinary characters with they/them pronouns on page.
- chronic illness rep. Mallory has fibromyalgia and it is part of her character and the plot in a realistic way. It was great to see it part of the story and how it affects her, both physically and mentally. While I don't have chronic illness, I have migraine and pain days and Mallory felt really relatable to me in a lot of ways. Which is amazing to see in a fantasy novel!
- while I did see who the villain was going to be, the backstory and WHY, how it's revealed, were all a surprise to me and well done! I didn't see that route coming honestly.
- Theodore.
While I don't think everyone will LOVE this book, there are definitely people who will appreciate everything I listed above with the mix of magic, witches, and the occult.
Let's get the minor notes out of the way first. I think that this definitely had a slower pace than I expected as a fantasy mystery. There are a few spots in the middle that lagged - but the characters do keep you interested! I think this might be more a debut thing since the author has written more short stories previously. And nothing against the book, but I did guess the villain earlier than the characters.
But my list of good far outweighs those notes!!
- I really loved these characters! They are quirky, badass, and relatable! Mallory is taller than average, Cornelia wears glasses and is blunt, and Diana is plus-size and THEY ARE ALL SMART IN THEIR OWN WAYS. They have their strengths and distinct personalities and they all love each other for who they are. It's honestly one of my favourite friendships I've read.
- queernormative characters - like, lots of them. And there are multiple nonbinary characters with they/them pronouns on page.
- chronic illness rep. Mallory has fibromyalgia and it is part of her character and the plot in a realistic way. It was great to see it part of the story and how it affects her, both physically and mentally. While I don't have chronic illness, I have migraine and pain days and Mallory felt really relatable to me in a lot of ways. Which is amazing to see in a fantasy novel!
- while I did see who the villain was going to be, the backstory and WHY, how it's revealed, were all a surprise to me and well done! I didn't see that route coming honestly.
- Theodore.
While I don't think everyone will LOVE this book, there are definitely people who will appreciate everything I listed above with the mix of magic, witches, and the occult.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship
Bugs, room full of bugspurplepenning's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A unique serial killer thriller in an urban fantasy setting that follows a trio of Gen-Z magical folk as they investigate — a fresh, spooky season read for murder mystery fans!
I picked it up for the tagline: "Be Gay. Solve crimes. Take naps." The writing didn't immediately click for me because I couldn't quite get a feel for the setting and characters, but I stuck with it for the absurdly endearing character of Theodore (an irrepressible ghost stuck in the ridiculous cat costume he died in on Halloween), the excellently portrayed chronic pain rep, and the Gen Z voice of it all. By the end, I found myself hoping that this is going to be the first in a series.
I picked it up for the tagline: "Be Gay. Solve crimes. Take naps." The writing didn't immediately click for me because I couldn't quite get a feel for the setting and characters, but I stuck with it for the absurdly endearing character of Theodore (an irrepressible ghost stuck in the ridiculous cat costume he died in on Halloween), the excellently portrayed chronic pain rep, and the Gen Z voice of it all. By the end, I found myself hoping that this is going to be the first in a series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Body horror, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Ableism, Animal death, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol