Reviews

A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

marlieraines's review

adventurous dark sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

divinedemireader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.25

This took me so long to read/ listen to just cause my brain was overloaded with information that I was overthinking. I was trying to figure it out before it happened lmao. This was so magical and the picture It painted was gorgeous. I also loved the message that it portrayed and I’m excited for the series to continue.

sassysara's review against another edition

3.25

A repetitive and cliche romantasy book. But did I enjoy reading it? Yes. Will I read the next one when it’s released? Also yes. 

kelraeski's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

kates_books's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I really wanted to love this book — and I did enjoy it — but I just wasn’t obsessed. It’s very heavy on the faerie lore and less romantasy than I thought it would be. It’s a mix between ACOTAR and EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES. While the world building was interesting at first, I found the book overall to be somewhat slow. I wanted to get to the action. I wanted more dialogue between the characters. So while I enjoyed the read overall, I don’t think I will continue the series. 

ee1000's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A twist on the swan princess story that’s fun but a bit predictable. I liked this story and the journey Fia goes on and her growth, I also loved our cast of characters. Eala was such an interesting character and I hope to see more of her in the next book. 

Overall, I wasn’t too surprised by the plot which is why it took me a bit longer to read this novel than usual but I did enjoy it and liked where things wrapped up. 

courtneylleon's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lilianaeloise's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

3.75 

A fun and unique retelling of some of our favourite fairy tales. With a beautiful blend of twelve dancing princesses and the swan princess set in an atmospheric, gothic fae land. 
With a unique setting, characters and style, a feather so black was an amazing read if you’re like me and love reading  books with fae, fairytale retellings and more than one morally grey character then this book is perfect for you. 
However, if you prefer books with a faster pace and no love triangle then avoid like the plague because this book takes it time really getting the nitty gritty of things. Although I will say, the love triangle has its moments, it was heavily one sided so when you get to the end of the book you are left questioning the characters choices. 
There was also an issue, for me personally, with some of the side characters. It felt as though one in particular just wasn’t fleshed out enough. Their motives for their behaviour just didn’t make sense to me, it was heavily implied as to why but it was rather vague and therefore it just felt like a bit of a last ditch effort to make this character evil and have a plot twist at the end of the book. 
Although an enjoyable read, it could’ve been perhaps 100 pages shorter.

luceeefur's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

I'm obsessed with Swan Lake so a retelling was in my wheelhouse, add in a bunch of Celtic mythology and I'm even happier. I do with the pronunciation guide had been at the front instead of the back, but that's a minor nitpick.

Exxcited to continue with this series next year. 

cas_reads_anything's review against another edition

3.75

Romantasy book centered on a love triangle between a childhood best friend who loves the FMC but has never really accepted the fact that they are part fae & a brooding morally gray (like, does bad things for bad reasons, not just, ooh he’s so misunderstood) fae character who wants the FMC to embrace her power. I read this in like 2 days, definitely easy to fly through. I liked all of the celtic names and mythology/references. I want to say Irish but I am not an expert. The pacing was weird—this took place over a full year where two of the characters could only go to faerie once a month? but it didn’t really bother me. 

My favorite part was probably the juxtaposition between a human girl who grew up in faerie and a faerie changeling who grew up in the human world; two “sisters” separated by circumstances and very different.