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rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual content
cait_reads_and_drinks's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
megannoelle's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Violence
lalii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Suicide
onthesamepage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn't find the writing style to be as overwrought as I was half expecting it to be. I will say that the author uses more words than are strictly necessary, but overall I found it readable enough for my tastes. However, she makes some stylistic choices that I didn't like. For example, two characters might be starting a discussion, and then the POV character remembers this other conversation they had with someone else, and we get that entire conversation in the form of a flashback in the middle of the current discussion. It happened often enough that I noticed it.
Characters
I was hoping that I would connect to at least a couple of them, but the most I can say is that they were, mostly, fine. There are characters that we are clearly meant to dislike and mistrust because of the power they have and how they choose to wield it. I think I enjoyed Nico's perspective the most out of the six. I really liked his relationship with Gideon, and the protectiveness he feels towards his friends. I'm pretty lukewarm on the rest of them.
Plot
It's not that this book doesn't have a plot at all, but most of it is characters talking and interacting with each other. The plot is truly minimal, in my opinion. There's a lot of focus on them studying, getting to know each other, and experimenting with their magic. If you like books that have very strong vibes, this might work for you. I don't think it's character-driven either—there's no meaningful growth for any of the six points of view that we get. It's possible that this happens in later books, and I'm curious to see if the sequel will have more of a plot as well.
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Gaslighting
bookswithmaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Cursing, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
maello's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you love secrets/scheming/secret agendas, multiple POV's, and dark academia/magic stuff, I would definitely recommend this book! However if that doesn't sound like something that interests you, this book probably won't be your cup of tea. Some of the characters feel snooty or with a superior complex but I think it's normal to pick favorites of your characters depending on who you empathize most with. The dialogue does get a bit wordy at times and I am definitely guilty of skipping paragraphs here and there once it was but I truly did enjoy the book. I just have attention span/instant-gratification needed issues.
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcohol
themiscyra_anna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Suicide, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Bullying, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
bfaythe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide