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readerette's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The ending was a strange choice given the tenor of the rest of the storytelling, but this was an immersive, dark read full of complex characters and magic in a grimy, monstrous dimension just a little offset from our own. I found myself frequently worried about the odds of survival for each main character and about their abilities to overcome their enemies and the consequences of their mistakes, which lent tension and realism to the story.
It also feels like it's meant to be continued, so I guess we'll see if there's ever another.
Heed the content warnings. I have a middling tolerance for fictional gore, and this one tested my boundaries for sure.
It also feels like it's meant to be continued, so I guess we'll see if there's ever another.
Heed the content warnings. I have a middling tolerance for fictional gore, and this one tested my boundaries for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and Cursing
thiscryptidreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
📖 - 393 pages
Genre: occult horror
POV: Single
Read via the Libby app
This was a vivid gory acid trip. Constantine meets American Gods vibes with a dash of Angels Wolf, Ram, and Hart.
I loved the characters they all had so much depth you wanted to know more about them with each page turn, you're endeared and invested with Julie and her friends until the end and their mysterious, magical and macabre world.
The book is a bit stuffy to read at times. Using some verbiage, I felt you might need a dictionary or Google search to make sure you were following along right. There were so many layers to the story, and each chapter Ping ponged you somewhere else so quickly it was occasionally hard to follow, so much so that the ending felt rushed and a bit cliffhangery. I was left needing more. (Hopefully a book 2 happens)
The slow burn added a nice tension that really drove the characters all the way to the end despite their being no actual romance most of the time. You want to cheer for them.
Tyler can eat a bag of dicks. (No I won't explain further)
You can find more of my reviews on all social platforms under the username ThisCryptidReads.
Genre: occult horror
POV: Single
Read via the Libby app
This was a vivid gory acid trip. Constantine meets American Gods vibes with a dash of Angels Wolf, Ram, and Hart.
I loved the characters they all had so much depth you wanted to know more about them with each page turn, you're endeared and invested with Julie and her friends until the end and their mysterious, magical and macabre world.
The book is a bit stuffy to read at times. Using some verbiage, I felt you might need a dictionary or Google search to make sure you were following along right. There were so many layers to the story, and each chapter Ping ponged you somewhere else so quickly it was occasionally hard to follow, so much so that the ending felt rushed and a bit cliffhangery. I was left needing more. (Hopefully a book 2 happens)
The slow burn added a nice tension that really drove the characters all the way to the end despite their being no actual romance most of the time. You want to cheer for them.
Tyler can eat a bag of dicks. (No I won't explain further)
You can find more of my reviews on all social platforms under the username ThisCryptidReads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Addiction, Torture, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Vomit
j_nell's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.75
Tbh I probably should reread this one due to my less than full attention will it was playing. However, the plot and the characters are enthralling and when I was fully enrapt by the story I was fully entertained, laughing, grossed out, worried for our heroine, concerned for her friends, curious about what was going to happen next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
autumnrevisited's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
sarcomatic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For a book featuring cosmic horror and a fair amount of gore, this was a fun light read that made me feel like I was watching an action movie, complete with the loveable cast of characters and their constant quips even amidst tense moments of exorcising demons. The pacing was great, and we had just enough rotation of perspectives where it was exciting to get different perspectives, and not confusing. And of course, I love gay yearning. I'm not a romance reader, but the amount of romance in this book was perfect for me as I was honestly wishing for a little bit more! I will be purchasing the sequel as soon as it releases.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Minor: Drug use
istaisa's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Body horror, Self harm, and Gore
jessicafee86's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
I heard someone describe Cassandra Khaw's writing as gorgeously, gooey horror and this book is a perfect example of that. This is the only book I've ever read that has felt weirdly hopeful even while I'm digging through endless piles of intestines and bowel for pages on end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Murder, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Torture, Cursing, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Grief
odunayo_y's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Damn the horror tag was no joke lmao. This was gorier and more body horror than i was expecting. I loved it though(the edgelord in me will never die it seems).
The prose/writing was great! Unless when it wasn’t. I guess this is just what happens when two authors write a book. There were bits that felt disjointed and i felt didn’t really add anything to the overall story nor where they character building either. Also there was the occasional contradiction in characterisation.
But all those i could forgive, what majorly tanked my enjoyment was the romance…it was written kinda badly these women were 30 yet they were acting all blushy and awkward like teens in a badly written fanfic 💀 and i really couldn’t buy that they were that totally 100% head over heels in love with each other. It would technically be instalove if not for the fact that Sarah and Julie had known each other for years prior to the story. I still ride hard for my sapphics and they were cute together but their romance could’ve been written better.
Now enough whinging! The magic oh the Magic it was glorious! Gross and Erdrich and beautiful. Julie was a fvck up but i felt for her like a drowned stinky rat, kinda gross but a little cute too.
I’m still extremely pissed that Tyler didn’t die by the end what a weasly backstabbing bitch man. Imo he had more plot armour than the actual protagonist ðŸ˜. I know he’s obviously being set up as the main villain for the next book but damn hate him so much, especially for what what he did to my queens Annabeth & Clarice 😞
Also loved the Barghest twins, big buff funky eldritch abomination werewolf-thing ladies mwah.
All in all pretty darn good book and highly recommend if you can tolerate the gore(it gets really nasty God damn) and won’t be bothered by jarring writing shifts.
Bonus: No Sexual Assault! The worst in terms of sex stuff is a sleazy albeit consensual off page sexual encounter between two adults.
The prose/writing was great! Unless when it wasn’t. I guess this is just what happens when two authors write a book. There were bits that felt disjointed and i felt didn’t really add anything to the overall story nor where they character building either. Also there was the occasional contradiction in characterisation.
But all those i could forgive, what majorly tanked my enjoyment was the romance…it was written kinda badly these women were 30 yet they were acting all blushy and awkward like teens in a badly written fanfic 💀 and i really couldn’t buy that they were that totally 100% head over heels in love with each other. It would technically be instalove if not for the fact that Sarah and Julie had known each other for years prior to the story. I still ride hard for my sapphics and they were cute together but their romance could’ve been written better.
Now enough whinging! The magic oh the Magic it was glorious! Gross and Erdrich and beautiful. Julie was a fvck up but i felt for her like a drowned stinky rat, kinda gross but a little cute too.
I’m still extremely pissed that Tyler didn’t die by the end what a weasly backstabbing bitch man. Imo he had more plot armour than the actual protagonist ðŸ˜. I know he’s obviously being set up as the main villain for the next book but damn hate him so much, especially for what what he did to my queens Annabeth & Clarice 😞
Also loved the Barghest twins, big buff funky eldritch abomination werewolf-thing ladies mwah.
All in all pretty darn good book and highly recommend if you can tolerate the gore(it gets really nasty God damn) and won’t be bothered by jarring writing shifts.
Bonus: No Sexual Assault! The worst in terms of sex stuff is a sleazy albeit consensual off page sexual encounter between two adults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Vomit, Self harm, Addiction, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Stalking, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual content
mmuutthh's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a fun, brisk read that is my introduction to both of these authors. I would be happy to pick up something by either individually to see if some of the things I didn't really latch on to were general interests of both authors or elevated more by one than the other. That tone is one of those "everybody sounds the same and says 'fuck' a lot, does drugs, and is way cooler than you," which is fine, but I kind of feel like I grew out of that after reading too much Warren Ellis. To each their own.
I loved the horror elements and some of it worked good twists on those tried and true cosmic beings from beyond tropes.
I want a book all about St. Joan!
I loved the horror elements and some of it worked good twists on those tried and true cosmic beings from beyond tropes.
I want a book all about St. Joan!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Self harm, Violence, Death, Cursing, Gore, Body horror, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gun violence, and Blood
soloros's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great book. Some of the dialogue is a little ham fisted but overall a fun read. If you’re squeamish, be prepared to skip some pretty detailed and graphic descriptions of gore and violence to organs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Violence, and Drug abuse