Scan barcode
carysbeesbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
woolgathering_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
"I'm here for the same reason you are. To dance."
I knew I didn't like scary books, but this one just sounded so good! Well, after I've read it, I'm certain that scary books are not for me haha. But even though I couldn't read this book while it was dark outside (ridiculous, I know), I loved the suspension and the feeling that I knew something was going on, but I didn't have a clue why. The dark vibes and mystery often switched to a lovely chatting and dancing at a ball during only a couple of pages, and I liked that for some reason. I never knew what would be the next chapter about. After finishing the book, the sweet scenes left a pretty bitter aftertaste, but oh well.
The only thing I didn't like was that some things toward the ending felt a little too convenient and I needed further explanation about why they were the way they were. But I read the last 100 pages so fast and was so immersed into the story that I didn't even really care. That's also why I give this book 4.5 stars, for the majority of the book I thought this would be a 5-star read, and if the ending wasn't so good, the too-convenient things would cost this book a full star.
And, of course, I can't forget about the perfect love interest and the spooky vibes, just right for a fast read before Halloween. Overall, I'd recommend, even if scary books aren't really your thing.
The only thing I didn't like was that some things toward the ending felt a little too convenient and I needed further explanation about why they were the way they were. But I read the last 100 pages so fast and was so immersed into the story that I didn't even really care. That's also why I give this book 4.5 stars, for the majority of the book I thought this would be a 5-star read, and if the ending wasn't so good, the too-convenient things would cost this book a full star.
And, of course, I can't forget about the perfect love interest and the spooky vibes, just right for a fast read before Halloween. Overall, I'd recommend, even if scary books aren't really your thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
chichisode's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, and Pregnancy
slimy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I feel like this book is just so close to being a great YA fantasy that I would have loved at 12/13. There’s one scene that I talk about below that is SERIOUSLY out of place, but mostly this book felt unfocused and scattered.
There’s a romance that’s supposed to grab your interest in the early chapters that just disappears halfway into the book when a new romantic interest is introduced. There’s no explanation to this world’s government structure and thusly the MC’s family’s place in it. It’s an underdeveloped mystery that doesn’t really get resolved or avenged. The bad stuff happens, and then the people who did the bad things just… go back to where they came from… with no punishment, accountability, or remorse.
There are some really cute parts that I think reflect the sweeter, lighter side of YA, like innocent romances and the relationships between sisters. The MC is very relatable and reflects her age well.
I would place this book firmly in YA, with the exception of one seriously out of place scene that I don’t believe is age appropriate or fits the book.
* TW r@p£ and SA*
There’s one scene at the end, which marks the final climactic push before we wind into falling action. The stepmother (uncharacteristically and unconvincingly) has a change of heart and tries to undo a deal she’s wagered with a demon/devil (he’s confusing, I don’t know). The way that she makes this deal is by offering up herself to be pretty brutally raped in front of her two eldest step-daughters. The demon/devil then LITERALLY rapes her into a pile of bones. When I read this scene I literally had to take like 10 minutes to understand what was actually happening. Literally no precedence for this sort of content within this book or with its intended audience. Really really out of place. That should have been caught by content editors, beta readers, etc. It does not have a place in the book and only serves to shock/alarm the reader without furthering the plot or providing resolution.
There’s a romance that’s supposed to grab your interest in the early chapters that just disappears halfway into the book when a new romantic interest is introduced. There’s no explanation to this world’s government structure and thusly the MC’s family’s place in it. It’s an underdeveloped mystery that doesn’t really get resolved or avenged. The bad stuff happens, and then the people who did the bad things just… go back to where they came from… with no punishment, accountability, or remorse.
There are some really cute parts that I think reflect the sweeter, lighter side of YA, like innocent romances and the relationships between sisters. The MC is very relatable and reflects her age well.
I would place this book firmly in YA, with the exception of one seriously out of place scene that I don’t believe is age appropriate or fits the book.
* TW r@p£ and SA*
There’s one scene at the end, which marks the final climactic push before we wind into falling action. The stepmother (uncharacteristically and unconvincingly) has a change of heart and tries to undo a deal she’s wagered with a demon/devil (he’s confusing, I don’t know). The way that she makes this deal is by offering up herself to be pretty brutally raped in front of her two eldest step-daughters. The demon/devil then LITERALLY rapes her into a pile of bones. When I read this scene I literally had to take like 10 minutes to understand what was actually happening. Literally no precedence for this sort of content within this book or with its intended audience. Really really out of place. That should have been caught by content editors, beta readers, etc. It does not have a place in the book and only serves to shock/alarm the reader without furthering the plot or providing resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
tall_glass_of_hotness2021's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
katrinarose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a solid enjoyable spooky read! I liked the unreliable narrator, atmosphere, and premise. The romance fell a bit flat for me, though. This book isn’t ground-breaking or incredible, but it was fun
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
maddy_sofie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
4.5 stars and just because I was a bit slow reading this ( which is totally my fault and I know it, but it made the story a bit hard to put together for me)
I loved the slight horror aspect, the plot twists at the end and the bit of love which was just the right amount to not be the focus of the book but important enough to care.
I loved the slight horror aspect, the plot twists at the end and the bit of love which was just the right amount to not be the focus of the book but important enough to care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
alicelalicon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol
bluebleeder2001's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Suicide, Vomit, and Death of parent
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love how unique and twisted this story was. Despite this being a retelling of a fairy tale, Craig made this one of her own. Lots of exploration, especially with the violent / gore ish parts of the novel ! I enjoyed the red herrings and occasional side plots, not making the obvious person the obvious choice right away. Although a little wordy and could have been reduced by a few pages, the ending was such a sweet way to close the book. There were a few deaths that I wish didn’t happen but the love story that happens was enough to help me push through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail