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challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am not one to write thourough reviews, especially because most books, though enjoyable, don't really stay in my memory for much long after. I tend to literary and classics, even nonfiction from time to time, even more now than I did 5 years ago. I read to ease my mind, to distract myself and hardly invest much time in them after. Some are worth thinking about, some are even worth writing about. Fantasy has disappointed me more and more recently, everything I put my hands on turned out to not meet my expectations. Whether Tiktok recommendations or books I found on my own. Nothing really caught me the way I remember fantasy did when I was fifteen. I deemed myself too old for fantasy or blamed it on the books entirely.
But this one? Fantasy is SO back. (to me, at least)
I was hooked immediately. The pace was interesting. Very fast and straight-forward, I think the first 200ish pages take place on the same two to three days.
The plot was the focus, I realized that soon enough. But Elspeth was the plot. She was character as much as she was the driving force, the unwinding direction this book took. All thanks to The Nightmare.
Every second in Elspeth's head, every idea she had and every thought she shared with The Nightmare left me wondering, aching. What was she up to? What was HE up to?
Everything was a question. A rhyme. Half-questions matched with half-answers. Nobody really deemed themselves worthy enough to actually explain what the actual fuck was going on here. It stung.
The magic system was a double-edged sword. It intruiged me the second I hearr about it. Magic from cards. Nothing comes for free. Uncontrolled magic deemed a danger.
The worldbuilding was lacking. But I think we didn't need anything more than what was told. I'm just too curious. I couldn't really picture Blunder in my head, like it, too, was covered by the mist. Dark, grey. Unfeeling.
Ravyn was a lovely addition from the start. Suspicious but lovely. He was as straight forward as the plot and I liked that. He had a mission and made it very clear that all his heart was into it. His family. Jespyr, Elm. His parents. Emory.
With a mission that traitorous, magic that defining, I thought, there's got to be a traitor? Someone who betrays the family, a black sheep.I was so surprised, so relieved that there wasnt. (Stupid Tyrn doesn't count. Ass.)
This book is as much romance as it is family. Unconditional love. I figure it is a love story but not a romance that carries through these pages. It's trust, it's a bond. Love. Love. Nothing but love. A story about love.
But this one? Fantasy is SO back. (to me, at least)
I was hooked immediately. The pace was interesting. Very fast and straight-forward, I think the first 200ish pages take place on the same two to three days.
The plot was the focus, I realized that soon enough. But Elspeth was the plot. She was character as much as she was the driving force, the unwinding direction this book took. All thanks to The Nightmare.
Every second in Elspeth's head, every idea she had and every thought she shared with The Nightmare left me wondering, aching. What was she up to? What was HE up to?
Everything was a question. A rhyme. Half-questions matched with half-answers. Nobody really deemed themselves worthy enough to actually explain what the actual fuck was going on here. It stung.
The magic system was a double-edged sword. It intruiged me the second I hearr about it. Magic from cards. Nothing comes for free. Uncontrolled magic deemed a danger.
The worldbuilding was lacking. But I think we didn't need anything more than what was told. I'm just too curious. I couldn't really picture Blunder in my head, like it, too, was covered by the mist. Dark, grey. Unfeeling.
Ravyn was a lovely addition from the start. Suspicious but lovely. He was as straight forward as the plot and I liked that. He had a mission and made it very clear that all his heart was into it. His family. Jespyr, Elm. His parents. Emory.
With a mission that traitorous, magic that defining, I thought, there's got to be a traitor? Someone who betrays the family, a black sheep.
This book is as much romance as it is family. Unconditional love. I figure it is a love story but not a romance that carries through these pages. It's trust, it's a bond. Love. Love. Nothing but love. A story about love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Ik vond dit boek goed. De rijmpjes in het verhaal zijn erg poeïtisch, maar dit haalde mij soms uit het verhaal. Ze zijn wel belangrijk voor het verhaal!
Ik vond Elspeth erg interessant en leuk. Ze heeft een sterke persoonlijkheid,maar ik vond dat ze de nachtmerrie wel snel om hulp vroeg, terwijl ze wist wat de consequenties waren . Ravyn is ook zo leuk, hij heeft persoonlijkheid en beschermd Elspeth op een goede manier. Ik vond Ravyn een goede keuze als love interest al had ik Elm ook niet zo erg gevonden🤭.
Het verhaal loopt goed. De spanning zit er goed in en er gebeurd precies genoeg. De vertaling is ook goed gedaan. De zinnen lopen vloeiend en het is allemaal een logisch samenhangend verhaal. Het magie systeem is simpel en wordt ook simpel uitgelegt. Je krijgt niet ineens on 1x alle informatie, maar dit wordt goed verdeeld over het boek. Ik vond het ook erg goed dat de nachtmerrie niet in 1x zijn geheimen prijs gaf. Dit gaf nog een extra laag mysterie.
Ik had alleen iets meer verwacht. Dit boek wordt enorm opgehypt en ik ging ook met die verwachtingen het verhaal in. Het verhaal is goed, maar niet spectaculair. De gebeurtenissen voelde soms wat afgeflakt aan. Ik ben wel geïntegreerd en ik ga dan ook zeker deel 2 lezen! Dit is namelijk een perfect voorbeeld van een goed neergezette "gotische" fantasy
Ik vond Elspeth erg interessant en leuk. Ze heeft een sterke persoonlijkheid,
Het verhaal loopt goed. De spanning zit er goed in en er gebeurd precies genoeg. De vertaling is ook goed gedaan. De zinnen lopen vloeiend en het is allemaal een logisch samenhangend verhaal. Het magie systeem is simpel en wordt ook simpel uitgelegt. Je krijgt niet ineens on 1x alle informatie, maar dit wordt goed verdeeld over het boek. Ik vond het ook erg goed dat de nachtmerrie niet in 1x zijn geheimen prijs gaf. Dit gaf nog een extra laag mysterie.
Ik had alleen iets meer verwacht. Dit boek wordt enorm opgehypt en ik ging ook met die verwachtingen het verhaal in. Het verhaal is goed, maar niet spectaculair. De gebeurtenissen voelde soms wat afgeflakt aan. Ik ben wel geïntegreerd en ik ga dan ook zeker deel 2 lezen! Dit is namelijk een perfect voorbeeld van een goed neergezette "gotische" fantasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I finally got around to reading this book and it was definitely worth the hype! The magic system is unique, but understandable. The story creates its own lore and builds off of it beautifully. The characters are flawed, but lovable. And the plot moves at the perfect pace for me -- it doesn't drag, but also doesn't skim over interesting character-building moments.
I'm on book two now. So far in the series there haven't been any plot twists that I haven't seen coming and there have been a few moments in which I haven't fully believed the characters' decisions, based on their characterization (primarily the King and Prince Hauth), but honestly, I don't really care. I am bought in enough to the main characters, the magical world, and the primary plot arc to just enjoy the story as it unfolds!
As someone who prioritizes storytelling over prose, this was exactly what I needed. It was the perfect cozy, gothic fantasy for a cold winter weekend and I am officially addicted to the series!
I'm on book two now. So far in the series there haven't been any plot twists that I haven't seen coming and there have been a few moments in which I haven't fully believed the characters' decisions, based on their characterization (primarily the King and Prince Hauth), but honestly, I don't really care. I am bought in enough to the main characters, the magical world, and the primary plot arc to just enjoy the story as it unfolds!
As someone who prioritizes storytelling over prose, this was exactly what I needed. It was the perfect cozy, gothic fantasy for a cold winter weekend and I am officially addicted to the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood
Minor: Child abuse
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so unique and dark, and i loved every second of it. Ravyn and Elspeth are just 😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief
Minor: Child abuse, War
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Police brutality, Classism
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Infidelity, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol
dark
mysterious
sad
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
A very interesting fantasy book different from a lot of other books I read in the genre has some gothic themes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, War, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
I really enjoyed this book -- the setting and lore felt very rich and fleshed out, which allowed me to become invested not only in the characters, but in the world itself!
There were a few moments that where tropyenemies to lovers, and drama that could have been entirely avoided if characters could just TALK TO EACHOTHER!!!
But even they felt justified for the most part.
I'm looking forward to reading the second!
There were a few moments that where tropy
But even they felt justified for the most part.
I'm looking forward to reading the second!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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
What a fun read! This story felt so fresh and the magic system was so cool. I really enjoyed this colorful ensemble of characters, whose wit, valor and steadfast loyalty to one another easily won my heart. The story was set up with such interesting details and parameters that allowed for some very enchanting plot points. It took me a little bit to get into it but once the main cast of characters had been established I found myself floating easily along the story. And the last third I was locked. In. Omg I cannot wait to read the sequel!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Sexual content
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content