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maeverose's review against another edition
Idk why I thought I might like this. I’ve already established I hate YA fantasy.
TL;DR: Typical ya fantasy female mc, irritating love interest that has tension with her way too early, vague magic system
Violeta: She’s the exact same as so many other ya fantasy mcs I’ve read. Dumb (why was she convinced shadows that leave a physical mark on Arien’s skin were dreams? What??), rushing into trouble when she clearly knows less about what’s going on than the other characters, no personality other than ‘must protect brother’ and ‘I hate this mysterious scary evil man except I’m blushing at what he just said/did for some reason’. And why did she call her brother ‘my love’??? Ew
Lord Sylvanan/Rowan: Him being called ‘the monster’ over and over felt dumb to me. Like you’re trying to convince me he’s evil and scary and it’s not working. I just found him annoying. Also, I’m disfigured, and him being scarred felt like an attempt to make him seem ‘scarier/more evil’, which is an overdone, offensive and harmful trope. To be fair, I don’t remember the actual scar being described in a negative way, it’s more just the combination of ‘man whose supposedly done terrible things, is constantly referred to as ‘the monster’ and is generally just an asshole’ + the scarring, that feels questionable to me. Even if he’s redeemed or they explain why he’s scarred, that doesn’t justify it.
Violeta: She’s the exact same as so many other ya fantasy mcs I’ve read. Dumb (why was she convinced shadows that leave a physical mark on Arien’s skin were dreams? What??), rushing into trouble when she clearly knows less about what’s going on than the other characters, no personality other than ‘must protect brother’ and ‘I hate this mysterious scary evil man except I’m blushing at what he just said/did for some reason’. And why did she call her brother ‘my love’??? Ew
Lord Sylvanan/Rowan: Him being called ‘the monster’ over and over felt dumb to me. Like you’re trying to convince me he’s evil and scary and it’s not working. I just found him annoying. Also, I’m disfigured, and him being scarred felt like an attempt to make him seem ‘scarier/more evil’, which is an overdone, offensive and harmful trope. To be fair, I don’t remember the actual scar being described in a negative way, it’s more just the combination of ‘man whose supposedly done terrible things, is constantly referred to as ‘the monster’ and is generally just an asshole’ + the scarring, that feels questionable to me. Even if he’s redeemed or they explain why he’s scarred, that doesn’t justify it.
Storytelling: Why didn’t anyone explain to Violeta what they needed Arien for? Was there any reason for keeping that from her? Or was it just so that there’d be some mystery for the reader? Because it felt like an excuse for Violeta to interfere and be stupid, which I’m not exactly sure why that need to happen anyway.
Magic: It was very vague and didn’t feel well thought out. Maybe if I’d read further it would’ve been more fleshed out, but it just felt flimsy. Especially in chapter six, I think if you’re gonna have a high stakes scene like that the reader should probably know what the hell is going on. It just doesn’t have the same impact if I’m stuck on trying to picture what’s even happening. (It also didn’t help that I didn’t care about any of the characters).
I’ll end this very negative review on a positive note with a quote that I liked:
“Most of the windows are closed, and a thick tangle of ivy winds between the wooden shutters.
I’ll end this very negative review on a positive note with a quote that I liked:
“Most of the windows are closed, and a thick tangle of ivy winds between the wooden shutters.
The front door is carved with a raised pattern. I trace my fingers across it, over vines and leaves so delicate they could have been embroidered against the wood. The iron handle is carved, too.
An enormous ring shaped like a wreath, furled with leaves and bellflowers. When I put my hand against it, the cold press of iron makes me shiver.
But slowly, it begins to warm beneath my palm.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Minor: Ableism
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