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hapalyn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The plot feels very inspired by ACOTAR (especially at the start... teen/early 20s girl has to go hunting for her family because dad is a lazy p.o.s. .... while she's hunting she's almost attacked by a wolf .... next day she's off to go marry random evil fae prince that she was promised to).
I think that the author's biggest crime to this book is the lack of world-building and having the plot be TOO fast. There isn't enough time or pages or words to flesh out the reality of this situation, to make the world FEEL real, to make the conflict actually feel weighted, etc. There's not enough atmosphere or realism to this to make this world feel as scary as it's supposed to be.
The random plot twist of convenience at end felt kind of out of place, it was unexpected but in a bad(?) way. I think if there was more build-up, conflict, tension, and realism to the relationships between characters it would just make sense.
I'm very intrigued by the overarching plot, but I'm very underwhelmed by the execution, pacing, and building around this world, unfortunately.
This book is best suited for people who aren't really into heavy or any form of complex.. fantasy and want something just a little more complicated than a typical romance.
I think that the author's biggest crime to this book is the lack of world-building and having the plot be TOO fast. There isn't enough time or pages or words to flesh out the reality of this situation, to make the world FEEL real, to make the conflict actually feel weighted, etc. There's not enough atmosphere or realism to this to make this world feel as scary as it's supposed to be.
The random plot twist of convenience at end felt kind of out of place, it was unexpected but in a bad(?) way. I think if there was more build-up, conflict, tension, and realism to the relationships between characters it would just make sense.
I'm very intrigued by the overarching plot, but I'm very underwhelmed by the execution, pacing, and building around this world, unfortunately.
This book is best suited for people who aren't really into heavy or any form of complex.. fantasy and want something just a little more complicated than a typical romance.
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Torture
sbordo's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts
aelin_morgenstern's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
nzinga's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book in one sitting, it was exciting and fun and had my heart racing in anticipation
Graphic: Blood and Violence
dioscorea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol and Child abuse
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
3.25
Content Warnings: Alcoholic and abusive [mentally/emotionally/physically] parent, violence, blood/gore, murder, and racism.
When a human is forced to marry a Fae Prince a lot of misunderstandings and distrust are bound to occur…
The only thing Jade knows about her future husband, The Prince of Shadows, is the rumor that every woman he marries dies on their wedding day. Believing she’s off to her execution, rather than her wedding, Jade is determined to go out fighting.
Malachi has never wanted to marry but he’s also never been the cause of his wives’ untimely deaths. This time he WILL protect his new wife and uncover who’s behind the murders, of his previous wives if it’s the last thing he does. Although she’s clearly scared he likes that Jade won’t be intimidated by anyone in the Fae court…including him.
I had a lot of fun reading through this first installment…until the last few pages. Right at the end a bunch of stuff is thrown at us that felt rushed and messy. I’m hoping that the next book smooths everything out and is paced better. The way this book ends felt extremely abrupt…like you’re enjoying a stroll and then out of nowhere the person you’re learning about throws you a curveball, your jacket, and says “goodbye, good luck, see ya!” That might be a tad dramatic haha but that’s how I was feeling.
Overall I enjoyed this first book and look forward to continuing the series. I feel like I saw a Tiktok or something that said the series starts out as YA and slowly, as the characters age up [Jade is only 17 in book one] we start to see it shift to New Adult but don’t quote me…I watch a lot of Booktok videos and could be mixing it up with another. *nervous laugh*
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Racism and Murder
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