Scan barcode
violet_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Violence, and Dementia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Vomit, Murder, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts
kp_writ's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall a good debut; I'll be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.
The story and worldbuilding starts strong, and the writing style is pretty solid. A fairly predictable plot, though that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It does start to crawl towards the end, and I think this is mainly due to the lack of scenes and variety of conflict. Sweet and Bitter Magic read like the kinds of adventure quests I adored as a kid--it even has a map in the beginning of the book!-- but without as much of the adventure parts as I was hoping for.
I'd also say the biggest letdown for me was the romance. Wren and Tasmin just didn't have the kind of chemistry I was hoping for, and it made their relationship feel very out of place. Of course, that's the trouble with having to write chemistry when one half of the relationship has been cursed not to feel. Still, I think some more time spent with these characters, more scenes outside of conversation, would've helped that along.
The story and worldbuilding starts strong, and the writing style is pretty solid. A fairly predictable plot, though that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. It does start to crawl towards the end, and I think this is mainly due to the lack of scenes and variety of conflict. Sweet and Bitter Magic read like the kinds of adventure quests I adored as a kid--it even has a map in the beginning of the book!-- but without as much of the adventure parts as I was hoping for.
I'd also say the biggest letdown for me was the romance. Wren and Tasmin just didn't have the kind of chemistry I was hoping for, and it made their relationship feel very out of place. Of course, that's the trouble with having to write chemistry when one half of the relationship has been cursed not to feel. Still, I think some more time spent with these characters, more scenes outside of conversation, would've helped that along.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Grief, Murder, Torture, and Vomit
More...