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noxygens's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
This is overwhelmingly okay. Is there anything inherently wrong with it? No, not really. I just didn’t care for it. I was bored almost the whole time, the characters and plot did nothing for me. The world building was non existent in the way of backstory, by the end i still didn’t really know why anything happened the way that it happened. If it wasn’t for book club I probably would’ve DNFed. Now, give a whole book about Silas? THAT I would read and probably love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
raypaws's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
very memorable and so many loveable characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
bagel_z's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, War, and Torture
Minor: Child death
jaimc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Death, and Gaslighting
kate_arts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
In a world where Libraries are giant buildings that house magical texts, our main character, Elizabeth, unravels the mystery if why they keep being attacked. The love interest, Nathaniel, is canonically bi . Similar vibes to Howl’s Moving Castle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Death, and Blood
hannahbailey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
3.5
TW: death (of parent, child), blood, violence, grief, injury, body horror, forced institutionalisation, misogyny, murder, confinement, torture, panic attacks
There are lots of strong points to this book, including a well-developed main character. The fantasy setting and magic system were interesting and had potential, but they were never fully explained. Sadly what lost me was I felt the book was being pulled multiple ways between grimoires and libraries and sorcery and power. If the author had gone with one or the other, but kept the plot the same, I think this would be a much stronger novel. That said, the grimoires element was something I'd not seen done before and that was interesting enough to keep me reading. Another book I think would translate really well on screen as a TV series.
The love interest, whilst interesting at first, changed his tune too quickly and became a character used for comic relief throughout the novel. This felt strange and unnecessary to me. Although the book has a dark academia/fantasy vibe, it wasn't dark enough to require so many quips from the guy to lighten the mood. The situations were serious but not depressing, so the humour was unwarranted (and unwanted) for me. The trigger warnings do seem very dark, but the fantasy setting and YA genre disconnects them from reality and they are less horrific in the context of the book. This is still a very strong YA novel and a younger reader may not pull it apart as much as I am prone to do.
There are lots of strong points to this book, including a well-developed main character. The fantasy setting and magic system were interesting and had potential, but they were never fully explained. Sadly what lost me was I felt the book was being pulled multiple ways between grimoires and libraries and sorcery and power. If the author had gone with one or the other, but kept the plot the same, I think this would be a much stronger novel. That said, the grimoires element was something I'd not seen done before and that was interesting enough to keep me reading. Another book I think would translate really well on screen as a TV series.
The love interest, whilst interesting at first, changed his tune too quickly and became a character used for comic relief throughout the novel. This felt strange and unnecessary to me. Although the book has a dark academia/fantasy vibe, it wasn't dark enough to require so many quips from the guy to lighten the mood. The situations were serious but not depressing, so the humour was unwarranted (and unwanted) for me. The trigger warnings do seem very dark, but the fantasy setting and YA genre disconnects them from reality and they are less horrific in the context of the book. This is still a very strong YA novel and a younger reader may not pull it apart as much as I am prone to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
aree's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Ok no one can convince me that this was NOT partially inspired by Black Butler...
Margaret Rogerson's unparalleled atmospheric and immersive writing makes this book the perfect read for this time of the year: early winter!
I adored her writing in Enchantments of Raven and that's why i read this book. Although unfortunately, i didn't like it as much as the previous book.
Too detailed descriptions of the battles had me losing interest. By midpoint i was skimming and also struggling to finish the book.
My favorite thing about this book was how both the main characters were written with their age in mind (Something that is usually neglected in majority YAs). Both truly felt lile 17-18 y/o.
critique on chapter 25: tell me you never had/seen a panic attack without telling me you never had/seen a panic attack (𝙗𝙪𝙩 on the positive side, it was way better written than any other YA books I've read so far)
Margaret Rogerson's unparalleled atmospheric and immersive writing makes this book the perfect read for this time of the year: early winter!
I adored her writing in Enchantments of Raven and that's why i read this book. Although unfortunately, i didn't like it as much as the previous book.
Too detailed descriptions of the battles had me losing interest. By midpoint i was skimming and also struggling to finish the book.
My favorite thing about this book was how both the main characters were written with their age in mind (Something that is usually neglected in majority YAs). Both truly felt lile 17-18 y/o.
critique on chapter 25: tell me you never had/seen a panic attack without telling me you never had/seen a panic attack (𝙗𝙪𝙩 on the positive side, it was way better written than any other YA books I've read so far)
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
tulilipz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
_ladypearce_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
This book made me feel so much. I was incapable of doing anything because my brain was occupied by this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Death