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yellow_star's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
linesiunderline's review
- 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
4.5
Did I think I would really enjoy this one so much, to the point that I put the second audiobook on hold before I finished the first? I did not. But Vampire Matthew has quite a presence. So does Oxford and all of the witchy atmospheric business. I’m all in.
If you are an Outlander fan, this one is for you. I have to go watch the TV series now.
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
katielaine_w's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
readwithde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a book of 3 stories, really: first, Diana and Matthew finding each other and choosing love over the rules of the Congregation. This is the primary plot and takes the most space, as it should. We do get early POV chapters from Matthew that glimpse his secrets, but as a reader, I didn't appreciate being kept in the dark so much, especially as he tends to keep literally everything a secret.
The romance is interesting at first, then picks up and becomes intense and truly lovely,
The second story is about Diana's parents and their choice to get married and have a family
This story is revealed in bursts, and is often confusing to follow. While I find it interesting and evocative, it leaves quite a few plotholes that are never directly answered. In fact, many important rules about magic and powers are handed out nonchalantly, making it easy to be confused if you don't pay close attention.
Finally the third story involves Ashmole 782 and the people who want to use it,
The whole series seems to be centered on this book, but it is never explained why it is so dangerous, vital, or anything else other than what it may contain in an alchemical sense. It makes it hard for me to care who wants it or why when no one knows what is inside or why it's dangerous. A definite problem that is only obvious when not distracted by Diana and Matthew's romance or some disgruntled friend, ally, or enemy.
Overall, I love the concept, but it didn't need to be so detailed, so cerebral, or so lengthy. Likewise, the final 50 pages add two brand new characters from out of nowhere; they end up causing upheaval to the entire plan and structure. Some better pacing could fix many of these issues and smooth out the extra plotlines.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
pgivan21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Stalking
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
stormwise's review against another edition
2.5
It's not that I entirely disliked this book - I'll be reading the sequels - but I spent a lot of time complaining about this book as I read it.
On paper this sounded right up my alley: a story that begins with a witch in a library? Nice. However this novel had a much heavier focus on romance than I expected - not necessarily a bad thing, I do like romance, but...
Also, if I had a penny for every time my mum recommended a 500+ page fantasy-romance novel that turned out to have multiple sex scenes in it, I'd have two pennies, which isn't a lot but it is weird that it's happened twice (the other one was Outlander which I read last year and, weirdly, have similar criticisms for).
The writing style was also a bit...long-winded. I love a good bit of descriptive writing but sometimes less truly is more and overly floral language just bogs down the scene.
My various grumbles aside, the overall plot was sufficiently compelling, dragged as it was through endless scenes of monotony which were fortunately bolstered by the intriguing cast of characters. I really liked the magic and the way the world worked with witches, vampires and daemons. I just wish Diana had spent less time taking naps or having decisions made for her... </spoiler >
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Infertility
macaronsandmermaids's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent
ros_lanta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
That said, the book will not suit everyone. Fantasy readers may dislike the focus on romance and occasional steamy scenes. Readers looking for a romance focus may be disconcerted by the slow pace and occasional academic feel of the book, with (for example) detailed descriptions of alchemical texts. (Some people may also be disconcerted with Matthew's slightly controlling personality - but, well, it is a vampire novel, Matthew did not grow up in the 20th/21st centuries, and Diana does not allow him to dominate her. You may want to avoid the book if that is likely to be an issue for you though.)
For anyone who likes a combination of fantasy, romance and history, though, I can't recommend this book enough. The author is herself a historian and her knowledge is scattered throughout the novel (and even more so in book 2). The first half of the novel is also set at the University of Oxford, with a strong focus on academia. As someone who has visited the Bodleian Library in Oxford several times, I loved its depiction in the book.
I've heard the book prescribed as 'pretentious' and it is, but I like that about it (as did the reviewer who first used that description). There are scenes where Matthew and Diana are wine tasting, attending yoga classes and other such activities. Yes, they're pretentious, but they're fun and romantic too. Frankly there's a lot about the book that could be deemed wish fulfilment (Matthew is very rich!), but again, I quite like that in a romance novel, and it does fit with the vampire mythos.
This is the first book in a series and there is a lot of setup for things that often aren't resolved until later novels. Diana is also very much new to her magical abilities in book 1, and doesn't know how to use them - rest assured that this does not remain the case by book 3!
The greatest strengths of this series to my mind are the worldbuilding and the characters. The author has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about how the three societies of vampires, witches and daemons work and how they interact with each other. Many of the side characters are fascinating (arguably even more so than the two leads), although it isn't really until future books in the series that most of them get a lot of time and attention, and one of the biggest fan favourites is only introduced in book 2.
Atmospheric, carefully thought out and skillfully written, this is a gripping novel that some people will absolutely adore. It just isn't for everyone.
Moderate: Animal death, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder