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mybookishdelights's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm not really a fan of bully romances, but I actually like the two main characters in this and the premise of the story is interesting enough that I'm going to continue on. Not sure if I'll be able to do a 7 book series if these guys stay assholes the entire time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
beersbooksandbooos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I hesitated with reading this book because of the TW but I am glad I finally did. I understand why the TW were listed and why some might need them. This wasn't a fluffy book to read but a very dark book which I have been in the mood for. I am already falling for a few of the boys and I wonder what that says about me. I really like how strong Darcy and Tory Vega are and you might think they are broken but they are not. I can't want to see what they are up to in the next book and I can't wait to read about some revenge. I love some good revenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Torture
nikitanavalkar's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Crap on a crazy cracker! Okay okay, I get it now. I get why y’all are addicted to this series. I mean what in the mirror dimension did I just read? It’s all happening here at Zodiac Academy and Imma just kick back with my popcorn.
I’d heard all the Harry Potter for adults comparisons but I never gave them much thought. But this really is like a fucked up version of Hogwarts that’ll screw with your head and leave you wanting more while questioning everything from your morals to your sanity. It’s like watching a doped up cocktail of Riverdale and Vampire Diaries and has that same crack-y quality that makes you want to binge watch all the seasons even as you’re shaking your head. It’s a goddamned millennial dream. Like the 13 year old inside of me was squeeing at all the drama and the 32 year old that is me was was thrilled by the possibility of sm-t. Okay both versions of me were thrilled by that possibility. There’s Fae, vampires, wolves, pegasi, sirens, dragons! The me that grew up with books like St Clair twins and later House of Night approves. All the delicious dark academia vibes complete with uniforms but make it college, aka Hogwarts with a chance of hanky panky.
Tory and Darcy are the chosen teenagers here so to speak, but refreshing in that they’re street smart and self aware, not immune to bad decisions but owning them regardless. There’s a nice helping of self deprecating humor in their internal monologues, and each of them has distinct personalities. Tory is the brash twin with a penchant for bad boys and knows how to handle them for the most part, Darcy is the softer twin but by no means naive and with a fairly level head. Don’t get me wrong, the book lives up to its promise of bullying galore, everyone including the faculty is atrocious, the very idea of discipline is ridiculous, and it’s all fun and games until the real cruelty begins. The way the twins face the haters and stand up to the Celestial Heirs while fighting their magnetism (barely) is weirdly exhilarating and gave me an evil sort of joy, but then I never claimed not to be broken. 🤷🏽♀️
I’m not even going to touch the “romance” of it all with a 10 foot pole, though I have thoughts, but there’s bound to be a lot of growth and hopefully groveling before we go there, because y’all, the Fae ain’t playing. It’s a Fae eat Fae world, and everyone’s out for blood. The only thing I don’t get is, why even pretend to start out in America when the writing, right down to the slang and spelling is so very British? I know, not that important, but it made me scratch my head.
I’d heard all the Harry Potter for adults comparisons but I never gave them much thought. But this really is like a fucked up version of Hogwarts that’ll screw with your head and leave you wanting more while questioning everything from your morals to your sanity. It’s like watching a doped up cocktail of Riverdale and Vampire Diaries and has that same crack-y quality that makes you want to binge watch all the seasons even as you’re shaking your head. It’s a goddamned millennial dream. Like the 13 year old inside of me was squeeing at all the drama and the 32 year old that is me was was thrilled by the possibility of sm-t. Okay both versions of me were thrilled by that possibility. There’s Fae, vampires, wolves, pegasi, sirens, dragons! The me that grew up with books like St Clair twins and later House of Night approves. All the delicious dark academia vibes complete with uniforms but make it college, aka Hogwarts with a chance of hanky panky.
Tory and Darcy are the chosen teenagers here so to speak, but refreshing in that they’re street smart and self aware, not immune to bad decisions but owning them regardless. There’s a nice helping of self deprecating humor in their internal monologues, and each of them has distinct personalities. Tory is the brash twin with a penchant for bad boys and knows how to handle them for the most part, Darcy is the softer twin but by no means naive and with a fairly level head. Don’t get me wrong, the book lives up to its promise of bullying galore, everyone including the faculty is atrocious, the very idea of discipline is ridiculous, and it’s all fun and games until the real cruelty begins. The way the twins face the haters and stand up to the Celestial Heirs while fighting their magnetism (barely) is weirdly exhilarating and gave me an evil sort of joy, but then I never claimed not to be broken. 🤷🏽♀️
I’m not even going to touch the “romance” of it all with a 10 foot pole, though I have thoughts, but there’s bound to be a lot of growth and hopefully groveling before we go there, because y’all, the Fae ain’t playing. It’s a Fae eat Fae world, and everyone’s out for blood. The only thing I don’t get is, why even pretend to start out in America when the writing, right down to the slang and spelling is so very British? I know, not that important, but it made me scratch my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Bullying
adreann's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Psychotic sadistic men that are supposed to end up being lovers to the lead women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Bullying, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
justagrlandherdog's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
This book was painful to read. The writing is slow and it took until 53% of book for something interesting and compelling to actually happen that made me want to finish the book and find out. Not to mention the writing isn’t the best and reads like a CW drama or fan fiction. The use of British terms and slang (while understandable since the authors are British) is jarring and takes you out of the story since the main characters are meant to be from a “bad” part of Chicago. It’s very clear the authors had no intention of making their hometown a part of their characters beyond giving them a “rough” backstory. There are so many things in this book that give me the “ICK” that I could write a whole book about that alone.
Be warned: there is some terrible stereotypes in this book.
Be warned: there is some terrible stereotypes in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Car accident, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Abandonment, and Murder
ablazegolf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Murder
love3v07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, and Death of parent
sam019's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Woah, what a great first book to bring in the new year. I just saw this book on my recommended list and saw the reviews were quite good so I decided to give it a chance. I'm obsessed. Like Game of Thrones and Harry Potter's baby, the plot is so interesting, mysterious, and unique. I honestly could not predict where the story was going which is so refreshing, the writting was so good. I still don't know where the story is going but I'm here for it. I have very high hopes for this series. Amazing 1st book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
ohkimly's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Murder
lotte5322's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment