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sapphicstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I had an excellent time with this book, but I will not be reading more of the series after a teaser revealed that what I want most will not happen. It got SO good once Gideon and Harrow’s relationship took center stage and was really explored, but apparently that takes a back seat to wider world building plots, which is also SO good - just not what my souls needs.
The story was faster-paced, kept me guessing and had complicated characters that I both loved and loved to hate. It was fun - and a punch to the gut. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.
The story was faster-paced, kept me guessing and had complicated characters that I both loved and loved to hate. It was fun - and a punch to the gut. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide
letsea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
After this second reading I got many more details that I first ignored and that just made me love the whole series even more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Blood
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
hex_meghead's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The first half of the book was a very difficult read for me, it was incredibly slow and I didn't like how the worldbuilding was presented. There were also too many character names to remember (it didn't help that all of them had several different names/titles that were used interchangeably) and though the narrator did a fantastic job differentiating their voices, I only started to remember and recognize side characters once half of the cast was dead .
Despite my numerous gripes with the book, I have to give it four stars simply due to the fact that it's persistently been on my mind ever since I finished reading it. The last few hours of the book were fantastic and Harrow has to be one of my favorite characters ever. Even if I felt that the romance was kind of rushed and Gideon and Harrow went from"Hey, I actually kind of like you" to "You are the only thing I care about in this world and I would literally die for you" WAY too fast for me to find it believable, I was rooting for them.
I loved Gideon and Harrow as characters and how they got to be unapologetic badass bitches who seriously hated each other. A lot of stories advertise themselves as enemies to lovers but this is the first book I read where I felt that was actually accurate. I wish there were more female characters like this!
Despite my numerous gripes with the book, I have to give it four stars simply due to the fact that it's persistently been on my mind ever since I finished reading it. The last few hours of the book were fantastic and Harrow has to be one of my favorite characters ever. Even if I felt that the romance was kind of rushed and Gideon and Harrow went from
I loved Gideon and Harrow as characters and how they got to be unapologetic badass bitches who seriously hated each other. A lot of stories advertise themselves as enemies to lovers but this is the first book I read where I felt that was actually accurate. I wish there were more female characters like this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, and Death of parent
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 rounding up on GR
I loved this book! It took a little while (~50 pages) to truly get on board and get excited to pick up the book. But from the jump, Gideon was a hilarious and memorable main character and the world building was excellent. It's served to you bit by bit for most of the novel, so you really get to take your time answering all those upfront questions. I also buddy read this, and I think it's a great way to enhance your experience - you can brainstorm what's going on, freak out over the plot events, and keep each other motivated through 450-490 pages of book (bonus content included).
Honestly, you can't go wrong with lesbian necromancers in space in a gothic palace, trying to win a competition and solve a murder mystery, with enemies to something thrown in there.
Truly one of the more unique books and concepts I've read in a long time and I'm excited to read the sequel. Muir's writing and humour also really worked for me, and she was great at evoking a sense of atmosphere and creepiness.
Harrow and Gideon's relationship was fascinating and full of venomous banter and years of acrimony influencing behaviour... so Muir really had her work cut out for her to build their individual and joint character development and she nailed it in my opinion.
If your copy has bonus content at the end, I recommend reading it after the book if you don't want any (minor) spoilers.
CW: violence and death associated with necromancy; on page blood and injury descriptions and murder; child death off page; child abuse
I loved this book! It took a little while (~50 pages) to truly get on board and get excited to pick up the book. But from the jump, Gideon was a hilarious and memorable main character and the world building was excellent. It's served to you bit by bit for most of the novel, so you really get to take your time answering all those upfront questions. I also buddy read this, and I think it's a great way to enhance your experience - you can brainstorm what's going on, freak out over the plot events, and keep each other motivated through 450-490 pages of book (bonus content included).
Honestly, you can't go wrong with lesbian necromancers in space in a gothic palace, trying to win a competition and solve a murder mystery, with enemies to something thrown in there.
Truly one of the more unique books and concepts I've read in a long time and I'm excited to read the sequel. Muir's writing and humour also really worked for me, and she was great at evoking a sense of atmosphere and creepiness.
Harrow and Gideon's relationship was fascinating and full of venomous banter and years of acrimony influencing behaviour... so Muir really had her work cut out for her to build their individual and joint character development and she nailed it in my opinion.
If your copy has bonus content at the end, I recommend reading it after the book if you don't want any (minor) spoilers.
CW: violence and death associated with necromancy; on page blood and injury descriptions and murder; child death off page; child abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
onyxkat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The writing had a Douglas Adams-like way of describing fantastical events through the mundane. I also appreciated the regular use of modern day slang like "salty" and "that's what she said," especially in the context of a story a million years in the future.
Gideon herself is a really fun main character. I enjoyed learning about the world through her eyes; it was certainly a case where the novel had an unreliable narrator, but it was also a really fun unreliability.
Considering the grimness of a world full of necromancy, I thought the overall vibe of the book was very fun. Gideon's penchant for humor balanced out the horror nicely.
I also thought the execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope was done EXCELLENTLY. I was completely convinced that Gideon and Harrow we obsessed with hating each other so much that it wrapped back around.
Overall- I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and immediately wanted to pick up the next one.
Gideon herself is a really fun main character. I enjoyed learning about the world through her eyes; it was certainly a case where the novel had an unreliable narrator, but it was also a really fun unreliability.
Considering the grimness of a world full of necromancy, I thought the overall vibe of the book was very fun. Gideon's penchant for humor balanced out the horror nicely.
Overall- I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and immediately wanted to pick up the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
dreyy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did.
It's wacky, weird, dark and twisted in the best way!
The best way I can explain the plot is there's a competition, a murder mystery plot and there's a big bad battle at the end.
I think the authors mind is amazing, how they possibly crafted such a unique dark world and story is complexing to me.
I didn't expect to like so many characters, I loved Gideon, I loved Harrow, I loved Palamidis and Camilla and Magnus and the french teens. They were all weird, complicated and hilarious.
I am definitely going to continue the series, I need to know what happens next and I need to know now!
It's wacky, weird, dark and twisted in the best way!
The best way I can explain the plot is there's a competition, a murder mystery plot and there's a big bad battle at the end.
I think the authors mind is amazing, how they possibly crafted such a unique dark world and story is complexing to me.
I didn't expect to like so many characters, I loved Gideon, I loved Harrow, I loved Palamidis and Camilla and Magnus and the french teens. They were all weird, complicated and hilarious.
I am definitely going to continue the series, I need to know what happens next and I need to know now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Blood, and Death of parent
_persephone's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
i should've seen the ending coming. i did not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Gore
Minor: Child death, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
miranda226's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I think this book will stick with me for a long time, in the best way. Gideon is somehow funny and endearing amidst some of the most brutal imagery. The story is mysterious to the end, while also being reflective and incredibly imaginative.
Also the audiobook narrator did an excellent job, the audiobook is a great way to enjoy the story.
Also the audiobook narrator did an excellent job, the audiobook is a great way to enjoy the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
jjamieww's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
💀🩸⚔️🏳️🌈😎☠️🪐🦴🗡️🔬🩻❣️
The vibes of this book are immaculate. Necromancies, sword fighting, and space all fantastic.
I was very confused while reading this so I will probably reread it eventually. And I will say the plot was pretty slow.
My favorite thing about the book is probably Gideon. Oh little gay Gideon. She pines after almost every hot woman and doesn’t even know it. She’s so dumb and silly and everyone else is so dark and serious it’s just a funny contrast.
The vibes of this book are immaculate. Necromancies, sword fighting, and space all fantastic.
I was very confused while reading this so I will probably reread it eventually. And I will say the plot was pretty slow.
My favorite thing about the book is probably Gideon. Oh little gay Gideon. She pines after almost every hot woman and doesn’t even know it. She’s so dumb and silly and everyone else is so dark and serious it’s just a funny contrast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ayomason's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and War
(no spoilers) If you're worried about the CWs, it may be a good idea to google details to gauge your own comfort level. IMO, even if you know spoilers, it's still enjoyable and definitely worth reading. That being said, I usually don't mind spoilers in general as I'd rather be prepared before engaging with potentially triggering media. I know other people find that spoilers ruin the experience, so to each their own. On a similar note, this is a great choice if you enjoy books that you can read multiple times. Knowing what happens does not at all take away from future re-reads. I've read it twice, and the second was just as enjoyable, if not more. I know I will return to this book over and over.