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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
dark
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:
Yes
I was 65% of the way through and realized there was no magic in this book (I just assumed it was dark fantasy by the cover art and title and school with four houses). I wish it had supernatural elements because the FMC was very naive in building a case against an infamous titan who worked with the Mafia. She tried to solve a mystery but was missing some Hermione instincts and craft. This did pick up when the love story took hold and as a couple, they were very sweet and savoury (the pocket hanker chief? Yum).
For part two, less enthused to pick it up because I’m not sure how this story fills out another book and I’m nervous how people will likely die in whatever is building. The stakes feel hopeless in defeating the bad guys because they are so violent but I did love the shadow daddy main male character so I would read if it’s mostly his POV moving forward.
For part two, less enthused to pick it up because I’m not sure how this story fills out another book and I’m nervous how people will likely die in whatever is building. The stakes feel hopeless in defeating the bad guys because they are so violent but I did love the shadow daddy main male character so I would read if it’s mostly his POV moving forward.
“I can’t watch someone feel blue and not let it stain me too.”
“Nightshade,” by Autumn Woods
I loved this book so much!!!! It remined me of Enigma by Ruynx and I loved that book, so I was super happy to get more books that have the same vibe. I loved the murder mystery with dark academia vibes. The characters and relationship were everything and more, absolutely perfect and kept me glued to the pages. This was a book that I wished I could read for the first time again. I cannot wait for more of the series to come out! One of the best books I’ve read this year. 5 out of 5 stars, wouldn’t change a thing.
-Murder Mystery
-Dark Academia
-Multi/ Dual POV
-Forbidden Romance
-Enemies To Lovers
-He Falls First
“Sad people are not always as deserving of our pity as they seem. Everyone has a limit at which they abandon their own morality…”
“I’ve split myself into so many pieces for so many people, I haven’t got the fight left in me to be selfless anymore.”
Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I initially struggled to get into this book as I found it very descriptive, to the point where I found it difficult to follow the story. The story felt buried under all of the description.
I also found it quite repetitive and there was a heavy emphasis on the sob story of the FMC and a lot of inner monologuing in the beginning of the book.
That being said, I soon began to struggle to put this book down! The book really grew on me and I absolutely loved the slow burn between the two main characters. This is executed SO well.
The ending was wild - what a twist!! It definitely leaves you wanting more, I’m very excited for book 2!!
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked Nightshade up for book club and it definitely sounded right up my alley. However, I found the execution of this book to be lacking. The story itself was interesting enough, as were the main characters. But I think that this book felt way too YA. There was really no reason for this to take place in a university and it felt like it was a boarding school the whole time anyway (what prestigious university sorts its students into 4 houses like a British secondary school??) Perhaps the author originally wrote it as a YA book and then changed it partway through to justify more swearing and some relatively light smut. The characters other than the MCs all felt like very shallow caricatures - the friend group included a goofy and lovable mafia heir (??), a vapid but kind Swiss royal, and other similarly rich but troubled (and surface level) people. Like I said, the overall story intrigued me enough to keep me going and I might pick up the sequel as I thought the cliffhanger was interesting, but I think this book was trying way too hard to be something it’s not.