Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - In The Ravenous Dark

honestky it was very predictable which isn’t bad if there’s a twist. if the characters are unique. if i can feel for them and if the plot doesn’t feel contrived. but in this book that wasn’t the case. the writing was good. the world building was okay. the characters were great but the plot was lacking in substance. the magic system didn’t have clear boundaries and laws, at times one person would die in a way and then the next person just wouldn’t? which was confusing. the plot twist didn’t feel like a twist bc it wasn’t hinted that it was possible so instead of emotional it felt silly. the end of the book as well didn’t quite track for me. our main character is brought through hell and back only for everything to just be okay? no mention of the lasting trauma. the fear. the emotional duress these people were under. it was like it never happened. i wanted to be SHOWN the family dynamic as well. i don’t want the narrator to tell me she has a family. i want to come up with that from watching them. anyways. i still enjoyed reading it.

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switchywitchsitch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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abbyschalupa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad 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

3.5

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melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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

4.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for the e-arc of this book.

Rovan has been hiding the fact that she is a bloodmage her whole life--ever since she watched her father die for being one. Bloodmages are surrounded by death and forced to work for Theopolis, and Rovan will do anything she can to avoid that life...except letting her friend die. When she reveals she is a bloodmage, she is forced to the palace to except a bloodline and a life she wants no part of, and is beset with a Guardian--a spirit that seems to be more there to guard others from her than her from them. But there is something else going on in the city, causing the world-wide blight, and it stinks of death. Rovan will risk her own life to find out what it is.

I was all in on the premise of this book: the bloodmage, reluctant hero, secret plots and royal intrigue! The setting is also really interesting and I was so curious to find out what was causing the blight. There are a lot of twists and reveals that I didn't see coming, and I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire time! I really love the plot.

The queer rep in this book is also amazing! Rovan is pansexual and polyamorous. There is a main character who is nonbinary panromantic-asexual, and lots of other queer characters. I thought it was all well-done and was glad that it wasn't looked down on in this world (as long as characters still reproduced, that is).

The only real complaint I had with this book (and not much of one) is that I didn't really feel the connection between Rovan and her love interests until...very far into the book. I didn't think the chemistry between them was that great and it seemed like much more of a visual-only attraction for a long time. It did get better though!

The found family element made me want to cry. So precious. Definitely get this book!

Pub Date: May 18, 2021

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