Reviews with content warning for Blood - In The Ravenous Dark

I expected more from this book. The writing was good and I enjoyed most of the characters and their dynamics. The representation was also good. The first 70% was good but then the last 30% was just not it. The plot twist was just random.

I mean a vampire really?

It was never mentioned to be possible at all. The MC was annoying. She would say she needed to do something and do the exact opposite. The magic system was confusing the “world building” was just info dumping.

Lydea getting upset at Rovan’s plan about going to Skyllea didn’t make sense. She got upset with Rovan for thinking this but none of them had a better plan. Skyllea was their best option, but she didn’t want to get married. Not to mention Bethea also was annoying during this chapter. She knew Rovan was being forced to be in the palace but was upset she didn’t come looking for her. Even when she know Rovan’s mother had died and after Rovan told her her father died. Not once did she ask if she was okay. It just seemed like they were written to be mad at Rovan to make her angry and start trying to fight everyone

.
Many plans were made and none were executed. It felt pointless. Overall it just felt like everything was used to develop the plot and was annoying or repetitive.

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shadesofkate26's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced

3.5

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marareading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-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

2.0

I read this for my traveling book club. Unfortunately I found it very forgettable. The magic system wasn't very unique, and everything was very convenient. The MC was VERY annoying. Not because it is YA and she is young, but because she was ALWAYS making the opposite & wrong choice seemingly to further the story. If she had made ANY choices at all that made sense throughout the book it would have resolved in less than 150 pages. It was infuriating to read. The end wrapped up in such a HEA that it felt wrong and off putting. It was way too... Convenient.

Rovan is our MC. Her father died when she was young to protect her magic from being discovered. she and her mother lived a quiet life trying to avoid the people that might find her, and take her to the palace to be warded. One day she slips and is discovered and warded. That means she is bound to a spirit/dead man named Ivrilos who is her guardian. She now has to survive this new place, discover who are her friends, enemies, and figure out a way to end this torturous system. Either save herself and escape, or save everyone and find out why this system exists based on clues left by her father.

I did love all the queer rep in the book. There is found family, and definitely some intrigue when trying to decide who she can and can't trust. In the end though I don't strongly recommend.

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oliverreeds's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense 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? Yes

3.75

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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