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cyanscrump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Minor: Death
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found the mild romance subplot to be borderline skeevy. I'm sure it isn't really but it was giving me 1000 year old vampire with 16 year old vibes. The text was clear about how the magically inclined didn't age the same and some of the ones in the hotel had no idea how long they had been there which made me imagine a mentally middle aged man with the face of 20 year old flirting with the female main character. Maybe that's just me or maybe it's my old person brain. I certainly didn't see a problem with it when reading Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic series and Numair is significantly older than Daine who is also 16 when they start falling in love. My adult hindsight makes a face but when I reread it, I think it's written in such a way as to make you forget that to some extent and their story is just so adorable. <sorry for the sidetrack lol>
So, I really don't recommend this book and I was disappointed in it as well. I think the concept just could have been fleshed out more and maybe made into a duology, the ending felt a bit rushed like everything the author wanted needed to get out on paper and then get wrapped up before she hit too many pages.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Classism
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, Confinement, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Torture
karapillar's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, and Animal death
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
I didn't like the second half as much as the first, as it felt like it dragged a bit in places. I think the overall pacing could have been done a bit better, and the plot took some interesting turns I wasn't necessarily expecting. These did add to the overall dark and forboding nature of the book, though!
All in all, I enjoyed this book for the most part, I just wish the pacing was a bit more even.
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
It's written in first person POV, and I think the main character's name is only said like five times—I kept forgetting her name! She also has that not-like-the-other-girls personality without actually having a personality beyond being sassy and stumbling into convenient-for-the-plot situations. Her sister is also a flat character and barely present in the story. There's insta-love of course, but thankfully the love story wasn't the main focus of the book. The love interest has a little bit more complexity, and some of the other side characters had potential to me, but all the action seems to just be in service to the plot rather than the characters.
The plot was okay, though predictable and a little nonsensical at parts. Overall, the book entertained me and I did enjoy the setting and the magic system; I think I would've liked more world building and character development, but those are my personal preferences. If you like a quick magical read and YA tropes, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for my ebook!
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
flyfarther79's review against another edition
- 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? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Confinement
beccam22's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Confinement and Death of parent