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signymarie14's review against another edition
5.0
WOW I’m absolutely obsessed with this book. It was so utterly unique yet so familiar, I loved the characters and the world, and the prose was beautiful. Sometimes I felt like the author was seeing into my soul. Even the dedication gave me chills!! I need the sequel like yesterday!!!!!!!
arieanstar's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley, Wednesday Books, and Janella Angeles for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I might be a little biased when I say that I loved this with all of my heart. I am a sucker for The Phantom of the Opera and have been looking everywhere for a retelling of it. So, when I found out that a fellow Filipino wrote one and threw in a Carnival? I was sold! I absolutely adored Kallia and her fierce attitude because it was something that I wished the original Gaston Leroux story had. Jack on the other hand was so dark and broody that wasn't hard for me to not root for him. Sure, you aren't actually supposed to be picking him over Demarco, but I can't help that I'm loyal to my phantom.
The carnival aspect of this story left me in awe. I wanted to be in Glorian to experience all that it had to offer. One of my absolute favourite parts of this story would be the scene where Kallia auditions to be part of the carnival, because I want that kind of confidence too!
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this. If you are looking for a magical mystery where the Phantom of the Opera meets Caraval, you should definitely check this out.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I might be a little biased when I say that I loved this with all of my heart. I am a sucker for The Phantom of the Opera and have been looking everywhere for a retelling of it. So, when I found out that a fellow Filipino wrote one and threw in a Carnival? I was sold! I absolutely adored Kallia and her fierce attitude because it was something that I wished the original Gaston Leroux story had. Jack on the other hand was so dark and broody that wasn't hard for me to not root for him. Sure, you aren't actually supposed to be picking him over Demarco, but I can't help that I'm loyal to my phantom.
The carnival aspect of this story left me in awe. I wanted to be in Glorian to experience all that it had to offer. One of my absolute favourite parts of this story would be the scene where Kallia auditions to be part of the carnival, because I want that kind of confidence too!
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this. If you are looking for a magical mystery where the Phantom of the Opera meets Caraval, you should definitely check this out.
hayleerosenoerr's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
In case I haven’t said this enough- I love Demarco. I need more Demarco in my life.
This was a slowwwww burn but so full of magic and mystery and I adored it. It was so so fun. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I’m such a sucker for magical circus/carnival type books and you can absolutely blame Caraval for that
In case I haven’t said this enough- I love Demarco. I need more Demarco in my life.
This was a slowwwww burn but so full of magic and mystery and I adored it. It was so so fun. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I’m such a sucker for magical circus/carnival type books and you can absolutely blame Caraval for that
the_jesus_fandom's review against another edition
3.0
The good:
1) The characters were all distinct and fun, and everybody had both strengths and weaknesses.
2) The story was interesting, and the mystery revealed itself slowly. You had questions, they got answered, and at the same time, you got even more new questions.
3) The magic scenes were majestic and awesome.
Dislikes:
1) Swearing
2) Inappopriate clothing and behaviour seen as "daring" and "cool"
3) Using cards to see the future
It was pretty entertaining, but I wouldn't really recommend it to my friends.
1) The characters were all distinct and fun, and everybody had both strengths and weaknesses.
2) The story was interesting, and the mystery revealed itself slowly. You had questions, they got answered, and at the same time, you got even more new questions.
3) The magic scenes were majestic and awesome.
Dislikes:
1) Swearing
2) Inappopriate clothing and behaviour seen as "daring" and "cool"
3) Using cards to see the future
It was pretty entertaining, but I wouldn't really recommend it to my friends.
goldenaltar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.75
the atmosphere was incredible tbh. i could really feel the amount of drapery she was wearing in every scene like girl was here to SLAY
dame_samara's review against another edition
3.0
There is some part of me that feels like I should give this book four stars. Because I found myself inhaling this gorgeously written world. I found the magic system intriguing for sure, as well as the history of Solaria.
But at the end of the day, I felt like I was in a dance with this book. While I always long for reveals that I don't predict early on, this book managed to leave me feeling like no questions were truly answered. While I know this is just the first book in a duology, and not all cards could be laid out bare, I was left feeling unfulfilled.
I will say that the tidbit that was maybe supposed to make me feel somewhat fulfilled may have been lost on me. The ending lines of the Epilogue:
"He would not turn away. Not anymore. As the others talked over him, the magician stared at his fragmented reflection without fearing it for once. Without knowing that on the other side of the mirror, another magician stared back."
Like maybe it's meant to be ominous, maybe it's supposed to be hopeful that Eva or Kallia is still alive. I just feel so completely unfulfilled.
Would I recommend this book? Probably, but only once both halves of the duology are out and they can be consumed as a whole.
But at the end of the day, I felt like I was in a dance with this book. While I always long for reveals that I don't predict early on, this book managed to leave me feeling like no questions were truly answered. While I know this is just the first book in a duology, and not all cards could be laid out bare, I was left feeling unfulfilled.
Spoiler
I will say that the tidbit that was maybe supposed to make me feel somewhat fulfilled may have been lost on me. The ending lines of the Epilogue:
"He would not turn away. Not anymore. As the others talked over him, the magician stared at his fragmented reflection without fearing it for once. Without knowing that on the other side of the mirror, another magician stared back."
Like maybe it's meant to be ominous, maybe it's supposed to be hopeful that Eva or Kallia is still alive. I just feel so completely unfulfilled.
Would I recommend this book? Probably, but only once both halves of the duology are out and they can be consumed as a whole.
dame_samara's review against another edition
4.0
Take 2
So I picked this up because I didn't think I recalled this well enough to delve into the second book of this duology without a thorough refresher and I wasn't wrong.
I had forgotten just how how vast this world was and even without being moments away from delving into the second book. I don't feel the same level of unfulfilledness that I had when I read this book a year ago.
While I can't say I felt like I gained a lot more of insight into this world by reading this again, I did find a lot of enjoyment in reading this again. So much so I can see myself picking it up again in the future to once again delve into.
So I picked this up because I didn't think I recalled this well enough to delve into the second book of this duology without a thorough refresher and I wasn't wrong.
I had forgotten just how how vast this world was and even without being moments away from delving into the second book. I don't feel the same level of unfulfilledness that I had when I read this book a year ago.
While I can't say I felt like I gained a lot more of insight into this world by reading this again, I did find a lot of enjoyment in reading this again. So much so I can see myself picking it up again in the future to once again delve into.
aspodelren's review against another edition
4.0
It took quite a while to get into the feel of the book. Only about halfway through does it really reel you in
solafide's review against another edition
2.0
2.65 STARS
Take a minute and imagine that the phantom of the opera has a run in with the dreggs of ketterdam. But you don't stay with the dreggs, you move on to focus on an individual living a private-mess of a life, in a house that uses women.
I really wanted to love this book. I tried to love this book. I couldn't love it.
Most 500 page books I can zoom through, not this one. It was boring and felt like descriptions rather than any action happening.
I wish there was more information on Eva and Demarco, and explaining Demarco's past (that part made legit no sense).
Before reading this book, I read a lot of reviews stating that it is misogynistic. In part Jack [the master] is. But the other men aren't, it's like the women who protested for the right to vote. Jack is definitely abusive and not a good man, but he's not just mistreating her, he's mistreating many people. Kallia, is an extremely strong character, she does a lot of stepping up to challenges to make sure her pride isn't damaged.
Aaros was the best character in the whole book, the other characters were just meh.
Language: minor (which is surprising for a high fantasy YA book)
Romance: flirting and kissing
Violence: medium
Take a minute and imagine that the phantom of the opera has a run in with the dreggs of ketterdam. But you don't stay with the dreggs, you move on to focus on an individual living a private-mess of a life, in a house that uses women.
I really wanted to love this book. I tried to love this book. I couldn't love it.
Most 500 page books I can zoom through, not this one. It was boring and felt like descriptions rather than any action happening.
I wish there was more information on Eva and Demarco, and explaining Demarco's past (that part made legit no sense).
Before reading this book, I read a lot of reviews stating that it is misogynistic. In part Jack [the master] is. But the other men aren't, it's like the women who protested for the right to vote. Jack is definitely abusive and not a good man, but he's not just mistreating her, he's mistreating many people. Kallia, is an extremely strong character, she does a lot of stepping up to challenges to make sure her pride isn't damaged.
Aaros was the best character in the whole book, the other characters were just meh.
Language: minor (which is surprising for a high fantasy YA book)
Romance: flirting and kissing
Violence: medium