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hayleyjames24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really really enjoyed this, surprisingly it did not feel like a 500+ page book while I was reading it.
It dove into some really really deep topics and themes: grief, friendship, loss, the nature of school politics and the power of the elite. I would recomend checking out the trigger warnings before reading but I found that despite being heavy and quite extensive they were done with so much love and care and definitely werent graphic. It was more so the mystery behind the actions and the thrill of seeing whether justice would be served that carried these themes rather than giving us deets on what actually happened. It was great to see these teenagers try to tear down systems and break the status quo. Even if they weren't quite able to really do it it's such an important topic for Young Adults to be reading (and very realistic)
I enjoyed the dark academia side of the story as well and I think the setting was perfect.
I also really enjoyed that they did normal things like actually going to class hahaha, especially because it's set in a prestigious school and Sade has a scholarship.
I loved Baz!! He was such a great friend and seemed to be such a well rounded character. I wish Sade was slightly less mysterious and we got to know her a little better but the reason she was so mysterious was the main plot point lol.
Persephone was also a very interesting character and I loved the way her and Sade's relationship blossomed.
I did like that it didn't necessarily end with it all being tied in a pretty bow (though good things do come out of it) because in real life these situations don't have an easy answer or finish.
Will definitely pick up Ace of Spades at some point.
It dove into some really really deep topics and themes: grief, friendship, loss, the nature of school politics and the power of the elite. I would recomend checking out the trigger warnings before reading but I found that despite being heavy and quite extensive they were done with so much love and care and definitely werent graphic. It was more so the mystery behind the actions and the thrill of seeing whether justice would be served that carried these themes rather than giving us deets on what actually happened. It was great to see these teenagers try to tear down systems and break the status quo. Even if they weren't quite able to really do it it's such an important topic for Young Adults to be reading (and very realistic)
I enjoyed the dark academia side of the story as well and I think the setting was perfect.
I also really enjoyed that they did normal things like actually going to class hahaha, especially because it's set in a prestigious school and Sade has a scholarship.
I loved Baz!! He was such a great friend and seemed to be such a well rounded character. I wish Sade was slightly less mysterious and we got to know her a little better but the reason she was so mysterious was the main plot point lol.
Persephone was also a very interesting character and I loved the way her and Sade's relationship blossomed.
I did like that it didn't necessarily end with it all being tied in a pretty bow (though good things do come out of it) because in real life these situations don't have an easy answer or finish.
Will definitely pick up Ace of Spades at some point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Suicide
aaliyahxcx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
acreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Great & mysterious dark academia
reading_under_covers's review against another edition
4.0
What a fantastic dark academia!! The atmosphere was unsettling, the mystery intriguing, and the friendships everything.
Highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a thriller set in an elite boarding school setting!
Highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a thriller set in an elite boarding school setting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
riley_rose's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
thalia15_cc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
nouriareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
I love academic settings, and the writing worked well to paint the mysterious (and creepy) atmosphere. Without the dark secrets, attending the Alfred Nobel Academy could be fun! I liked Sade, and her backstory was compelling, but I connected more to Baz and Persephone, with whom she interacted the most. We follow Sade as she tries to balance her studies, the investigation of Elizabeth’s disappearance, and dealing with the trauma caused by her family and the grief that seems to follow her. I had fun picking on foreshadowing and coming up with theories. I was very happy when I was right!
With the target audience and the themes, I was scared that the ending would be too utopic. I’m glad that while it was empowering, it was also realistic because shedding light on the issues and dismantling the systems that enable them to persist can’t happen overnight. It’s a fight with wins and setbacks, and I think the author illustrated it well.
The pace was a little slow for me. It eventually picked up, but I wish it did so sooner so we could soak up all that unfolded for a little longer. I also wish we learned more about the Houses, they were one of my favorite aspects! Overall, I enjoyed my read!
With the target audience and the themes, I was scared that the ending would be too utopic. I’m glad that while it was empowering, it was also realistic because shedding light on the issues and dismantling the systems that enable them to persist can’t happen overnight. It’s a fight with wins and setbacks, and I think the author illustrated it well.
The pace was a little slow for me. It eventually picked up, but I wish it did so sooner so we could soak up all that unfolded for a little longer. I also wish we learned more about the Houses, they were one of my favorite aspects! Overall, I enjoyed my read!
kirrarrik's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
calreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
lydiareads247's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicide, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence