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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
3.5! I think I’m going to love the second book but some parts dragged although I understand a lot of it was set up and I really like the characters and there banter, Kidan was so funny at times it made up for the slower parts. I’m excited to see how this story continues!
I was not invested enough in the characters or engaged enough by the story to continue.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had this on hold for so long that I forgot the premise, when I remembered what it was about I was really intrigued to start it! I also assumed that the hype around it meant I was in for a really good read. Sadly I’m left a little disappointed by this one. While I really enjoyed that this book tried some new routes with vampire lore I found the world building a little muddled and some of the details got lost in the sauce. I think this book took on a lot to its own detriment.
I do appreciate that we got some diverse African representation and I loved how it tied into the story, that was pretty cool! I also liked the slow burn enemies to less-than-enemies/hate-you-but-would-def-bang-you dynamic lol. Definitely don’t think this is really a YA read, maybe more NA? Some of the themes are pretty heavy.
Overall I think the hype for some elements of this book is worth it but it still had some flaws that dampened the experience in my eyes, sadly.
I do appreciate that we got some diverse African representation and I loved how it tied into the story, that was pretty cool! I also liked the slow burn enemies to less-than-enemies/hate-you-but-would-def-bang-you dynamic lol. Definitely don’t think this is really a YA read, maybe more NA? Some of the themes are pretty heavy.
Overall I think the hype for some elements of this book is worth it but it still had some flaws that dampened the experience in my eyes, sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For the first half of this book it was just a good solid book. It is well written and crafted with lots of world building, then it started to get more compelling and I was hooked. There are so many intricacies to the story that when I tried to explain that I was reading a book about vampires and their human companions in a university society and the rules there in to people, I would be like “oh, and the houses are basically alive.” I appreciate the complexity in a YA fantasy and will continue the series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4,5⭐️
No puedo asegurar que la afirmación de "una mezcla de El príncipe cruel y La novena casa" sea correcta, ya que aún no he leído La novena casa (espero que eso cambie pronto) pero aquí va mi reseña.
Un inicio denso que se me hizo un poco cuesta arriba. Es el primer libro y es un worldbuilding tedioso aunque necesario, pero que me ha costado un montón entender, sumado a nombres raros que me costaba seguir.
Ahora bien, pasada la fase introductoria, la cosa se pone MUY interesante.
Estamos ante un enemies to lovers REAL, estos dos quieren verse muertos, y el odio no les dura dos páginas. La tensión está presente desde el primer momento, y la evolución de la relación entre ambos es brutal, de verdad, aunque me he quedado con ganas de
No puedo asegurar que la afirmación de "una mezcla de El príncipe cruel y La novena casa" sea correcta, ya que aún no he leído La novena casa (espero que eso cambie pronto) pero aquí va mi reseña.
Un inicio denso que se me hizo un poco cuesta arriba. Es el primer libro y es un worldbuilding tedioso aunque necesario, pero que me ha costado un montón entender, sumado a nombres raros que me costaba seguir.
Ahora bien, pasada la fase introductoria, la cosa se pone MUY interesante.
Estamos ante un enemies to lovers REAL, estos dos quieren verse muertos, y el odio no les dura dos páginas. La tensión está presente desde el primer momento, y la evolución de la relación entre ambos es brutal, de verdad, aunque me he quedado con ganas de
3/5⭐️
“Loyalty is the first causality of change.”
“Some sliver of light must exist for girls who were punished just for existing.”
“You shouldn’t fear the madness you keep company during the night, but the chaos of the day.”
“The world loves to punish girls that dream in the dark. I plan to worship them.”
I don’t think I did this book justice by listening to the audiobook bc I was entirely unaware of how complex and insane this was.
For context- I write reading recaps in a journal and the paragraph I have for my summary rivals the length of my kingdom of ash or mistborn recap- this hoe had so much plot packed in TIGHT.
Along that, I think that’s my main problem with this book and why even with a physical reread I don’t think it’ll be many more stars. It was so insanely complex and while at the end it made for a truly enrapturing story and reading experience, along the way I felt so lost and overwhelmed. The characters intentions were insane enough to follow and try to unravel, but the world building unraveling the way it did, with the magic system, along side the insanely intricate history that played into all the plot lines, it got to be a bit much one too many times.
I did really live the atmosphere this book created though. It was spooky, academic, mysterious, and the way African culture tied in was a fresh take I don’t see often in fantasy. I can’t speak on how authentic it is to real traditional African culture or history, or if the authors intent was to be close to accurate, but from my limited knowledge. I liked it.
Unfortunately Kidan suffers from stupid FMC-itis a few times here and it irks my soul deeply. She falls into the category of FMC that no matter how many times the MMC proves he is being genuine and cares for her in some capacity, she thinks his kindness is manipulative. While yes that is Borge case at the beginning, once the tides turn, it felt repetitive and reductive of the growth in their relationship for her to be constantly combative with him while also falling into the insta lust trap.
“Loyalty is the first causality of change.”
“Some sliver of light must exist for girls who were punished just for existing.”
“You shouldn’t fear the madness you keep company during the night, but the chaos of the day.”
“The world loves to punish girls that dream in the dark. I plan to worship them.”
I don’t think I did this book justice by listening to the audiobook bc I was entirely unaware of how complex and insane this was.
For context- I write reading recaps in a journal and the paragraph I have for my summary rivals the length of my kingdom of ash or mistborn recap- this hoe had so much plot packed in TIGHT.
Along that, I think that’s my main problem with this book and why even with a physical reread I don’t think it’ll be many more stars. It was so insanely complex and while at the end it made for a truly enrapturing story and reading experience, along the way I felt so lost and overwhelmed. The characters intentions were insane enough to follow and try to unravel, but the world building unraveling the way it did, with the magic system, along side the insanely intricate history that played into all the plot lines, it got to be a bit much one too many times.
I did really live the atmosphere this book created though. It was spooky, academic, mysterious, and the way African culture tied in was a fresh take I don’t see often in fantasy. I can’t speak on how authentic it is to real traditional African culture or history, or if the authors intent was to be close to accurate, but from my limited knowledge. I liked it.
Unfortunately Kidan suffers from stupid FMC-itis a few times here and it irks my soul deeply. She falls into the category of FMC that no matter how many times the MMC proves he is being genuine and cares for her in some capacity, she thinks his kindness is manipulative. While yes that is Borge case at the beginning, once the tides turn, it felt repetitive and reductive of the growth in their relationship for her to be constantly combative with him while also falling into the insta lust trap.