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thefebruaryfriday's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK AND ALL THE CHARACTERS!! I think that was great for the first book of the year. It made me tense anxious all the time, the twists and turns of the story surprised me every time and I really impressed.
It was great for the first book in a fantasy series, I felt like it was more focused on explaining the world and how the magic works instead of the characters but it doesn't mean we don't get great-built characters, it just means that we hope we can know more about them in the next books, see their relationship grow even more and see a bigger development.
The plot was also great, it got me hooked from the begging, I loved the short chapters, it really makes me wanna read more and V.E. Schwab's writing also helps because it made me care so much about the story and not the outside world and the time passing, I could only focus on Kell's story and I felt immersed by it. It was like breathing, you do it unconsciously but it's extremely important to you, you can't stop.
It was great for the first book in a fantasy series, I felt like it was more focused on explaining the world and how the magic works instead of the characters but it doesn't mean we don't get great-built characters, it just means that we hope we can know more about them in the next books, see their relationship grow even more and see a bigger development.
The plot was also great, it got me hooked from the begging, I loved the short chapters, it really makes me wanna read more and V.E. Schwab's writing also helps because it made me care so much about the story and not the outside world and the time passing, I could only focus on Kell's story and I felt immersed by it. It was like breathing, you do it unconsciously but it's extremely important to you, you can't stop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Slavery
rkusty23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Blood, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Self harm
emilyplun's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Let me start by saying this book is good. Really good even. It's definitely enjoyable. But I just don't love it, and I don't really know why.
The characters are simple, but they still have motivations that make sense, and they're deep enough to be believable. The plot had a habit of introducing information in weird ways - either just in time to be useful or just after the reader was surprised by something. Sometimes, an explanation in the text (that was very tell-y) would leave out a detail and then only provide it later after a twist happened that the reader might have expected if we'd had that info. That kind of thing.
But it's fun and quick and light if that's what you're looking for in a book. I just was expecting something more after all of the hype.
Characters - 7
Plot - 8
Setting - 9
General appeal - 7
Writing style - 7
Originality - 9
Ending - 6
The characters are simple, but they still have motivations that make sense, and they're deep enough to be believable. The plot had a habit of introducing information in weird ways - either just in time to be useful or just after the reader was surprised by something. Sometimes, an explanation in the text (that was very tell-y) would leave out a detail and then only provide it later after a twist happened that the reader might have expected if we'd had that info. That kind of thing.
But it's fun and quick and light if that's what you're looking for in a book. I just was expecting something more after all of the hype.
Characters - 7
Plot - 8
Setting - 9
General appeal - 7
Writing style - 7
Originality - 9
Ending - 6
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Overall Thoughts:
⁕ If you’re someone who enjoys YA fantasy but want to introduce more adult fantasy into your reading, this book is the perfect stepping stone! There are lots of mature themes present, but it’s not overly complicated and still has some quirky banter and other YA staples.
⁕ This book is SUPER fast-paced and action-packed (hello, fight scenes!).
⁕ Schwab sets the stage beautifully for the character development of our two main heroes by introducing us to all their desires, ugly fears, and bad habits.
⁕ I would take a bullet for Lilah Bard. That is all.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
⁕ If you’re someone who enjoys YA fantasy but want to introduce more adult fantasy into your reading, this book is the perfect stepping stone! There are lots of mature themes present, but it’s not overly complicated and still has some quirky banter and other YA staples.
⁕ This book is SUPER fast-paced and action-packed (hello, fight scenes!).
⁕ Schwab sets the stage beautifully for the character development of our two main heroes by introducing us to all their desires, ugly fears, and bad habits.
⁕ I would take a bullet for Lilah Bard. That is all.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
bookoala's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Murder
rainbowshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The premise really caught my attention, four parallel Londons, all with varying degrees of magic one of which has been long since lost...
I found it a pretty effortless read: funny, sharp and with magic integral in a way that I'm a total sucker for. I was taken with Kell, Lila and Rhy, though I found some supporting characters lacked a little that might have made me care more about the course of the story. The main story I felt was fairly straightforward but there are other aspects that remain a mystery...
I found it a pretty effortless read: funny, sharp and with magic integral in a way that I'm a total sucker for. I was taken with Kell, Lila and Rhy, though I found some supporting characters lacked a little that might have made me care more about the course of the story. The main story I felt was fairly straightforward but there are other aspects that remain a mystery...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Torture, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol and Gun violence
samchase112's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rating: 4.25 stars!
"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
I loved this book; its enigmatic magic, the totally badass characters, the complex worlds and plot lines, the writing...it was incredible!
"...clever was more dangerous than bad any day of the week."
One thing that felt really refreshing about this book was that the romance wasn't overpowering. Maybe that's just because the last book I read was drama-tastic (cough cough, Vampire Academy), but I still loved how the romance was sprinkled in instead of a major plot point. The quirky aspects of this book, like Kell's coat or Rhy's guards' gambling, gave this book a nice lightness as well.
"I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still."
One more thing- THE HARDCOVER IS GORGEOUS! I borrowed this one from the library, but I may have to buy it just because of its beauty! The cover, the pages……anywho, I almost feel like this would make a good stand-alone. Either way, I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on A Gathering of Shadows!
Reread: August 2022
After so many years, I finally got my hands on the full trilogy, and it has been an absolute pleasure diving into this magical, vicious world. How could I not up the rating to 5 stars after all the joy I got just from rereading and re-experiencing the delicious twists and turns? Absolutely fantastic, and I really can’t wait to move on to A Gathering of Shadows — for real this time, I promise.
"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
I loved this book; its enigmatic magic, the totally badass characters, the complex worlds and plot lines, the writing...it was incredible!
"...clever was more dangerous than bad any day of the week."
One thing that felt really refreshing about this book was that the romance wasn't overpowering. Maybe that's just because the last book I read was drama-tastic (cough cough, Vampire Academy), but I still loved how the romance was sprinkled in instead of a major plot point. The quirky aspects of this book, like Kell's coat or Rhy's guards' gambling, gave this book a nice lightness as well.
"I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still."
One more thing- THE HARDCOVER IS GORGEOUS! I borrowed this one from the library, but I may have to buy it just because of its beauty! The cover, the pages……anywho, I almost feel like this would make a good stand-alone. Either way, I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on A Gathering of Shadows!
Reread: August 2022
After so many years, I finally got my hands on the full trilogy, and it has been an absolute pleasure diving into this magical, vicious world. How could I not up the rating to 5 stars after all the joy I got just from rereading and re-experiencing the delicious twists and turns? Absolutely fantastic, and I really can’t wait to move on to A Gathering of Shadows — for real this time, I promise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Trafficking, Torture, Rape, Slavery, and Gun violence
Minor: Death and Suicide
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