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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a whole flurry of emotions. The beginning took some time to start up—it was boring for the first few chapters, to say the least. But around part two is where everything was picking up pace and made me not want to put the book down.
Alyce is an amazing character. She makes mistakes, has flaws, but most importantly, is determined. She displays the whole of villainy while also expressing care for the ones she loves.
A dark and compelling read—and I cannot wait for the second book in this duology.
Alyce is an amazing character. She makes mistakes, has flaws, but most importantly, is determined. She displays the whole of villainy while also expressing care for the ones she loves.
A dark and compelling read—and I cannot wait for the second book in this duology.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Loved the idea, but was bored and underwhelmed by the lead character development.
3.25 stars. This is YA and read very YA to me. There were a lot of cliches I felt in it. I was interested by the end, but it took me a very long time to get into this story. It didn’t really feel like a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, other than the Princess’ name was Aurora and there was a curse put on her. I didn’t really feel like Alyce deserved the villain portrayal throughout most of this book. Idk, I was hoping for more, but I am intrigued enough about how this one ended for me to read the next book.
I DEVOURED this book. To say it was one of the quickest, most captivating reads I’ve had in a long while is an understatement. If you’re a fan of retellings on old fairy tails with a new spin, definitely pick this up.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to read this sapphic fantasy and fairytale retelling because I love a morally grey lead, but that's not really what we got.
I loved so many aspects of this book, mostly due to the yearning and story of an ostracised person finally recieving like, care and possibly love. I enjoyed the world, set up and premise. I also love fae, magic, sappic books and forbidden romance but I often felt left wanting.
Most of this comes from the fact that it reads as YA. The exposition was expositioning, some aspects of the world didn't make sense (how can you love someone who you haven't spoken to? Why is the princess only kissing men of a certain rank in a world where you can be in any relationship you want and she's literally about to die? I wish these were explored).
But I mostly wanted more depth from the characters. There wasn't much nuance or discussion about villainry, which is what I wantednfor a book about a villain.
Storyline was obvious and shallow and very much a YA book with very heavy handed message of 'the villain they created'.
My biggest issue is that we watch as Alyce is trying to do her best but is beaten down time and time again. She doesn't retaliate or talk back. She isn't morally grey until she finally snaps at the end.
I read this to read about a villain but all I got was a sad girl trying her best, feeling guilt and shame for no reason. I wanted to see someone do bad things with good logic, with a reason for their villainy but that isn't what this story is.
So although there are things I didn't get on with, I actually did really enjoy this book and would read it again. I'd just want to go in knowing that it lacks depth and villainy, reading more like a YA.
(A review I wrote last year but didn't publish).
I loved so many aspects of this book, mostly due to the yearning and story of an ostracised person finally recieving like, care and possibly love. I enjoyed the world, set up and premise. I also love fae, magic, sappic books and forbidden romance but I often felt left wanting.
Most of this comes from the fact that it reads as YA. The exposition was expositioning, some aspects of the world didn't make sense (how can you love someone who you haven't spoken to? Why is the princess only kissing men of a certain rank in a world where you can be in any relationship you want and she's literally about to die? I wish these were explored).
But I mostly wanted more depth from the characters. There wasn't much nuance or discussion about villainry, which is what I wantednfor a book about a villain.
Storyline was obvious and shallow and very much a YA book with very heavy handed message of 'the villain they created'.
My biggest issue is that we watch as Alyce is trying to do her best but is beaten down time and time again. She doesn't retaliate or talk back. She isn't morally grey until she finally snaps at the end.
I read this to read about a villain but all I got was a sad girl trying her best, feeling guilt and shame for no reason. I wanted to see someone do bad things with good logic, with a reason for their villainy but that isn't what this story is.
So although there are things I didn't get on with, I actually did really enjoy this book and would read it again. I'd just want to go in knowing that it lacks depth and villainy, reading more like a YA.
(A review I wrote last year but didn't publish).