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chloebrown13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Incest and Death
Minor: Child abuse
eve_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⁕ Black's main character Charlie is rough around the edges to the extreme (think Alex from Ninth House or even Katniss from The Hunger Games). It wouldn't be a problem, except this character trait becomes her entire personality and she comes across as the stereotypical "tough girl" (very flat indeed). I could not connect to her emotionally at all!
⁕ Despite the high stakes of the conflict that Charlie is caught in, the development of the main action was incredibly slow. I was bored and had to force myself to slog through most of the book until the last 50 pages or so when things started to pick up.
⁕ The world-building is lacking, specifically the magic systems.
⁕ Despite the high stakes of the conflict that Charlie is caught in, the development of the main action was incredibly slow. I was bored and had to force myself to slog through most of the book until the last 50 pages or so when things started to pick up.
⁕ The world-building is lacking, specifically the magic systems.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical trauma
lolamosk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, and Self harm
jocelyn62013's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Not a stand-alone! I definitely feel like it was marketed as one so the ending is frustrating when you expected it to wrap up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse and Vomit
shadesofkate26's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Incest
karapillar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Kidnapping, Classism, Vomit, Murder, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Stalking, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
looseleafellie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Holly Black’s adult fantasy debut follows Charlie Hall, an ex con artist trying to stay out of trouble. But when she witnesses a murder committed by a shadow, she’s thrown back into a world of magic and mayhem. If she can’t find the mysterious Book of Night in time, everyone she loves will be in danger …
This book started off a bit slow for me. Charlie’s backstory was fun to read, but the scenes in the present dragged at first. However, the second half of the book picked up, and the ending was a full-on rollercoaster!
The magic system was cool, even though I didn’t quite understand it. The idea of people being able to do magic using their shadows was really interesting. The story is also set in the area where I go to college, so it was cool seeing familiar places!
Overall, while this story didn’t grip me as much as I hoped, the twists at the end were awesome enough that I’m excited for the sequel! I’m hoping that with the setup done, a second book will be more fast-paced.
Thanks to Tor Books for the advance review copy!
CWs: blood/gore, body horror, self-harm for magic purposes, depression, panic attacks, captivity, child abuse, gun violence, drug use, loss of autonomy, and mentions of incest and cancer.
This book started off a bit slow for me. Charlie’s backstory was fun to read, but the scenes in the present dragged at first. However, the second half of the book picked up, and the ending was a full-on rollercoaster!
The magic system was cool, even though I didn’t quite understand it. The idea of people being able to do magic using their shadows was really interesting. The story is also set in the area where I go to college, so it was cool seeing familiar places!
Overall, while this story didn’t grip me as much as I hoped, the twists at the end were awesome enough that I’m excited for the sequel! I’m hoping that with the setup done, a second book will be more fast-paced.
Thanks to Tor Books for the advance review copy!
CWs: blood/gore, body horror, self-harm for magic purposes, depression, panic attacks, captivity, child abuse, gun violence, drug use, loss of autonomy, and mentions of incest and cancer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Gun violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Incest and Cancer
chelsaat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As a big fan of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series, I was super excited for her first foray into adult fantasy. And I really enjoyed the concept - a murder mystery in a world of shadow magic! The MC is a con artist! But unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.
The main reason for this was the writing itself. It just felt…kinda muted? I don’t really know how to articulate this, other than saying that the world and characters of Folk of the Air felt SO alive and vibrant; I read those books in one sitting. This book is only 300 pages but it took me a few days and I struggled to pay attention. Maybe it’s the somewhat confusing shadow magic system, but everything felt dulled here and nothing really came to life for me.
This is especially true for the characters. Charlie is the kind of prickly, acerbic main character I usually love, but I really struggled to connect with her. I liked the peek into how Charlie became how she was, but in the present day I didn’t get that same spark. Vince was held at arm’s length as well, but that at least made more sense, plot-wise. (Totally called that twist, by the way.)
This is all very subjective though, and I do have to say that the ending was pretty incredible. I CACKLED. Legitimately can’t wait for the sequel now, and I hope now that the world building and characters are already developed, Black can just go ham.
The main reason for this was the writing itself. It just felt…kinda muted? I don’t really know how to articulate this, other than saying that the world and characters of Folk of the Air felt SO alive and vibrant; I read those books in one sitting. This book is only 300 pages but it took me a few days and I struggled to pay attention. Maybe it’s the somewhat confusing shadow magic system, but everything felt dulled here and nothing really came to life for me.
This is especially true for the characters. Charlie is the kind of prickly, acerbic main character I usually love, but I really struggled to connect with her. I liked the peek into how Charlie became how she was, but in the present day I didn’t get that same spark. Vince was held at arm’s length as well, but that at least made more sense, plot-wise. (Totally called that twist, by the way.)
This is all very subjective though, and I do have to say that the ending was pretty incredible. I CACKLED. Legitimately can’t wait for the sequel now, and I hope now that the world building and characters are already developed, Black can just go ham.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
fireinherveinzz's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
So so disappointed because I loved holly’s writing with the folk of the air series and this was just terrible . This was not Adult at all in the slightest. It was very YA minus the lack of sex scene / spicy moments. The plot was all over the place . Everything was super confusing and Charlie wasn’t really someone I could root for or even liked she didn’t have much of a relationship with any of the other characters . I didn’t buy Charlie and Vince’s romance at all .. not even at the end just no . Was groomed by an abusive older man and just wrote it off like oh he was a con man ? And even her mother brought this up and she’s like it’s fine ? No it was not . The magic system and world building made no sense at all , I got the side characters and back stories confused so much . I didn’t get the whole deal with Adam and Dolores at all . Also is Vince not Edmund then , a grandson / relative of Lionel salt or is he just what Remy/ shadow demon thing Red renamed himself I’m so so confused ? Also What the fuck did remy and adaline who WERE SIBLINGS HAVE AN AFFAIR including remy’s shadow red .. really holly incest .. love an incest plot twist NOT . the end was just ehh??? I will not be continuing this series at all . It’s too bad I liked her writing .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
ode_to_readers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
4.5
WTF WAS THAT ENDING EXCUSE ME HOLLY BLACK
Okay so the book was a little slow to begin with, the build up and understanding of how shadows worked and the lingo being a struggle. The chapters flick between past and present, Charlie and others. It's both a good thing and a bad thing because the in-between chapters give some more depth but they happen just as there's a cliffhanger on the previous chapter so half the time I'm tempted to skip forward.
At first I didn't really care for Charlie all that much. I like her now but there's still something I can't quite place my finger on why she bothers me. However, Vince became my favourite about half way through and I loved their relationship with each other.
Towards the end of the book, the amount of times you think something is about to happen the way you want it to and Holly just snatches that hope right out of your hands. And then does it again and again.
AND THAT ENDING?!?!?!
Okay so the book was a little slow to begin with, the build up and understanding of how shadows worked and the lingo being a struggle. The chapters flick between past and present, Charlie and others. It's both a good thing and a bad thing because the in-between chapters give some more depth but they happen just as there's a cliffhanger on the previous chapter so half the time I'm tempted to skip forward.
At first I didn't really care for Charlie all that much. I like her now but there's still something I can't quite place my finger on why she bothers me. However, Vince became my favourite about half way through and I loved their relationship with each other.
Towards the end of the book, the amount of times you think something is about to happen the way you want it to and Holly just snatches that hope right out of your hands. And then does it again and again.
AND THAT ENDING?!?!?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Drug use, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content and Cancer