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bergha1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It’s a really interesting story, especially lore wise. The plot twist is exceptional. I just found the writing a bit clunky, it didn’t flow nicely for me. I also do have a hard time with moral bankrupt main characters, so if you also hate that I wouldn’t suggest.
Low Fantasy, Romance Subplot, 1/2 🔥
Low Fantasy, Romance Subplot, 1/2 🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Alcohol, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
magdalenahai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Oikein mainio urbaanin fantasian pläjäys. Viihdyttävä tarina, jonka spefielementti oli tarpeeksi omaperäinen. Päähenkilön neuroepätyypillisyys(?) oli kuvattu uskottavasti ja sopi hahmon elämänkaareen (lähes syrjäytyminen, impulsiivisuus, huonot valinnat). Pahis oli ällöttävä tyyppi ja väkivallan uhkaa käytettiin tarinassa taitavasti luomaan lukijalle pelkoa päähenkilön selviytymisestä. Ainoa, mikä harmitti, oli se, että tajusin ekoista vihjeistä lopun suuren käänteen (Vince=Red). Ei pilannut lukukokemusta, mutta jäi mietityttämään, miten paljon antoisampi käänne olisi ollut, jos sen olisi tajunnut pikkuhiljaa tai vasta sen paljastuessa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder and Domestic abuse
paguroidea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It’s a bit of a slow burn. Didn’t
love it, didn’t hate it, wasn’t expecting one of the turns it took! I’m much more excited for the inevitable sequel(s) to find out what will happen to Charlie and Vince.
love it, didn’t hate it, wasn’t expecting one of the turns it took! I’m much more excited for the inevitable sequel(s) to find out what will happen to Charlie and Vince.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Minor: Incest
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
imaginesysiphus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm not sure how I feel about this book to be totally honest.
Objectively well written and I truly never felt like I knew what was going to happen. However, I found the pacing quite off and having so many different directions and red herrings throughout it meant climax didn't hit as hard as I wanted it to.
I wish I could give it a 4 but it just wasn't really doing it for me.
****okay after a few days of sitting with it I have bumped it up. I found the plot and characters super interesting and the world building felt really fleshed out while also being pretty unique*****
Objectively well written and I truly never felt like I knew what was going to happen. However, I found the pacing quite off and having so many different directions and red herrings throughout it meant climax didn't hit as hard as I wanted it to.
I wish I could give it a 4 but it just wasn't really doing it for me.
****okay after a few days of sitting with it I have bumped it up. I found the plot and characters super interesting and the world building felt really fleshed out while also being pretty unique*****
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Vomit, Alcoholism, Gore, Slavery, Blood, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
I have to start by saying that I really like Holly Black, and I really liked the ending of this book.
However, I had an incredibly hard time with the first half of the book. I was confused about the magic system, and I couldn't keep track of the characters. I think part of the issue is that with working while I listened to the audiobook I didn't always catch the transitions between the current and past event chapters. To be honest it didn't hook me either in the beginning, so if I hadn't listened to the audiobook so fast I might have missed out on the second half that I really enjoyed because based on the beginning I would have DNF'd it.
However, I had an incredibly hard time with the first half of the book. I was confused about the magic system, and I couldn't keep track of the characters. I think part of the issue is that with working while I listened to the audiobook I didn't always catch the transitions between the current and past event chapters. To be honest it didn't hook me either in the beginning, so if I hadn't listened to the audiobook so fast I might have missed out on the second half that I really enjoyed because based on the beginning I would have DNF'd it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Gun violence, and Child death
This was a dark urban fantasy, so guns, violence, death, and gore are all very present.shapesandcolours's review against another edition
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Alcoholism, and Violence
bellebookcorner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have quite a high expectation to this book because the author’s other series is one of my favorite and I’m curious to see this author’s first adult novel works. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to my expectation.
I felt confused most of the times when I read this book, it’s hard to envision some of the things happening here. The slow pacing in the first half part of the book almost made me gave up continuing this book….
There’s a lot of characters to keep track of to and it’s kinda hard differentiating one to the other unless they have significant roles like the main characters and the villain.
As for the romance, it has the potential and I’m rooting for both main characters. I’m intrigued to find out what happens next. However, it’s a veryyyy slow burn romance so if you’re not a fan of those this book might not be for you.
I have to admit the magic system is actually interesting, with the shadow magic and the blight. I keep on reading because the second half part of the book gets slightly more interesting.
My favorite part is the last few chapters of the book where the secrets is out in the open and it actually surprise me in a good way.
Overall, this isn’t entirely a bad read but it’s not that great either.
The ending still makes me want to continue reading this series. I’d like to know what happens next so I’ll keep an eye out on the sequel later.
The ending still makes me want to continue reading this series. I’d like to know what happens next so I’ll keep an eye out on the sequel later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Sexual content
caitsmythers's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took me awhile to get into this book. I think around the halfway mark is when things really picked up for me and I got into it!
The first major twist I guessed very early in but the second twist by god did that get me!
Charlie’s thievery skills are honestly very envious, I’m half tempted now to go and learn to pick locks and nick a few odd bits from people just to see what it takes… but also I’m too much of shitebag for that
This book is supernatural, magical, and a good ol’ mystery/thriller with some of the classic ‘who dunnit’ism thrown in.
The first major twist I guessed very early in but the second twist by god did that get me!
Charlie’s thievery skills are honestly very envious, I’m half tempted now to go and learn to pick locks and nick a few odd bits from people just to see what it takes… but also I’m too much of shitebag for that
This book is supernatural, magical, and a good ol’ mystery/thriller with some of the classic ‘who dunnit’ism thrown in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence