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booksaremythirdplace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.75
abookwiithoutend's review against another edition
5.0
Just the book I needed to get out of a reading slump. I recommend this to anyone who wants something quick paced and intriguing, who loves the found family trope ("the assassin you sent after me is now a part of my found family", but also "and that's why we are a bit of a dysfunctional found family"). I loved every character, who despite viewing themselves as one dimensional, feels fleshed out and also grows during the story. The ending was shocking and I cannot wait for the second book.
rabidkow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
avy9891's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the world-building and the different characters you meet who are important in their own way, even if they aren't the main characters. Elwyn's character is relatable. She possesses great skills but feels invisible around others. Being herself isn't enough, and she's got to prove that she's worth it at every turn. Throughout the story, I felt she was just trying to live a normal life, one that she definitely deserved after everything she had dealt with. I was frustrated with Brannon often as I felt like he didn't often try to understand others. Lydia was such a beautiful character and her mother's love for her was so touching.
As you read the story, you get such vivid details about the surroundings that you feel like you are truly there in person. With so many characters introduced, you might get a little lost if you aren't paying attention. Overall, the story is enjoyable, heart-wrenching, and full of action.
Thanks Nerd Fam and City Owl Press!
As you read the story, you get such vivid details about the surroundings that you feel like you are truly there in person. With so many characters introduced, you might get a little lost if you aren't paying attention. Overall, the story is enjoyable, heart-wrenching, and full of action.
Thanks Nerd Fam and City Owl Press!
gmarieb's review against another edition
5.0
I recieved access to this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the multiple pov you get throughout. It has great world building without info dumping or being too confusing. I loved the main characters and learning about each individually. Each pov really helped the found family aspect come together beautifully. I couldn't put this book down and will be anxiously waiting for the rest of the series!
booklover_beth's review against another edition
4.0
The Unseen is a coming-of-age story filled with adventure, character growth, sacrifice, resilience, and found family. This book has multiple POVs, and I fully admit that it took me a while to fully understand who was who but once I did, I couldn’t put the story down. The story is laced with some darker themes, but the characters’ resilience is so bright, and their character development was so well done it was refreshing to read. Book 1 reads like a YA fantasy but because of the darker themes (childhood abuse and neglect, violence, strong language, etc.) so I would say this is more of a NA read. Book 1 is labeled as a fantasy romance, but I would say that book 1 is more of an epic fantasy adventure.
I adored the writing style (once I got used to the multi POVs lol). The story flowed well. I wouldn’t label book 1 as fast paced but the plot was not boring. Once I caught on to each character, they gripped me, and I was invested in their journey. I must admit the world building was a little confusing to me but that could just be me. The found family trope is beautifully portrayed in the book. Luckily, I am an ARC reader for book 2 so I get to dive right in and see what happens next.
I adored the writing style (once I got used to the multi POVs lol). The story flowed well. I wouldn’t label book 1 as fast paced but the plot was not boring. Once I caught on to each character, they gripped me, and I was invested in their journey. I must admit the world building was a little confusing to me but that could just be me. The found family trope is beautifully portrayed in the book. Luckily, I am an ARC reader for book 2 so I get to dive right in and see what happens next.
jessisroyallybooked's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
tinynightingales's review against another edition
4.0
Where the mundane meets the magical, "Unseen" offers us a glimpse into a world where the lines blur between truth and lies. In this story, it's up to a fickle prince, a sickly little girl, and two desperate assassins to stop the evil forces before the lands of the mortals, fairies, living, and dead all merge together into one.
This book includes:
- Unseelie and seelie courts
- changelings
- multiple POV
- a secret assassin guild
- unwilling allies
- begrudging friendship
- ensemble cast
- enemies to friends
- pompous fae
- magic and murder
"The Unseen" includes so many great elements and has a great overall storyline. Each of our main characters have tangible motivations and this really added to my ability to buy into the storyline and invest myself emotionally in each of the four protagonists's journies. I can really see readers in the middle school and high school range really loving this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, that said, I had some trouble with the pacing and felt like the story was bogged down by details at some points. There were a few points where I got annoyed at the number of characters and I felt that there were so many POVs that could have been cut out. The POVs from the witch, the king, and the trickster in particular felt particularly superfluous (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). I think this would have given us more time to dive deeper into the psyche of some of our main cast. Great plot and interesting characters, I recommend this book to fans of "Thornehedge." and the Uglies Series.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
This book includes:
- Unseelie and seelie courts
- changelings
- multiple POV
- a secret assassin guild
- unwilling allies
- begrudging friendship
- ensemble cast
- enemies to friends
- pompous fae
- magic and murder
"The Unseen" includes so many great elements and has a great overall storyline. Each of our main characters have tangible motivations and this really added to my ability to buy into the storyline and invest myself emotionally in each of the four protagonists's journies. I can really see readers in the middle school and high school range really loving this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, that said, I had some trouble with the pacing and felt like the story was bogged down by details at some points. There were a few points where I got annoyed at the number of characters and I felt that there were so many POVs that could have been cut out. The POVs from the witch, the king, and the trickster in particular felt particularly superfluous (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). I think this would have given us more time to dive deeper into the psyche of some of our main cast. Great plot and interesting characters, I recommend this book to fans of "Thornehedge." and the Uglies Series.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
wickedlit_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you nerdfam & Lilla for this 2 part ARC!!
This was more of a slow read for me because of all the world building but i love how in depth they go about the worlds and characters in this series. Excited to see what Book 2 will bring and how everyone will navigate this “new” world that Yana fucked up
This was more of a slow read for me because of all the world building but i love how in depth they go about the worlds and characters in this series. Excited to see what Book 2 will bring and how everyone will navigate this “new” world that Yana fucked up
kmartbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
4.25
I didn't know what to expect from this one, but I loved it. This absolutely shines because of its characters. None of these are really typical heroes and I love how messy and complex they are. It has that perfect blend of adventure, danger, and heart, with a cast of characters that feel distinct and alive.
Elwyn, a thief who thrives on being unremarkable, is such a fun protagonist. She’s not your typical hero, and that’s what makes her so compelling. She’s a bit cowardly, a bit calculating, and entirely relatable. On the run from her previous criminal guild of exploited orphans, she attempts to live a quiet life only to be dragged into chaos. Her mysterious invisible 'parasite'/fairy/pixie who speaks only in rhyme adds another fun layer.
The rest of the cast is just as fascinating. There’s a morally grey/black assassin whose sharp edges are due to a whole HEAP of trauma, a cad fae prince with charm and arrogance to spare, and a “monstrous” young girl with magical abilities that no one really understands. The dynamics between these characters felt rich and layered, and the tension between them gave the story depth. They feel like a classic found family—thrown together by circumstance but growing into something much more meaningful. There are other equally interesting characters to discover, as well.
This book leans much more into the friendships and the building of trust between characters. The slight hints of romance are enough to leave you wondering where things might go in future installments, but they don’t overshadow the core of the story.
I loved that the fae in this world are more malevolent and cunning. It gives the story a darker edge, contrasting nicely with the Celtic and witchy vibes that permeate the setting. The atmosphere makes it easy to get lost in the magic and lore of this world.
The Unseen is a wonderfully fun and engaging fantasy with a stellar cast and intriguing world-building. If you’re into found family and a malevolent fae, you’ll have a great time with this one. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you. Can't wait to dive into the next!
Thanks so much to Nerd Fam and the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Elwyn, a thief who thrives on being unremarkable, is such a fun protagonist. She’s not your typical hero, and that’s what makes her so compelling. She’s a bit cowardly, a bit calculating, and entirely relatable. On the run from her previous criminal guild of exploited orphans, she attempts to live a quiet life only to be dragged into chaos. Her mysterious invisible 'parasite'/fairy/pixie who speaks only in rhyme adds another fun layer.
The rest of the cast is just as fascinating. There’s a morally grey/black assassin whose sharp edges are due to a whole HEAP of trauma, a cad fae prince with charm and arrogance to spare, and a “monstrous” young girl with magical abilities that no one really understands. The dynamics between these characters felt rich and layered, and the tension between them gave the story depth. They feel like a classic found family—thrown together by circumstance but growing into something much more meaningful. There are other equally interesting characters to discover, as well.
This book leans much more into the friendships and the building of trust between characters. The slight hints of romance are enough to leave you wondering where things might go in future installments, but they don’t overshadow the core of the story.
I loved that the fae in this world are more malevolent and cunning. It gives the story a darker edge, contrasting nicely with the Celtic and witchy vibes that permeate the setting. The atmosphere makes it easy to get lost in the magic and lore of this world.
The Unseen is a wonderfully fun and engaging fantasy with a stellar cast and intriguing world-building. If you’re into found family and a malevolent fae, you’ll have a great time with this one. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you. Can't wait to dive into the next!
Thanks so much to Nerd Fam and the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.