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straybutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Grief, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, and Classism
crinkledmochi'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? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
VIBES!!!!
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Gothic, mystical, yet darkly cozy.
the romance was cute but definitely needed more fleshing out as everything happened within the span of a couple weeks.
the worldbuilding! yes ma’am, I hope that in the next book the world kinda opens up a bit more but with the way this book ended I don’t think we’re going very far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Bullying, Sexual content, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Vomit
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book just didn’t grip me. I felt like the first 75% of the book moved really slowly and I felt myself getting bored. The reveal of the Nightmare being the old king also felt prolonged—it was fairly obvious that this was the case so when it was “revealed” to Elspeth and the reader, it just felt underwhelming. I don’t enjoy when it feels like the author is underestimating the reader, and this was one of those times.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the romance, but that may be personal preference as I don’t enjoy the “love at first sight” trope.
The concept of the story—a bargain with a greater entity that takes more each time one asks for favors—is really compelling, and the ending was interesting. I just wanted the whole book to be as eventful and impactful as the last 25%.
Read if you like dark fantasy involving bargains for power with a tiny bit of romance.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the romance, but that may be personal preference as I don’t enjoy the “love at first sight” trope.
The concept of the story—a bargain with a greater entity that takes more each time one asks for favors—is really compelling, and the ending was interesting. I just wanted the whole book to be as eventful and impactful as the last 25%.
Read if you like dark fantasy involving bargains for power with a tiny bit of romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Child death
randirush's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
hiiiii i need to read the second book RN
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Vomit
scarlett_f's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Toxic relationship, Death, Body horror, Confinement, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Vomit, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug use and Domestic abuse
marippe's review against another edition
4.25
It had some good potential. I did enjoy it.
I did like the first half more than the second.
Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship moved a little too quickly for me, it was a lil surface level. I liked all the characters and their relationships, if it digged a little bit deeper into the layers of these characters it could've been really nice.
Elm I found particularly fun
I'm excited for the next book!
I did like the first half more than the second.
Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship moved a little too quickly for me, it was a lil surface level. I liked all the characters and their relationships, if it digged a little bit deeper into the layers of these characters it could've been really nice.
Elm I found particularly fun
I'm excited for the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of those moments where I am so grateful to Bookstagram for recommending this else I would never pick it up - literally, don't judge a book by it's cover!
A well thought of, clever premise that's beautifully written. I was consumed by this fantasy world, by the story of Elspeth who struggles with a dark magic that resides in her mind, but which also protects her from danger - and Ravyn, who is Captain of the guard which arrests and punishes people just like Elspeth..only Rayvn keeps Elspeth safe because he needs her magic to save his brother. With this fear around magic there are lots of secrets in the book and you have your heart in your throat most of the time but it is power packed. There is so much going in the background with the history of the King, how the magic came to exist and the usurper who now abuses it, but the writing makes this really easy to follow.
This is a book which has heart and soul, lovable characters (and not so lovable) and actually makes you feel smarter once you've finished reading. I devoured it within the space of a few days (just so that I could join a buddy read for the 2nd book which starts today, but I made it!). 75% in there was a little too much repetition for my liking but I'd highly recommend this - a favourite read this year definitely.
A well thought of, clever premise that's beautifully written. I was consumed by this fantasy world, by the story of Elspeth who struggles with a dark magic that resides in her mind, but which also protects her from danger - and Ravyn, who is Captain of the guard which arrests and punishes people just like Elspeth..only Rayvn keeps Elspeth safe because he needs her magic to save his brother. With this fear around magic there are lots of secrets in the book and you have your heart in your throat most of the time but it is power packed. There is so much going in the background with the history of the King, how the magic came to exist and the usurper who now abuses it, but the writing makes this really easy to follow.
This is a book which has heart and soul, lovable characters (and not so lovable) and actually makes you feel smarter once you've finished reading. I devoured it within the space of a few days (just so that I could join a buddy read for the 2nd book which starts today, but I made it!). 75% in there was a little too much repetition for my liking but I'd highly recommend this - a favourite read this year definitely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
saeriiss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is delightful to read, it manages to be funny and engaging while exploring dark themes and settings, and I think that's what drew me in the most.
The magic system is quite cool, although not original, it's different from what we are used to see and the way the author incorporates it into the world is very refreshing. I loved the characters, Elspeth and the Yews (including Elm) were well built during the story and I was able to connect easily with them, the only problem is that, despite the enemies-to-lovers trope between the main couple, it feels like there is no character development, but I think that's a consequence of another issue in this book.
If I'm being honest, this book feels like it's actually the first half of a story that has been dragged out. It's not until 40% in that the plot starts to develop a bit and the final 30% is extremely rushed because we spent the rest of it doing barely anything. You're probably thinking "maybe it's just a character-driven story", and yes, you might see it that way, but then there should've been much more development of the main characters' arc and journey, we should've seen them in way more depth than we were able to.
Final thoughts: if you're looking for an easy read, with very cool characters, a seductive male lead, dark magic, a royal family full of secrets, and kind of a plot going on in the background, I highly recommend this!
The magic system is quite cool, although not original, it's different from what we are used to see and the way the author incorporates it into the world is very refreshing. I loved the characters, Elspeth and the Yews (including Elm) were well built during the story and I was able to connect easily with them, the only problem is that, despite the enemies-to-lovers trope between the main couple, it feels like there is no character development, but I think that's a consequence of another issue in this book.
If I'm being honest, this book feels like it's actually the first half of a story that has been dragged out. It's not until 40% in that the plot starts to develop a bit and the final 30% is extremely rushed because we spent the rest of it doing barely anything. You're probably thinking "maybe it's just a character-driven story", and yes, you might see it that way, but then there should've been much more development of the main characters' arc and journey, we should've seen them in way more depth than we were able to.
Final thoughts: if you're looking for an easy read, with very cool characters, a seductive male lead, dark magic, a royal family full of secrets, and kind of a plot going on in the background, I highly recommend this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
payton_layne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Sexual content
gracemcbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, and Violence