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lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
q_bert13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
Interesting read, drags a bit towards the end. Some obvious ‘secrets’ are revealed, with more surprising ones later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Medical content, Sexism, Outing, and Medical trauma
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
20sidedbi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found the main character fairly unbelievable... A book nerd who couldn't figure out he was living with werewolves ? And I'm not sure I totally followed a love interest's redemption arc .
The last couple chapters of this book bumped it up from a 2 to a 3⭐ for me. It's really cool to see an ending withpolyamory as the solution to a love triangle ! And the narrative really picked up in the last part of the book. Honestly, if the MC were better developed and the one love interest not so villainous at the beginning, it would have been really good.
The last couple chapters of this book bumped it up from a 2 to a 3⭐ for me. It's really cool to see an ending with
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Horrorredlikeroses'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book!
When this book was pitched as a gay gothic mystery, I was so hooked. The cover was eye-catching, the audiobook voiced wonderfully and the descriptions in this book are breathtaking. I think this book pulled off the horror amazingly, it had me so tense and on edge. It was creepy as hell too! The descriptions were amazing, it made everything feel alive and immersed me in the setting. The supporting cast shined more than the main characters and I was so invested in them. I think the romance was actually the weakest part of the book which was disappointing since I gobble up gay romance and that's why it's at 4.5. Overall this is a great book that will keep you entertained and tense so give it a try! Now I'll go into spoiler territory with more details.
SPOILERS AHEAD
---------------
Let me address my biggest fault with the book- the romance with Henri. Henri is a toxic entitled brat that gets better in the very last section of the book. He's introduced as a predatory noble, using his power to isolate Emile. I really could never recover from the fact he SOLD EMILE OUT. How was I supposed to get over that? Also most of Emile's thoughts were about he was hot which was a little shallow. I do appreciate that Emile acknowledged that he was toxic and that was part of his troubles.
Another thing was Emile wanting to marry for love? He's only attracted to men and Henri is right, he will never be able to marry for love. I found it annoying that he was so caught up on that when the other option was an ASYLUM.
Alright Bram was literally a S tier perfect man. Obvious choice from the beginning, he's supportive even when being rejected for his enemy. Anette owned my heart and soul and if she had died I would have rioted. I also wonder if Camilla was a reference to the vampire in Le Fanu's book with her ice cold skin and attraction towards women?
The werewolf lore was awesome, I love the greek mythology twist! It really set an eerie unearthly tone to the book. I would have liked more explanation for that because if the goddesses are real and the witches by extension, does that mean that vampires or other creatures exist in this world? Maybe something to explore in another book because I could see a sequel happening.
Man, the horror was freaky as hell. The leeches, THE SPIDERS. The author knows how to make my skin crawl. Speaking of skin crawling, the monk and Count Montani were creepy and extremely intimidating. I was actually scared of the count and I actually yelled out loud when the head on spike scene happened. The mysteries were also interesting if not a little predictable, but I prefer coherent reveals to twists that make no sense.
Finally, the closure of the book with Henri, Bram and Emile in a poly relationship I saw coming and I was ok with it. Like I said before, the romance was the least interesting thing about the book and Henri doesn't become bearable till the last portion of the book. I would have liked to see more interactions between Henri and Bram because they resolved their hatred for each other pretty fast.
Overall this was a really good book and it helped me relax during a stressful week. I'd say give it a try!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book!
When this book was pitched as a gay gothic mystery, I was so hooked. The cover was eye-catching, the audiobook voiced wonderfully and the descriptions in this book are breathtaking. I think this book pulled off the horror amazingly, it had me so tense and on edge. It was creepy as hell too! The descriptions were amazing, it made everything feel alive and immersed me in the setting. The supporting cast shined more than the main characters and I was so invested in them. I think the romance was actually the weakest part of the book which was disappointing since I gobble up gay romance and that's why it's at 4.5. Overall this is a great book that will keep you entertained and tense so give it a try! Now I'll go into spoiler territory with more details.
SPOILERS AHEAD
---------------
Another thing was Emile wanting to marry for love? He's only attracted to men and Henri is right, he will never be able to marry for love. I found it annoying that he was so caught up on that when the other option was an ASYLUM.
Alright Bram was literally a S tier perfect man. Obvious choice from the beginning, he's supportive even when being rejected for his enemy. Anette owned my heart and soul and if she had died I would have rioted. I also wonder if Camilla was a reference to the vampire in Le Fanu's book with her ice cold skin and attraction towards women?
The werewolf lore was awesome, I love the greek mythology twist! It really set an eerie unearthly tone to the book. I would have liked more explanation for that because if the goddesses are real and the witches by extension, does that mean that vampires or other creatures exist in this world? Maybe something to explore in another book because I could see a sequel happening.
Man, the horror was freaky as hell. The leeches, THE SPIDERS. The author knows how to make my skin crawl. Speaking of skin crawling, the monk and Count Montani were creepy and extremely intimidating. I was actually scared of the count and I actually yelled out loud when the head on spike scene happened. The mysteries were also interesting if not a little predictable, but I prefer coherent reveals to twists that make no sense.
Finally, the closure of the book with Henri, Bram and Emile in a poly relationship I saw coming and I was ok with it. Like I said before, the romance was the least interesting thing about the book and Henri doesn't become bearable till the last portion of the book. I would have liked to see more interactions between Henri and Bram because they resolved their hatred for each other pretty fast.
Overall this was a really good book and it helped me relax during a stressful week. I'd say give it a try!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Graphic Horror describing spiders and leeches
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