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instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I picked this book up for Indie Bookstore Day and it didn't disappoint. I was looking for a book that was different, and that would transport me.
I really loved the premise, the atmosphere mixed with realism/fantasy/horror and the growth with the characters. I feel like I would definitely need to read this again at a later time because I did find the ending a bit confusing which brought it down to a 4 ⭐ review then a 5 ⭐.
Pedyr, Wyatt, and James were interesting characters and I wasn't 100% sure of the ending but it was open ended and I would love to see more of this world and place and characters
Not for everyone, but it is what I was craving.
I really loved the premise, the atmosphere mixed with realism/fantasy/horror and the growth with the characters. I feel like I would definitely need to read this again at a later time because I did find the ending a bit confusing which brought it down to a 4 ⭐ review then a 5 ⭐.
Pedyr, Wyatt, and James were interesting characters and I wasn't 100% sure of the ending but it was open ended and I would love to see more of this world and place and characters
Not for everyone, but it is what I was craving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Medical content, Violence, and Torture
cjdbooks1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Body horror, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Grief, Child death, Torture, Cursing, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
calhale1989's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
carlaabra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The first 40% of this book is beautiful. The prose is captivating, the ambience is haunting, I loved the premise. I adore somewhat-unexplained, dark environments like this. 5 stars. I’ve seen some people say the twists are predictable - some of them are, but I was still shocked for others. Overall a nice payoff.
She was there when he woke again. He felt her presence like a bruise, as though she’d been beaten into his bones.
Unfortunately the author couldn’t stick the landing. Some of the flowery language gets excessive (who uses a word like eonian?). The third act in particular was a mess - plot spiraling out of control, random cameos from characters from the prior book that haven’t been mentioned in this one. Our MCs saying awful YA lines like this:
“It was supposed to be my graduation dress…I didn’t walk though, so. Now it’s just something I take out and stare at when I’m feeling tragic.”
Then at the end our villain pops out with this fucking gem:
“The end justifies the means,” <blank> said. “Niccolo Machiavelli said that.”
What happened to the beautiful prose?? Died with Peter I guess.
We never do find out what Wyatt did to Micah, which is annoying since it’s mysteriously hinted at the entire goddamn book. I think Wyatt should’ve been either a few years younger or a few years older. Eighteen is too old to be this naive and angsty. It’s also (imo) too young to be making decisions about the future of your bloodline and the world (since she is apparentlythe most powerful witch to ever do it, or something. Authors: DONT GIVE YOUR MCs UNLIMITED POWERS WITH NO BOUNDARIES, it immediately kills the tension/stakes ). I found her a bit silly and melodramatic.
We never do find out what Wyatt did to Micah, which is annoying since it’s mysteriously hinted at the entire goddamn book. I think Wyatt should’ve been either a few years younger or a few years older. Eighteen is too old to be this naive and angsty. It’s also (imo) too young to be making decisions about the future of your bloodline and the world (since she is apparently
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
nikki_saulnier's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Abandonment, Child abuse, Blood, Child death, Murder, and Violence
abeautifulshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
bsquiggle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
Minor: Confinement, Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Gore, and Grief
roseleebooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
I'm very glad I picked this up as it surprised me in a good way. I knew it was going to be at least partly a horror and the writing and integration of that part of the story is outstanding. The tension really builds for the first portion of the book when Wyatt is trying to fix the farm that is falling apart around her. I won't give away the plot by talking too much about the other characters, but will say that the interpersonal dynamics and flashbacks are handled very well in building the story.
I did think that some of the plot elements felt a little rushed at the end, however thinking more about it after finishing the book I appreciated the direction it went in.
Overall this was the horror with heart at it's center that I didn't know I wanted to read. It is a story of loss, love, and hope with all the supernatural horror that I could ask for. There are no easy solutions in the world Kelly Andrew has created and I am glad that the story embraces that element.
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
I did think that some of the plot elements felt a little rushed at the end, however thinking more about it after finishing the book I appreciated the direction it went in.
Overall this was the horror with heart at it's center that I didn't know I wanted to read. It is a story of loss, love, and hope with all the supernatural horror that I could ask for. There are no easy solutions in the world Kelly Andrew has created and I am glad that the story embraces that element.
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Abandonment, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Death, Torture, and Violence
This is a horror novel with some romantic elements, I would not characterize this as a romance centric book.maeceybee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book was an absolute gem! It had so many vibes that I was not expecting at all, and I absolutely loved this.
It is a gothic enemies to lovers story that follows Wyatt as she goes back to her childhood farm after the death of her father, with the sole purpose of burning the place to the ground. Things aren’t quiet as they seem; however, when she finds Peter, her childhood best friend, strung up in the basement.
The first 30 pages of this book had me hooked, and it was easy to read and exciting the whole way through (especially with that heart wrenching ending). The pacing of the book was done very well, and the entire story flowed smoothly. It had me gasping, crying, and needing more of these characters. It is definitely character driven, with a dual POV between Peter and Wyatt which I absolutely loved. The romantic relationship in this story developed like fine wine, and Andrew did an amazing job of developing her characters by slowly revealing their backstories and what happened in the past to drive them apart. Further, this book is written so well, and the descriptions that Andrew used helped create an atmosphere that set a creepy tone for the rest of the book.
The only thing I wish I got to see more of was a “backstory” or explanation of the magic system and how Wyatt’s family learned about it, as well as the whole plot involving the cult; I feel like these two were a little confusing and Andrew could have spent a bit more time explaining them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Animal death
Minor: Torture
eenicem's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is really fantastic! I’m so happy I read it during spooky season and only wish I could give it to people to read now instead of having to wait until it hits shelves in April 2024. Kelly Andrew hits the perfect mood of eerie and mysterious throughout the book and definitely keeps you turning the pages. The stakes are high from page 1, and though there’s a brief lull about 70% of the way through, things pick up again pretty quickly.
Wyatt and Peter/Petyr are both really compelling as characters and really make you want to root for them. Even when things are really tense between them or their circumstances are really fraught, their dynamic feels very realistic and natural instead of forced for the plot.
And the plot as it unfolds is really exciting and keeps the revelations coming. I’d definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys supernatural YA with high stakes and characters who’ve seen some shit and will definitely see more before the book is through. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it.
(ARC received through my job as a bookseller)
Wyatt and Peter/Petyr are both really compelling as characters and really make you want to root for them. Even when things are really tense between them or their circumstances are really fraught, their dynamic feels very realistic and natural instead of forced for the plot.
And the plot as it unfolds is really exciting and keeps the revelations coming. I’d definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys supernatural YA with high stakes and characters who’ve seen some shit and will definitely see more before the book is through. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it.
(ARC received through my job as a bookseller)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Gaslighting, Grief, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
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