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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.0
Academic rivals are a trope that I typically take only minor interest in. School was more often a collaborative than competitive affair for me, so it clashes with my experience, leaving me baffled at who has the energy for it. This book had me convinced within the first chapter. YES Libby, Nico is clearly the worst. Continue with your banter. Shoot to emotionally maim. Not only was I convinced, but I was having a great time.
In fact, all six POVs quickly brought me under their thrall by eliciting strong reactions with their voices. I could give an itemized summary of how I feel about any of them and why because each character is so carefully formed and fills a specific role in the group. The sometimes vicious competition among them adds another layer, as I came to support certain alliances while wishing other liaisons a swift death for the threat they posed to themselves or others through their choices. I found myself irrevocably interested in all the characters' sharp edges, their darkest thoughts, their jangling worries at odds with their lofty ambitions. I admired the unexpected pathways the characters followed, the twisty growth to their relationships, and the queer (pan representation at minimum--most of the characters seem fairly fluid in terms of sexuality) and BIPOC representation (Black, Japanese, Persian, and Cuban protagonists).
I did get stuck on a couple points. For one, my initial investment in the characters was a bit frayed by the end. This was partially due to choices made in the quest for power and partially related to the way the cast would fixate on each other's perceived weaknesses, amplifying them for the reader. A related concern is that I'm not sure there was a single relationship I wouldn't ultimately categorize as toxic and/or unbalanced. It's not glorified, which I appreciate, but I personally need at least one strong, supportive bond to hold onto in a story. It's what keeps me motivated and excited to come along for the darker bits.
In terms of world-building, the magic system isn't necessarily revolutionary, but the periods of academic contemplation regarding different abilities and talents left me in the dust as a matter of both mental fortitude and attention span. I may be a science teacher, but honestly, ew physics.
I liked that the story seems to be winding up for some intriguing commentary on power and institutions, on knowledge and ambition. Already, there were some fun asides and acute observations that I highlighted as fuel for my dark, cynical worldview that Tristan would surely appreciate. Dark academia fans will especially find a lot in these pages to live up to the hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
rbuhrke's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The world building the book contained was vast in its attempt to mix the modern and ancient, magic systems with quantum science, competition, and the ramifications of those combinations. It perfectly lays out building blocks for the characters to work with, but instead of exploring these depths the book and the characters only briefly touch its surface to focus on each other. Each character is attempting to one up each other physically and cerebrally in the life and death competition. Which accomplished the books goal of creating never ending anxiety and tense around who would go and who would stay, but everyone’s incessant need to get the upper hand left me unsurprised by inevitable betrayals. For a book driven by character development it seemed to lack any meaningful change in character and emotion. Instead, the book harshly veers away from Chekhov’s gun and is unable to complete its promise and instead it hurriedly adds a new layer of what must be an intellectual attempt at intrigue to previously irrelevant players in the last 20 pages. This left the ending to feel less like a cliffhanger and more like finishing a chapter in the middle of a book afraid of itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
leahpardon's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
1.75
1.75 ( and that’s generous )
It was…disappointing to say the least. The characters had so much potential, yet fell short, underdeveloped and boring. Most of them were recycled copies of “edgy” stereotypes and were somewhat 2D. The plot as an idea was great, though it wasn’t put into action the way it could’ve. It was dull, for the majority of the book. The last 25% or so when it gets interesting.
The ending was a cop out.
It was…disappointing to say the least. The characters had so much potential, yet fell short, underdeveloped and boring. Most of them were recycled copies of “edgy” stereotypes and were somewhat 2D. The plot as an idea was great, though it wasn’t put into action the way it could’ve. It was dull, for the majority of the book. The last 25% or so when it gets interesting.
The ending was a cop out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism and Classism
Minor: Chronic illness