Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was a great idea in theory, but in execution I felt it left a little to be desired. I loved the concept, and I liked the characters well enough individually, but once the plot started to build I found myself feeling disconnected and not really caring much about the characters because there was so much focus on constant action and not much on the relationships among them or them as individuals. With a slightly slower pace and a little more focus on building up backstory and fleshing out the characters, it could have been amazing. As it stands, it left me feeling a little underwhelmed, though I don't regret picking it up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Atlas Six meets The Ninth House, YA edition.
Blackwood Academy is a school in the afterlife. Students learn arcane arts and can never leave, unless they win the Decennial.
Six nominees. Four trials. Untold danger.
Two rivals: Perfectionist Wren and infamous August.
Two opposite best friends: Sunshine Oliver and Daring Emilio.
Two cutthroat friends: Cold Irene and Uncertain Masika.
You would think there are too many characters and dynamics to care about, but you quickly get sucked in.
It helped that a lot of the characters reminded me of those in The Atlas Six, and I don’t mean that in a negative copycat way. However, I do think this could have been pulled off better with fewer perspectives to feel really sold on all of them.
There is a great cat-and-mouse feeling from these relationships. Fated hearts, ‘unfortunate acquiantaces’ as they name their newly found friendship, and secrets to be unravelled that throws everything they know into the air.
I wish we got more of the world building and dark academia settings in terms of classes and daily life, however I appreciate this isn’t the focus. The trials are.
Yes, I saw the twists, however I am still taken by the story and the characters and their individual ambitions and desires to continue on.
Physical arc gifted by Electric Monkey.
Blackwood Academy is a school in the afterlife. Students learn arcane arts and can never leave, unless they win the Decennial.
Six nominees. Four trials. Untold danger.
Two rivals: Perfectionist Wren and infamous August.
Two opposite best friends: Sunshine Oliver and Daring Emilio.
Two cutthroat friends: Cold Irene and Uncertain Masika.
You would think there are too many characters and dynamics to care about, but you quickly get sucked in.
It helped that a lot of the characters reminded me of those in The Atlas Six, and I don’t mean that in a negative copycat way. However, I do think this could have been pulled off better with fewer perspectives to feel really sold on all of them.
There is a great cat-and-mouse feeling from these relationships. Fated hearts, ‘unfortunate acquiantaces’ as they name their newly found friendship, and secrets to be unravelled that throws everything they know into the air.
I wish we got more of the world building and dark academia settings in terms of classes and daily life, however I appreciate this isn’t the focus. The trials are.
Yes, I saw the twists, however I am still taken by the story and the characters and their individual ambitions and desires to continue on.
Physical arc gifted by Electric Monkey.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I want to inject this book into my veins, I love it that much. Since I started reading it, I’ve been so completely entranced and mesmerized by this story and these characters. It’s the same feeling I had reading The Shadowhunter books, Six of Crows and the Lunar Chronicles. I was legitimately sad when I had to be a responsible adult and couldn’t just sit and inhale this book. You all know I LOVE multiple POVs and I truly loved each one we had here. All of the six main characters were so incredibly written and had so much complexity. The world building was so interesting and unique (it would make a FABULOUS series) and oh my goodness, all the twists and turns and YEARNING. Guys, THE YEARNING. I could read ten more books set in this world. And THAT ENDING?! I need the next book as badly as I need The Life of A Showgirl, simple as that.
CW: death, violence