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ixris's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
The writing varies from very good to a chore to read. Character choices seem dictated by the plot, but the plot keeps pretending it is driven by characters. There's a lot of problematic stuff in here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Cancer, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Violence
Minor: Rape
vickie0326's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0
The whole book is underdeveloped and has huge plot and character development holes in it. They end up in Crenshaw, have a few classes, and are all of a sudden fully in control of their magic? What, even, is Maggie’s magic? Character development is seriously lacking. We have no real sense of who these people are - and without understanding their motives and values, their actions don’t necessarily make sense and seem randomly written to move the story along.
The romance in here is also horribly written and not developed at all. Ellie and Prospero meet once and Ellie is instantaneous obsessed - constantly trying to kiss her, even when Prospero pushes back. Awkward. Maggie and Sondre - what is the basis of their connection? They hook up once and he’s on board to break laws for her? Dan and Axyll - not even sure why we’re focused on them. Are they main characters? Truly, the only thing that makes total sense throughout is Maggie’s devotion to her son and being willing to do anything to get back to him and protect him.
And then the ending - it’s like the author wrote the whole story and randomly cut the book in half. Like, what? It felt like an abrupt end to a chapter, let alone the book. I guess it’s supposed to be a cliffhanger? The lingering question is whether I care enough to read the second book.
The romance in here is also horribly written and not developed at all. Ellie and Prospero meet once and Ellie is instantaneous obsessed - constantly trying to kiss her, even when Prospero pushes back. Awkward. Maggie and Sondre - what is the basis of their connection? They hook up once and he’s on board to break laws for her? Dan and Axyll - not even sure why we’re focused on them. Are they main characters? Truly, the only thing that makes total sense throughout is Maggie’s devotion to her son and being willing to do anything to get back to him and protect him.
And then the ending - it’s like the author wrote the whole story and randomly cut the book in half. Like, what? It felt like an abrupt end to a chapter, let alone the book. I guess it’s supposed to be a cliffhanger? The lingering question is whether I care enough to read the second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Gaslighting, Death, and Cancer
may4la's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I hate this book so much, I love it. It has absolutely everything a good story needs: libraries, tea, lesbian witches, questionable choices and so many morally grey characters, you end up uncertain who you're even supposed to be rooting for - if any of them. It is exactly what I've come to expect from and love about Melissa Marr's writing: high in tension, full of characters who are a force of personality, and absolutely terrifying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Minor: War, Dementia, Homophobia, and Racism
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