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thelonelywizard's review against another edition
The side characters piss me off and are unlikeable, the editorial errors are distracting, cannot physically get through it without getting angry.
lookingforamandaa's review against another edition
4.0
The Black Veins was a really fun and diverse story. In this world, magic is real. But it’s a secret. There are spells to hide magical places (like Blythe’s family’s coffee shop) from those without magic. I thought the world itself was really interesting. There is a government to the magical world. But there’s also more than one. The Black Veins is one and the other is newer, the Trident Republic which is painted to be the enemy. Blythe hears a song one night, a song that leads her almost right off the edge of her roof. This is when the Black Veins steps in and decides it’s time for the Guardians to go somewhere safe. So, Blythe gets ready to leave her family and to be taken in by the Black Veins, but before that can happen her entire family is kidnapped by the Trident Republic. Blythe goes with the Black Veins when they come for her, but she has a different mission: to convince the other Guardians to help rescue her family by going to the most dangerous place for them.
The best part of this book was the characters. Each of the Guardians was so different. I really loved them all. I think a part of that was the fact that they didn’t really get along at first. None of them wanted to be there, leaving their homes and family. Some were snarky, some scared, but I loved all of them. And I grew to love them as they grew to one another.
Overall, this book was wonderful. It was diverse and full of amazing relationships. There was action and adventure, grief, and emotion, all of the best things. I cannot wait to read more of this series.
The best part of this book was the characters. Each of the Guardians was so different. I really loved them all. I think a part of that was the fact that they didn’t really get along at first. None of them wanted to be there, leaving their homes and family. Some were snarky, some scared, but I loved all of them. And I grew to love them as they grew to one another.
Overall, this book was wonderful. It was diverse and full of amazing relationships. There was action and adventure, grief, and emotion, all of the best things. I cannot wait to read more of this series.
waclements7's review against another edition
Choppy prose with a lot of telling instead of showing. Could definitely have used an editor.
ursareads's review against another edition
4.0
A fresh, captivating urban fantasy adventure.
If this book contains several tropes that are usually not my cup of tea (chosen one, absent parent...), Ashia Monet knows how to write a compelling, fresh, funny and full of emotions story. The Black Veins is a great book, with complex and unique characters that'll steal your heart, and adventure and challenges that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Its strong point is definitely its characters, forming one big and loveable found family, but Ashia Monet also created an unique and intriguing universe, that I cannot wait to discover further in the next book(s).
You should read The Black Veins if you love road trip adventures, loveable characters, YA fantasy, diverse ensemble cast, and a plot which concentrate on the story itself, is character driven and without love interest.
If this book contains several tropes that are usually not my cup of tea (chosen one, absent parent...), Ashia Monet knows how to write a compelling, fresh, funny and full of emotions story. The Black Veins is a great book, with complex and unique characters that'll steal your heart, and adventure and challenges that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. Its strong point is definitely its characters, forming one big and loveable found family, but Ashia Monet also created an unique and intriguing universe, that I cannot wait to discover further in the next book(s).
You should read The Black Veins if you love road trip adventures, loveable characters, YA fantasy, diverse ensemble cast, and a plot which concentrate on the story itself, is character driven and without love interest.
mobelchhh's review
4.0
Such a fun book--pure adventure from beginning to end! The amount of typos was really distracting at certain points of the reading experience, but I truly enjoyed myself. Couldn't put it down. I'm definitely excited to see all these characters come back in the sequel.
_viv_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
[Review originally from my Goodreads]
Firstly can we all appreciate the cover art! It's stunning and what originally got me into picking up this book. Then I read the blurb and I knew it was for me. Roadtrip (urban) fantasy/dystopian books are my absolute favorite niche and I want to find more of them. Which "The Black Veins" fit right into.
I loved this book for a number of reasons: the found family trope, the urban fantasy setting that incorporated its magics well, the characters. This book is extremely character-driven, while the plot is always there overhanging and influencing their actions...it's still a roadtrip book. There are teenage shenanigans mixed in that I guess you could say distract from the plot if that's what your focus is entirely on. Personally I think there's a good balance between the two, but I am bias because I love the characters so much.
That being said there are a few nitpick details to go over. Mainly, I was upset that Jamie (Blythe's friend) was almost entirely forgotten/relevant after the first few chapters. I feel like we could've taken them out of the book, said Blythe has friends at home but is mostly a loner, and nothing would really change. If I remember correctly they're mentioned only a few times and Blythe never really pays them much mind. We are told the two have a tight friendship/bond but that's largely ignored.
Secondly, there are a few spelling or grammar errors throughout the book. None of that really bothered me but I did catch a couple.
Lastly, with such a large cast of characters I find that a few traits fail the "show don't tell" test. While I'm not super big on using that term, as I think there are a ton of acceptations to that "rule." The reader sometimes just gets told things about the character's friendships or relationships with each other. Though this detail was so minor it didn't hinder or bother my reading experience.
Summary:
This book fits my niche and I love it to bits. The cover is gorgeous and the characters are amazing. A few details like the lack of Jamie's character after they are introduced, spelling errors, and the reading being told things are in this book. But the flaws are so minimum that it never really hindered my experience reading.
Firstly can we all appreciate the cover art! It's stunning and what originally got me into picking up this book. Then I read the blurb and I knew it was for me. Roadtrip (urban) fantasy/dystopian books are my absolute favorite niche and I want to find more of them. Which "The Black Veins" fit right into.
I loved this book for a number of reasons: the found family trope, the urban fantasy setting that incorporated its magics well, the characters. This book is extremely character-driven, while the plot is always there overhanging and influencing their actions...it's still a roadtrip book. There are teenage shenanigans mixed in that I guess you could say distract from the plot if that's what your focus is entirely on. Personally I think there's a good balance between the two, but I am bias because I love the characters so much.
That being said there are a few nitpick details to go over. Mainly, I was upset that Jamie (Blythe's friend) was almost entirely forgotten/relevant after the first few chapters. I feel like we could've taken them out of the book, said Blythe has friends at home but is mostly a loner, and nothing would really change. If I remember correctly they're mentioned only a few times and Blythe never really pays them much mind. We are told the two have a tight friendship/bond but that's largely ignored.
Secondly, there are a few spelling or grammar errors throughout the book. None of that really bothered me but I did catch a couple.
Lastly, with such a large cast of characters I find that a few traits fail the "show don't tell" test. While I'm not super big on using that term, as I think there are a ton of acceptations to that "rule." The reader sometimes just gets told things about the character's friendships or relationships with each other. Though this detail was so minor it didn't hinder or bother my reading experience.
Summary:
This book fits my niche and I love it to bits. The cover is gorgeous and the characters are amazing. A few details like the lack of Jamie's character after they are introduced, spelling errors, and the reading being told things are in this book. But the flaws are so minimum that it never really hindered my experience reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
thishannah's review
I was drawn to this book by the promise that there would be no romantic plot arc, but stayed hooked thanks to the characters, the development of the magical world, and the quick-turning plot. Blythe and her found family were so good-hearted and relatable, and I loved seeing how their different magical abilities complemented one another.
My only minor nitpick is that the book could have used another round of copyediting, but the mistakes didn't bother me as much as they would in a book from a trad publisher where I know it's someone's full-time job to catch these things.
My other complaint is that I wasn't ready for the story to end when it did! I will definitely tune in to the sequel when it comes out.
My only minor nitpick is that the book could have used another round of copyediting, but the mistakes didn't bother me as much as they would in a book from a trad publisher where I know it's someone's full-time job to catch these things.
My other complaint is that I wasn't ready for the story to end when it did! I will definitely tune in to the sequel when it comes out.
duntothewood's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75