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jourdanbts 's review for:
This Ravenous Fate
by Hayley Dennings
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I listened to "This Ravenous Fate" by Hayley Dennings and, for the most part, I enjoyed the performance. However, I think I would have enjoyed reading the physical copy better.
Pros:
The plot is thrilling and fast-paced. Dennings does a pretty good job weaving in themes of racial tension and systemic oppression with the clash between reaper clans and reaper hunters. It's an interesting mix that adds depth to the story. In my opinion sapphic romance did not disappoint. The friendship between Layla and Elise was believable and provided a solid foundation for their romantic relationship. I also enjoyed the investigation/mystery storyline and all of the historical context of how the reapers came to be. The way the lore is laid out is very clear and easy to understand, which sets the series up nicely. I believe this series has so much potential.
Cons:
At first, I wasn't really buying the chemistry between Layla and Elise, but as the story progressed, I started to enjoy their dynamic a little more. However, Elise's parents were insufferable. Mr. Saint felt like a bit of a caricature. He's portrayed as the stereotypical Black male villain. The narration didn't help either, as the voice change for his character was jarring and took me out of the story.
The setting is supposed to be 1920s New York, but honestly, it didn't really capture the essence of the 20s for me. Aside from the mention of the Cotton Club, it felt more like present-day. And the conflict between Elise and her dad felt a bit forced. I wish it had been fleshed out more to make it more believable. The action towards the end was a little hard to follow, and after one of the major conflicts, the story started losing my attention. The last 45 minutes or so were tough to get through.
Despite these points, I genuinely enjoyed the story especially considering it is Dennings debut novel. I'm definitely picking up a physical copy and will continue reading the series. I'm excited to see Hayley Dennings grow as an author because she is truly talented.
Pros:
The plot is thrilling and fast-paced. Dennings does a pretty good job weaving in themes of racial tension and systemic oppression with the clash between reaper clans and reaper hunters. It's an interesting mix that adds depth to the story. In my opinion sapphic romance did not disappoint. The friendship between Layla and Elise was believable and provided a solid foundation for their romantic relationship. I also enjoyed the investigation/mystery storyline and all of the historical context of how the reapers came to be. The way the lore is laid out is very clear and easy to understand, which sets the series up nicely. I believe this series has so much potential.
Cons:
At first, I wasn't really buying the chemistry between Layla and Elise, but as the story progressed, I started to enjoy their dynamic a little more. However, Elise's parents were insufferable. Mr. Saint felt like a bit of a caricature. He's portrayed as the stereotypical Black male villain. The narration didn't help either, as the voice change for his character was jarring and took me out of the story.
The setting is supposed to be 1920s New York, but honestly, it didn't really capture the essence of the 20s for me. Aside from the mention of the Cotton Club, it felt more like present-day. And the conflict between Elise and her dad felt a bit forced. I wish it had been fleshed out more to make it more believable. The action towards the end was a little hard to follow, and after one of the major conflicts, the story started losing my attention. The last 45 minutes or so were tough to get through.
Despite these points, I genuinely enjoyed the story especially considering it is Dennings debut novel. I'm definitely picking up a physical copy and will continue reading the series. I'm excited to see Hayley Dennings grow as an author because she is truly talented.