You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
meganmindj 's review for:
This Ravenous Fate
by Hayley Dennings
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has so many things going for it: vampires (or reapers, as they're called), reaper hunters, the Jazz Age, a friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers relationship, a freaking MASQUERADE ball that was SO exciting and mesmerizing, betrayal and twists, and MORE.
The setting was so intense and awesome. The story takes place in the middle of the Jazz Age during the 1920s in Harlem. As this is such an influential and fascinating part of history, it was such a vivid and interesting backdrop to the story.
The two main characters, Elise and Layla, were fantastic. I loved them both, though Layla is my favorite. Their individual journeys, both complicated, dark, and understandable, were very interesting. Elise'stricky relationship with her father, her mission to keep her sister safe, her loyalty to her friends, and her past with Layla all compelled me to read more of her story. As for Layla, I absolutely adore her. Her story as a reaper was so gripping. The betrayal and anger that existed inside her, as well as the determination for revenge and struggle to rediscover who she is as a reaper, was so cool. Their sole stories became even more exciting when they entwined, true enemies forced to work together to an achieve a goal.
Then there's the ROMANCE. I can't even. This is a GREAT example of ENEMIES to LOVERS. Also like, it's SAPPHIC as I alluded to earlier. Let's freaking GOOOOOO for the sapphic enemies to lovers books! In truth, it's former friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, but it was done SO well. Like I've read "enemies to lovers" books where the characters are only "enemies" for like 50 pages, and often one of them was just faking it. This book did NOT do that. The girls were TRUE enemies; they were working throughout the story, and it took a LOT of effort and time for them to even trust each other let alone admit to THEMSELVES that they MIGHT have feelings. I was kicking and twirling my feet as the girls would look at each other in anger and distrust as they tried to ignore the undeniable thread of love/attraction. The SLOW-BURN of this romance was so sweet, and don't get me started with how there's a scene whereLayla drinks Elise's blood (consensually) and it's so intoxicating and intense because it's making both of them so horny and down for each other. The line between Layla's thirst for Elise's blood and her forbidden feelings for the human girl is nonexistent at that moment, and it was a THRILLING chapter to see because like, what is more intimate than drinking the blood of the one you love? (I mean this in regards to THIS STORY, not in real life, please don't come after me lol). Omg and ultimately, the payoff to the romance was so good.
Overall, this is a great book. The pace of the story was a bit slow at some parts, especially at the very beginning, but that wasn't a problem for me, and I loved everything else about the book to cancel it out. The masquerade ball is also a contender for my favorite scene. So spellbinding and exciting!
I do have to say though that this book is not tagged as horror, but you should know there are vampires and there's blood, both spilled and explicitly drained from people's necks (and in one scene, it's very romantic and intense), so if that's not your cup of tea, this book is sadly not for you.
The setting was so intense and awesome. The story takes place in the middle of the Jazz Age during the 1920s in Harlem. As this is such an influential and fascinating part of history, it was such a vivid and interesting backdrop to the story.
The two main characters, Elise and Layla, were fantastic. I loved them both, though Layla is my favorite. Their individual journeys, both complicated, dark, and understandable, were very interesting. Elise's
Then there's the ROMANCE. I can't even. This is a GREAT example of ENEMIES to LOVERS. Also like, it's SAPPHIC as I alluded to earlier. Let's freaking GOOOOOO for the sapphic enemies to lovers books! In truth, it's former friends to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, but it was done SO well. Like I've read "enemies to lovers" books where the characters are only "enemies" for like 50 pages, and often one of them was just faking it. This book did NOT do that. The girls were TRUE enemies; they were working throughout the story, and it took a LOT of effort and time for them to even trust each other let alone admit to THEMSELVES that they MIGHT have feelings. I was kicking and twirling my feet as the girls would look at each other in anger and distrust as they tried to ignore the undeniable thread of love/attraction. The SLOW-BURN of this romance was so sweet, and don't get me started with how there's a scene where
Overall, this is a great book. The pace of the story was a bit slow at some parts, especially at the very beginning, but that wasn't a problem for me, and I loved everything else about the book to cancel it out. The masquerade ball is also a contender for my favorite scene. So spellbinding and exciting!
I do have to say though that this book is not tagged as horror, but you should know there are vampires and there's blood, both spilled and explicitly drained from people's necks (and in one scene, it's very romantic and intense), so if that's not your cup of tea, this book is sadly not for you.