jensenart 's review for:

This Vicious Hunger by Francesca May

3.0

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Epistemophile, philomath, or scholar. All describe those with an obsession, enchantment or fascination towards learning. This novel takes that obsession and adds the allure of secrecy, the attraction of power with a helping of desire. Its dark, its mysterious, its vengeful and beautifully pernicious. So much potential right. 

 

The botanical horror/magic aspect is the main reason I wanted to dive into this read but it doesn’t really even show up until well into the novel. Then once it shows up its just ok. I had the same feeling about the romance between Thora and Olea, it was just there. Thora just does not see capable of making any kind of memorable relationship because her attempt just fall flat for me. I found myself more interested in the plants. The story finally picks up and gets interesting about 65% in. The last third of the book is what saved it for me. 

 

Overall this book ends up being all atmosphere with a bit of sapphic romance. It’s pacing can be slow at times but I appreciated the details those portions of the book added to the story. There was also times that I wished Thora was less predictable with a little more personality but I see the point in making her character appear malleable.