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A review by _viv_
The Black Veins by Ashia Monet
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