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A review by sistershelves_fasya
What We Devour by Linsey Miller
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You know I'm all about dark fantasy, so I was so excited to read this when I got the ARC. A plus when I know the character is morally gray as well as an ace.
The story is set in a world where there are powers called noblewrights (create) and vilewrights (destroy). Usually, people either become a noblewrought or vilewrought, and it's rare for anyone to have both powers except the Queen and our main character Lorena Adler, who is called dualwrought. Wroughts can use their power by sacrificing things like blood/pain/memories. All known wroughts are bound to their contracts and can't use their power other than what's written on it or it can cost their lives. But Lorena had been hiding since she was a child and doesn't bound to any of it. She can create and destroy, and sacrificing anything without limit.
She lives safely in Fellhollow with her partner Julian and his father Will. Until one day Will has been accused of treason. She tried to help Will by altered the guards' memories and that's when Alistair the Heir learns that she is a dualwrought. Alistair made an agreement with Lorena, to let Will has a fair trial in exchange for her to help him destroy a magical Door that has been asking for human sacrifice every so often.
It took me quite some time to process the entire magic system. I was utterly confused for the first 50% of the book but couldn't decide to DNF it since the premise is very interesting. I have to be honest that the pace is pretty slow for my liking. All they did for 75% of the book is doing research in the Heir's labs on how to destroy the Door. It wasn't until the last 20% that it got interesting!
I tend to love morally grey/anti-hero but too bad I don't feel any connection to the characters. All of them made awful decisions for good reasons but I couldn't care less even when one of the characters is dead. But I do like that the description of Lorena being asexual is not stereotypical (like another book that I've read before). There is also an f/f and m/m potential relationship.
Even though this isn't a five-star read for me, but I still recommend this to readers who like dark fantasy. I'm sure this is standalone but the ending made me think that the author is hopeful to write a sequel. And yes I'm looking forward to it.
Trigger warnings: blood, self-harm (mostly cutting), human sacrifice, briefly mentioned of mass suicide.
PS: pardon my grammar.....
The story is set in a world where there are powers called noblewrights (create) and vilewrights (destroy). Usually, people either become a noblewrought or vilewrought, and it's rare for anyone to have both powers except the Queen and our main character Lorena Adler, who is called dualwrought. Wroughts can use their power by sacrificing things like blood/pain/memories. All known wroughts are bound to their contracts and can't use their power other than what's written on it or it can cost their lives. But Lorena had been hiding since she was a child and doesn't bound to any of it. She can create and destroy, and sacrificing anything without limit.
She lives safely in Fellhollow with her partner Julian and his father Will. Until one day Will has been accused of treason. She tried to help Will by altered the guards' memories and that's when Alistair the Heir learns that she is a dualwrought. Alistair made an agreement with Lorena, to let Will has a fair trial in exchange for her to help him destroy a magical Door that has been asking for human sacrifice every so often.
It took me quite some time to process the entire magic system. I was utterly confused for the first 50% of the book but couldn't decide to DNF it since the premise is very interesting. I have to be honest that the pace is pretty slow for my liking. All they did for 75% of the book is doing research in the Heir's labs on how to destroy the Door. It wasn't until the last 20% that it got interesting!
I tend to love morally grey/anti-hero but too bad I don't feel any connection to the characters. All of them made awful decisions for good reasons but I couldn't care less even when one of the characters is dead. But I do like that the description of Lorena being asexual is not stereotypical (like another book that I've read before). There is also an f/f and m/m potential relationship.
Even though this isn't a five-star read for me, but I still recommend this to readers who like dark fantasy. I'm sure this is standalone but the ending made me think that the author is hopeful to write a sequel. And yes I'm looking forward to it.
Trigger warnings: blood, self-harm (mostly cutting), human sacrifice, briefly mentioned of mass suicide.
PS: pardon my grammar.....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Minor: Suicide