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A review by hollyblack56
A Curse In Ash by Julie Zantopoulos
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Somehow I finished this book but it took me a good 150pages before I got accustomed to the writing style.
What I liked:
- lovely reprensentation of positive/no drama LGBTQIA+ relationship.
- no drama pregnancy
- characters actually put on condoms and discuss STIs before sex in the choas of passion.
- the love triangle of sort isnt dragged for effect for too long.
-the weight and feel of the paperback edition of the book (atmosphere press)!
What I disliked:
- the writting style. My minds eye could not conjure up scenes and characters when I usually don't have a problem with it. Sentiments where repeated twice in different ways, some dialogue or character actions seemed counter intuitive from what we know of them. A lot of tell don't show as well. If you are in a crowded night club you aren't finding a seat. If you are at a dive bar there is no audience to applaud your performance beyond the 5 friends you invited. If you own a bakery your hands are not always cladded in flour. If you attend classes, surely you have a goal in mind, you don't just dismissed the whole college narrative because characters have other better excuses to meet up.
- Riordan is only Irish because of his name. For someone who has never been to the USA, he has all the references (pottery barn, best buy...), seems to drive well on the otherside of the road in any car, and has no cultural shock however minor. He only used 2 irish words and doesn't have any of the british slang in his speech.
- the spelling/grammar mistakes. At least 20 or so across the book. Someone should have re-read the last draft before print. It kept on taking me out of the story.
- everyone lusts over everyone. all I know about the side characters is that they are sexually active no one seem to have bigger problems than their next f#ck. Also everyone want to f#ck Ash, Riordan and Bry. Characters attraction to them is just a given when in reality, people can be in relationship and not wet their panties because Bry walked in. Back to the show don't tell. Don't tell me Bry is handsome, show me that he plays with womens attention (and men, i dont trust an immortal who has never dabbled beyond heterosexuality).
Riordan and Ash are just hot and everyone want them. As soon as they are together though, no one else is looking at them. As if it was all just an excuse to see them as hot eligible not-ready-for-a-relationship single people. 50pages later their are both commited without much difficulty. Its tiring and superficial. Makes for a good teenager's fantasy but this is written by a grown woman for grown people.
- character development was lacking. They develop for sure, but for no reason. They just decide they accept magic and they do. They decide to be romantic with someone and they become it. They decide to love someone and they do. There is no influence of their past trauma or history playing in their struggle with the development once they have passed the first hurddle and accepted whatever life changing situation.
- What becomes of some of the characters from the beginning? (Amber). What was the point of her beyond showing that Riordan was DTF and Ash could feel it through the bond creating an awkward moment??
- the ending isn't satisfying enough. I take it there are lose threads for book 2, but it didnt satiate my interest enough.
UPDATE: I finished book 2 and 3 thinking that new authors improve with time and I was not disappointed. I also was curious about the development of Riorda and Bry in relation to each other and Ash. It is well executed, with a fair amount of spice. The characters get more complex and interesting and the plot gets more jeopardy. Would recommend to stick with it and let the smaller frustrating points wash over!
What I liked:
- lovely reprensentation of positive/no drama LGBTQIA+ relationship.
- no drama pregnancy
- characters actually put on condoms and discuss STIs before sex in the choas of passion.
- the love triangle of sort isnt dragged for effect for too long.
-the weight and feel of the paperback edition of the book (atmosphere press)!
What I disliked:
- the writting style. My minds eye could not conjure up scenes and characters when I usually don't have a problem with it. Sentiments where repeated twice in different ways, some dialogue or character actions seemed counter intuitive from what we know of them. A lot of tell don't show as well. If you are in a crowded night club you aren't finding a seat. If you are at a dive bar there is no audience to applaud your performance beyond the 5 friends you invited. If you own a bakery your hands are not always cladded in flour. If you attend classes, surely you have a goal in mind, you don't just dismissed the whole college narrative because characters have other better excuses to meet up.
- Riordan is only Irish because of his name. For someone who has never been to the USA, he has all the references (pottery barn, best buy...), seems to drive well on the otherside of the road in any car, and has no cultural shock however minor. He only used 2 irish words and doesn't have any of the british slang in his speech.
- the spelling/grammar mistakes. At least 20 or so across the book. Someone should have re-read the last draft before print. It kept on taking me out of the story.
- everyone lusts over everyone. all I know about the side characters is that they are sexually active no one seem to have bigger problems than their next f#ck. Also everyone want to f#ck Ash, Riordan and Bry. Characters attraction to them is just a given when in reality, people can be in relationship and not wet their panties because Bry walked in. Back to the show don't tell. Don't tell me Bry is handsome, show me that he plays with womens attention (and men, i dont trust an immortal who has never dabbled beyond heterosexuality).
Riordan and Ash are just hot and everyone want them. As soon as they are together though, no one else is looking at them. As if it was all just an excuse to see them as hot eligible not-ready-for-a-relationship single people. 50pages later their are both commited without much difficulty. Its tiring and superficial. Makes for a good teenager's fantasy but this is written by a grown woman for grown people.
- character development was lacking. They develop for sure, but for no reason. They just decide they accept magic and they do. They decide to be romantic with someone and they become it. They decide to love someone and they do. There is no influence of their past trauma or history playing in their struggle with the development once they have passed the first hurddle and accepted whatever life changing situation.
- What becomes of some of the characters from the beginning? (Amber). What was the point of her beyond showing that Riordan was DTF and Ash could feel it through the bond creating an awkward moment??
- the ending isn't satisfying enough. I take it there are lose threads for book 2, but it didnt satiate my interest enough.
UPDATE: I finished book 2 and 3 thinking that new authors improve with time and I was not disappointed. I also was curious about the development of Riorda and Bry in relation to each other and Ash. It is well executed, with a fair amount of spice. The characters get more complex and interesting and the plot gets more jeopardy. Would recommend to stick with it and let the smaller frustrating points wash over!