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A review by literaryprincess
Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After a slow and semi-predictable start, this book managed to hook me. My only qualms are wishing that our heavily marketed morally-grey protagonist was a little more sinister, and that the romance and relationships were a bit more of a reluctant slowburn - though Violet and Cyrus captured the reluctance and anger at their attraction to each other quite perfectly in the end. The romance scenes were a little heavier than what I'd expect in a YA, but still not graphic or inappropriate. A very happy medium.
I adored the fantastical plot happening, and was far more interested in the impending war, identity shenanigans, and murder plots than the front-and-center romance, which surprised me. I'm very impressed by the worldbuilding in this series and cannot wait to see where it goes in the sequel. The magic system also got off to a slow start, but ultimately became an enjoyable read.
Side characters like Dante and Camilla usually become my favorites, and this was no exception. I especially loved the diversity of the main cast in regard to both racial background and sexual identities.
Overall, it took me a long while to like this book but once it hooked me, I couldn't put it down. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I adored the fantastical plot happening, and was far more interested in the impending war, identity shenanigans, and murder plots than the front-and-center romance, which surprised me. I'm very impressed by the worldbuilding in this series and cannot wait to see where it goes in the sequel. The magic system also got off to a slow start, but ultimately became an enjoyable read.
Side characters like Dante and Camilla usually become my favorites, and this was no exception. I especially loved the diversity of the main cast in regard to both racial background and sexual identities.
Overall, it took me a long while to like this book but once it hooked me, I couldn't put it down. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.