Scan barcode
A review by emmirosereads
The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It's been a long time since I've rated a book anything lower than a three. If it's going to be below a three I usually DNF it but this was short and was a buddy read with a friend of mine so I pushed through and finished it.
This started rough. It got a little bit better in the middle and by the end I was just so annoyed that anything I did enjoy about the book wasn't worth it. I think I enjoyed the concept of this book and the setting was cool, I suppose, but everything else was poorly executed. This would have benefited from being a bit longer and having more time to delve into the world and characters. This didn't feel like the wonderful Sapphic heist book that I was promised. The stakes never felt super high and the ending was rushed and just kind of bleh. I would have probably enjoyed this way more if we stayed in the mortal world and had some magic elements instead of them going to Fae and having another completely undeveloped land to explore. Especially with being so short.
Though the biggest thing I hated about this book was Sybil and the relationship she had with Esme. I could appreciate Esme, though I could agree she was a little flat, but I didn't mind her. I liked her vibe but Sybil? She pissed me off so much for most of the book. She felt like a whiny and manipulative brat for about 95% of this book and I don't understand how Sybil and Esme are supposed to love each other when they're so opposite and not in a cutesy opposite attracts way. In a this is never going to work out and is so unhealthy way.
One wants to stay home with her cats and read and the other wants to go on grand adventures constantly. Esme just goes along with Sybil because she loves her and wants to protect her only after being coerced into it by Sybil. I feel like Sybil never really respected or cared for Esme which pissed me off so bad. Especially after that comment towards the end of the book after Esme saves her fucking life and Sybil just goes and blames her for leaving her brother in Fae, LIKE WHAT? Even after she apologizes and confesses her love it means nothing to be after her behavior for most of the book. I don't think I would have minded Sybil's character nearly as much if perhaps they were both that *risk everything* archetype of character or at the very least Sybil respected Esme when she so very clearly doesn't want to go on the theifing adventure. I wanted a sweet, in-depth sapphic relationship and all I got was just an annoying, toxic, unhealthy mess.
It also just felt like there was no chemistry with them besides that. It was a lot of showing and not telling because they were already friends pining for each other. It just felt like Insta-love to me, and why I realized I don't like a lot of friends-to-lovers kind of stories.
I probably would have liked this so much more if I didn't hate Sybil so much and the relationship was actually well-written and developed but alas here we are. Sapphic books are so far and in between so it hurts me even more when they're not good.
This started rough. It got a little bit better in the middle and by the end I was just so annoyed that anything I did enjoy about the book wasn't worth it. I think I enjoyed the concept of this book and the setting was cool, I suppose, but everything else was poorly executed. This would have benefited from being a bit longer and having more time to delve into the world and characters. This didn't feel like the wonderful Sapphic heist book that I was promised. The stakes never felt super high and the ending was rushed and just kind of bleh. I would have probably enjoyed this way more if we stayed in the mortal world and had some magic elements instead of them going to Fae and having another completely undeveloped land to explore. Especially with being so short.
Though the biggest thing I hated about this book was Sybil and the relationship she had with Esme. I could appreciate Esme, though I could agree she was a little flat, but I didn't mind her. I liked her vibe but Sybil? She pissed me off so much for most of the book. She felt like a whiny and manipulative brat for about 95% of this book and I don't understand how Sybil and Esme are supposed to love each other when they're so opposite and not in a cutesy opposite attracts way. In a this is never going to work out and is so unhealthy way.
I probably would have liked this so much more if I didn't hate Sybil so much and the relationship was actually well-written and developed but alas here we are. Sapphic books are so far and in between so it hurts me even more when they're not good.