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elyse12's reviews
2022 reviews
Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I didn’t see that twist at the end coming!
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
This book was supposed to be my favorite of the year. I was so excited to request it and to see how awesome it would be. Boy, was I disappointed.
The most disappointing aspect of this book was how it was marketed. It’s marketed as an enemies to lovers, which it really is, but it also romanticizes colonization and has the main character fall in love with her oppressor. These aren’t two worlds at an equal war, there is a huge disadvantage between them and the oppressor is terrorizing just like any colonizer would. Having the main character fall in love with not only her oppressor that forces her to kill people for him but for him to be active in the murder of her people is disgusting.
Not only was the romance a true bother for me, but the worlds themselves. Our main character lives in a world with magic and the oppressors come from another world that is basically our world but not. There isn’t a good explanation as to why there is the inter-dimensional gate or why the main character’s world has magic but is incapable of using it against Rome. Judging by the other reviews I’ve read from this book, the issue doesn’t get resolved.
For being a debut novel, the writing isn’t horrible. I have hope that Chang will improve and I hope to enjoy something from her in the future. However, this book was just not for me.
The most disappointing aspect of this book was how it was marketed. It’s marketed as an enemies to lovers, which it really is, but it also romanticizes colonization and has the main character fall in love with her oppressor. These aren’t two worlds at an equal war, there is a huge disadvantage between them and the oppressor is terrorizing just like any colonizer would. Having the main character fall in love with not only her oppressor that forces her to kill people for him but for him to be active in the murder of her people is disgusting.
Not only was the romance a true bother for me, but the worlds themselves. Our main character lives in a world with magic and the oppressors come from another world that is basically our world but not. There isn’t a good explanation as to why there is the inter-dimensional gate or why the main character’s world has magic but is incapable of using it against Rome. Judging by the other reviews I’ve read from this book, the issue doesn’t get resolved.
For being a debut novel, the writing isn’t horrible. I have hope that Chang will improve and I hope to enjoy something from her in the future. However, this book was just not for me.
The Follower of Flowers by Natalia Hernandez
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0