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skelly72's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Murder
renreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Super hard to rate. I enjoyed the first 20%, appreciated the slow burn, the characters and the writing and when there was a shift in setting and characters, I was intrigued by the plot but started to not like the book anymore. The writing got super repetitive and the plot became inconsistent. There were so many points where I was so confused by some line drops, that I assume were supposed to be foreshadowing for the grand reveal but I would forget them as they were one liners and when the grand reveal/ plot twist happened, I was SO confused. But I also liked the plot twist?? Idk i’m very confused and don’t know how to feel. 2.5-3.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and War
leahpote's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Sexual harassment
booksalacarte's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
3⭐️2.75🌶️
Contemporary Fantasy
Dark Romantasy
Magical realism
1st Person
Dual POV
Fae
Enemies to lovers
Stockholm syndrome
Trials
Twist
Tw: sexual assault, confinement, murder
This is a fun time, more than a good time.
For how short this fantasy book was, there was a lot going on… It was trying to be a lot of things in 320 pages. Cliche dialogue, typical plot… but the ending had a decent twist that only had the tiniest foreshadowing. So it was a decent surprise.
The POV overlap was really not great. I was annoyed at reading the same moments but from a different POV. It slowed the pacing down a lot. The fantasy aspect didn’t start until almost 1/2 way through the book…it felt like a lot of build up in a world where none of the action took place.
The FMC was portrayed as biology Barbie. Not really someone I wanted to root for. I was very confused by her as the FMC in a fantasy. It didn’t track. She starts out not cursing… and replacing words in a ‘The Good Place’ way, then curses in the second half of the book. She‘s inconsistent and not not a trustworthy narrator.
The MMC is a prince who is numb except when he kills. That’s it. That’s his personality. Got it. And unoriginal with his shadow powers. It is what it is at this point.
I’m hoping that the next book gets better. It was indie published and picked up before the second book was done, so maybe things get better with a good editor? It’s the same length… So jury is out. I’m reading book 2 because I got it from the library with the first one and I’m a little curious with the ending. If book 2 is the same, I’ll be done.
The longer I think about it, the lower i want to rate the book… but I was fine while reading it…
Contemporary Fantasy
Dark Romantasy
Magical realism
1st Person
Dual POV
Fae
Enemies to lovers
Stockholm syndrome
Trials
Twist
Tw: sexual assault, confinement, murder
This is a fun time, more than a good time.
For how short this fantasy book was, there was a lot going on… It was trying to be a lot of things in 320 pages. Cliche dialogue, typical plot… but the ending had a decent twist that only had the tiniest foreshadowing. So it was a decent surprise.
The POV overlap was really not great. I was annoyed at reading the same moments but from a different POV. It slowed the pacing down a lot. The fantasy aspect didn’t start until almost 1/2 way through the book…it felt like a lot of build up in a world where none of the action took place.
The FMC was portrayed as biology Barbie. Not really someone I wanted to root for. I was very confused by her as the FMC in a fantasy. It didn’t track. She starts out not cursing… and replacing words in a ‘The Good Place’ way, then curses in the second half of the book. She‘s inconsistent and not not a trustworthy narrator.
The MMC is a prince who is numb except when he kills. That’s it. That’s his personality. Got it. And unoriginal with his shadow powers. It is what it is at this point.
I’m hoping that the next book gets better. It was indie published and picked up before the second book was done, so maybe things get better with a good editor? It’s the same length… So jury is out. I’m reading book 2 because I got it from the library with the first one and I’m a little curious with the ending. If book 2 is the same, I’ll be done.
The longer I think about it, the lower i want to rate the book… but I was fine while reading it…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
knlipke's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
I thought this book was alright! Everyone hyped it up to be more than it was; so when the plot twist happened, I wasn’t super crazy about it?? It was an interesting twist!
Another bother for me: the characters weren’t well developed. At least Mendax wasn’t for me. He was this blood thirsty, sadistic fae that HATED Callie. Was going to kill her no matter what. Then all of a sudden, like a switch, he was in love with her and would kill anyone or anything for her. It happened so fast, I thought it was a joke! Then I remembered this is a romance.
Still very intrigued to see what the next book will bring!
Another bother for me: the characters weren’t well developed. At least Mendax wasn’t for me. He was this blood thirsty, sadistic fae that HATED Callie. Was going to kill her no matter what. Then all of a sudden, like a switch, he was in love with her and would kill anyone or anything for her. It happened so fast, I thought it was a joke! Then I remembered this is a romance.
Still very intrigued to see what the next book will bring!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Blood
cmaree88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Too many authors don't understand the concept of a true mystery twist. They just think they can hide information from readers, even with a first-person POV, and then spring a whole new agenda in Act 4 and call it good writing. Also, I wouldn't call this romantasy. Nothing close to that until 60%. Clearly she's stretching out this story to get 4 books when it could be easily 2 or 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Torture and Violence
kitti_kat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Slavery
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.5
Content warnings: [Pulled straight from the book cause I'm running on very little sleep 😅:
"Please be aware this story contains content that might be troubling to some readers, including but not limited to violence, abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal), kidnapping, death and dying, gore, mental illness, bones, hospitalization, profanity, snakes, sex, poison- ing."
Even though I'm moved away from my reading group 🥹 I'm trying to keep up with what they're reading so I know what's going on lol so since their meet up is tomorrow...and I couldn't sleep last night...I stayed up and read the whole book.
All I knew about this book, before reading, was that it had some people yelling at their cameras on Tiktok and that the fey were somehow involved...and I was not disappointed.
Don't get me wrong our alphahole had me rolling my eyes with his threats more than anything but at the same time I loved seeing our ladies inner confidence grow and don't even get me started on that curveball ending.
I need sleep...and then I'll be needing to dive into book 2.
"Please be aware this story contains content that might be troubling to some readers, including but not limited to violence, abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal), kidnapping, death and dying, gore, mental illness, bones, hospitalization, profanity, snakes, sex, poison- ing."
Even though I'm moved away from my reading group 🥹 I'm trying to keep up with what they're reading so I know what's going on lol so since their meet up is tomorrow...and I couldn't sleep last night...I stayed up and read the whole book.
All I knew about this book, before reading, was that it had some people yelling at their cameras on Tiktok and that the fey were somehow involved...and I was not disappointed.
Don't get me wrong our alphahole had me rolling my eyes with his threats more than anything but at the same time I loved seeing our ladies inner confidence grow and don't even get me started on that curveball ending.
I need sleep...and then I'll be needing to dive into book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
saranwrap18's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ashley_a_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was fun. I think that’s the right word. I felt like the pace was a little off, and the only thing that keeps me from rating it 4 stars is that I felt there was some unnecessary stuff and a couple of weird editing choices that just really pulled me out of the story at times.
The characters were interesting the MMC was a little two dimensional and the fact that either of them “fell in love” felt rushed and not believable. I’ll read on in the series, but it definitely could have used a bit more developmental editing.
The characters were interesting the MMC was a little two dimensional and the fact that either of them “fell in love” felt rushed and not believable. I’ll read on in the series, but it definitely could have used a bit more developmental editing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Death of parent