jillselwyn's review against another edition
3.0
This anthology was.... ok. I really wish I could have enjoyed each of the stories but I will specify which ones I really enjoyed and wanted more of:
Death Knell by Victoria Schwab
Marigold by Samantha Shannon
Indigo and Shade by April Genevive Tucholke
Everything else was fine or I strongly disliked. Funnily enough I've only read (well specifically listened to) one book of Victoria Schwab's and have yet to read either of the remaining authors on this small list.
I was surprised it took me so long to catch onto the fact that Indigo and Shade was a Gaston's POV Beauty and the Beast story and was even more surprised to nearly find myself crying at the end of the story. Marigold was just the kind of story I love and I found it hauntingly beautiful and brilliant at the same time. Death Knell was honestly simply fascinating.
If I were reviewing this book based on these three stories alone, five stars. But alas, I'm reviewing ten others alongside them and these were the ones that stood out.
Death Knell by Victoria Schwab
Marigold by Samantha Shannon
Indigo and Shade by April Genevive Tucholke
Everything else was fine or I strongly disliked. Funnily enough I've only read (well specifically listened to) one book of Victoria Schwab's and have yet to read either of the remaining authors on this small list.
I was surprised it took me so long to catch onto the fact that Indigo and Shade was a Gaston's POV Beauty and the Beast story and was even more surprised to nearly find myself crying at the end of the story. Marigold was just the kind of story I love and I found it hauntingly beautiful and brilliant at the same time. Death Knell was honestly simply fascinating.
If I were reviewing this book based on these three stories alone, five stars. But alas, I'm reviewing ten others alongside them and these were the ones that stood out.
ali_jenna's review against another edition
3.0
Can you describe a book about villains as cute?
well whatever because I think the idea for this book is adorable.
The actually stories were overall good.
Some were better than other obviously.
individual story ratings
1. sort of sudden? also really weirdly written, sort of overdramatic?
2. probably my least favorite... a cheesy idea and then executed poorly
3. i forgot about this one. it was bad. terribly cheesy as well also not good in general none of the characters were relatable
4. i enjoyed this one even though i didn't know who moriarty was
5. a little too sudden? like strange idea and then like (i know its a short story) but it was like
6. Even though i love marissa meyer this was honestly really boring and it didn't seem terribly original
7. Not very good or creative
8. YES VICTORIA SCHWAB this wasn't her normal style but i really liked it
9. i liked the idea behind this one. i had never heard of the myth it was based off of but i wish i had it sounds really creepy and cool
10. this one was really good too and really creative too yay science but i guess thats kinda what adam silvera does? idk ive only read one of his books?
11. I have no idea who andrew smith is but i really liked this one and the idea behind it. the writing style was really casual yet well done not too cheesy or anything
12. i love the idea but it was kinda weirdly written and the ending was very odd
13. just strange like "why" and also i don't think thats quite what a god of war would be like? but anyway also like why were only the men fighting?
well whatever because I think the idea for this book is adorable.
The actually stories were overall good.
Some were better than other obviously.
individual story ratings
1. sort of sudden? also really weirdly written, sort of overdramatic?
2. probably my least favorite... a cheesy idea and then executed poorly
3. i forgot about this one. it was bad. terribly cheesy as well also not good in general none of the characters were relatable
4. i enjoyed this one even though i didn't know who moriarty was
5. a little too sudden? like strange idea and then like (i know its a short story) but it was like
Spoiler
"we're good at magic and then BAM we're going on a quest to save magic and then BAM i just killed my best friend"6. Even though i love marissa meyer this was honestly really boring and it didn't seem terribly original
7. Not very good or creative
8. YES VICTORIA SCHWAB this wasn't her normal style but i really liked it
9. i liked the idea behind this one. i had never heard of the myth it was based off of but i wish i had it sounds really creepy and cool
10. this one was really good too and really creative too yay science but i guess thats kinda what adam silvera does? idk ive only read one of his books?
11. I have no idea who andrew smith is but i really liked this one and the idea behind it. the writing style was really casual yet well done not too cheesy or anything
12. i love the idea but it was kinda weirdly written and the ending was very odd
13. just strange like "why" and also i don't think thats quite what a god of war would be like? but anyway also like why were only the men fighting?
arafron's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mythology_nerd333's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
sam_riccio's review against another edition
2.0
You know when you hype yourself up for something because you think it's going to be great and then you read it and it's like subpar? That's this for me.
Why do I think that?
Because of the book tubers.
Now, I generally think that booktube is fine and that they're great at what they do but I think that aside from coming up with the prompt and maybe a little interview they shouldn't have had a short story attached. It was awkward and clunky, sometimes even uncomfortable to read.
I also think that they're an obvious cash grab for a lot of people, who just buy the books because they see the names and buy them out of bias and give them a high rating not even caring if the content is good or not and I've discussed this in a previous book review by a book tuber.
This also doesn't feel like a villainous book, it feels more like a moral question of what am I doing? A truly villianous book Is something that has me panicked and freaked out for the entire book and this is just...not that.
Why do I think that?
Because of the book tubers.
Now, I generally think that booktube is fine and that they're great at what they do but I think that aside from coming up with the prompt and maybe a little interview they shouldn't have had a short story attached. It was awkward and clunky, sometimes even uncomfortable to read.
I also think that they're an obvious cash grab for a lot of people, who just buy the books because they see the names and buy them out of bias and give them a high rating not even caring if the content is good or not and I've discussed this in a previous book review by a book tuber.
This also doesn't feel like a villainous book, it feels more like a moral question of what am I doing? A truly villianous book Is something that has me panicked and freaked out for the entire book and this is just...not that.
alyram4's review against another edition
4.0
I'll admit right now that I didn't read everything in here. I mostly skipped all the booktuber things. I mostly just read the main short stories, and oh my gish they were really good!
I originally picked this up just to read the Schwab short story, but a lot of the other ones were amazing! Some were extremely creepy, others more romantic, and others more science fiction. It was really well rounded and was nice to see different perspectives on villains. Definitely love to hate 😂❤
I originally picked this up just to read the Schwab short story, but a lot of the other ones were amazing! Some were extremely creepy, others more romantic, and others more science fiction. It was really well rounded and was nice to see different perspectives on villains. Definitely love to hate 😂❤
nickimonkey's review against another edition
3.0
The stories were okay. I don’t know what was the point of having YouTubers involved. Their parts kinda took me out of it
peppermintsoda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0