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miss_cr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
needread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
!!!!!
I kept avoiding this book bc it didn’t seem like my taste. Come to find it seems like I don’t even know what I like.
A handful of humor, with a dash of sunshine x grumpy, and a helping of mystery and intrigue was exactly what I needed.
If you’re waiting to read this book, just start it. Twas a lovely read.
I kept avoiding this book bc it didn’t seem like my taste. Come to find it seems like I don’t even know what I like.
A handful of humor, with a dash of sunshine x grumpy, and a helping of mystery and intrigue was exactly what I needed.
If you’re waiting to read this book, just start it. Twas a lovely read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing and Abandonment
hasha's review against another edition
Notes to self: I enjoyed the story. Sometimes (a lot of the time) found myself cringing - ie. “she scrunched her nose” so many times and lots of adjectives that felt a bit too much sometimes. Very trope-y. But an enjoyable listen! And the actual story in itself was interesting.
The storyline with the blacksmith made it dark too - and made the story not as “fairytale”-like, which was good / gave some more substance(?). Idk if that’s the right word.
The storyline with the blacksmith made it dark too - and made the story not as “fairytale”-like, which was good / gave some more substance(?). Idk if that’s the right word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
therapywithjess's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
btg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Oh this was a ride. I had so much fun reading this. What an enjoyable grumpy-and-sunshine romance with some hurt/comfort thrown in for good measure. Bonus points for the enemies to begruging ride-or-die friends arc I was not expecting to love.
Look, is the book well written? It depends on your definition of "well-written." There are noticeable issues that are probably the result of this being a debut novel. I felt bored in places, Evie's characterization in early chapters was inconsistent, and there were a lot of infodumps throughout the book that dragged the pacing. Was it extremely fun to read anyway? Oh, very much so. It follows fanfiction/emotional character beats as opposed to traditional plot structure beats, which means readers of fanfic or romance novels will likely be the target audience. Luckily that includes me. I fell in love with Evie and Trystan's dynamic, the wacky world building, and Maehrer's absolutely gut punching raw lines that come out of nowhere. Think of this book as the Fourth Wing of workplace comedy. It will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I will be back for the sequel.
Look, is the book well written? It depends on your definition of "well-written." There are noticeable issues that are probably the result of this being a debut novel. I felt bored in places, Evie's characterization in early chapters was inconsistent, and there were a lot of infodumps throughout the book that dragged the pacing. Was it extremely fun to read anyway? Oh, very much so. It follows fanfiction/emotional character beats as opposed to traditional plot structure beats, which means readers of fanfic or romance novels will likely be the target audience. Luckily that includes me. I fell in love with Evie and Trystan's dynamic, the wacky world building, and Maehrer's absolutely gut punching raw lines that come out of nowhere. Think of this book as the Fourth Wing of workplace comedy. It will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I will be back for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
rbour26's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture
briknecht's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
I should have DNF’d but kept going in hopes it would get better. It reads like a middle-grade story, with lots of cringe and teenage angst. The main characters fell flat and tried to be funny but just…weren’t.
I switched between physical book and audio, and the narration did not do this any favors.
I switched between physical book and audio, and the narration did not do this any favors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Torture
ellaraeread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bear_ridge_tarot's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Evie Sage is too kindhearted to be the Assistant to a notorious high-ranking villain. With a father who is home sick and a younger sister to care for, she must do something to keep them fed. So when she has a mishap than lands her in the lap of Rennedawn’s most infamous villan and results in a job offer, who is she to refuse? Just as she’s getting used to severed heads and intern scatter days, she discovers a rat among the thieves. Now she must not only resist falling figuratively as well as literally for her boss, but also discover who is sabotaging all his (and her) hard work.
This was a quick paced and entertaining novel throughout it all. I loved Evie’s internal monologue. “Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.” The humor was perfection, if a little over the top, and the tension between Mr. Evil and Evie was thick enough to cut with a dagger hidden in a sleeve. I would have loved a bit more backstory for some of the supporting characters, but that is what sequels are for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Torture, and Abandonment
kyliieamberr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual harassment