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sharon_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really enjoyed this book. First fantasy book I’ve read since the middle of 2024 and it held up. The romance was sweet and I loved seeing Talen and Gemma come together. But I did find there was a lot of back and fourth with their romance that could have been cut out for the sake of time.
As much as I loved our Gemma, once I hit 75%, the referencing to the panic, her pain, etc got to be a little much and didn’t need to be repeated EVERY chapter. It was never expanded on, and it always the same explanations. I know there is much more at play, but saying the amount of times she wakes up to pain, and it being the same old ordinary pain of everyday life is not needed all the time.
As for the fantasy, the world is super interesting. I was curious to learn more as I started reading, and as we dove deeper, I was interested but also felt like things weren’t being explained? Despite enjoying the side plots, I felt it took away from the main story and where the book was going. In the last 15%, stopping in the middle of our conclusion and final reveal, to have this side plot be brought forward again was a tad bit annoying and I don’t think it was needed since I felt like our characters could have come together as a team without it, and it would have been more powerful?
I’m still excited for the next book, even though I’m not sure where they are going to go from here. But I look forward to reading.
As much as I loved our Gemma, once I hit 75%, the referencing to the panic, her pain, etc got to be a little much and didn’t need to be repeated EVERY chapter. It was never expanded on, and it always the same explanations. I know there is much more at play, but saying the amount of times she wakes up to pain, and it being the same old ordinary pain of everyday life is not needed all the time.
As for the fantasy, the world is super interesting. I was curious to learn more as I started reading, and as we dove deeper, I was interested but also felt like things weren’t being explained? Despite enjoying the side plots, I felt it took away from the main story and where the book was going. In the last 15%, stopping in the middle of our conclusion and final reveal, to have this side plot be brought forward again was a tad bit annoying and I don’t think it was needed since I felt like our characters could have come together as a team without it, and it would have been more powerful?
I’m still excited for the next book, even though I’m not sure where they are going to go from here. But I look forward to reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
magecosplay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The main twist felt really obvious, but it was still quite a fun, quick romantasy read. Nothing groundbreaking, but certainly good enough to keep going with the next in the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Minor: Suicide
cehanzen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming
katerina_12_k's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
madz47's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Suicide
issiwerro's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
smithmd's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
kalecake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I LOVED this book. I heard a lot of people were disappointed in this story but I loved the main character’s flaws. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. It was sexy, it was dark, it was morbid. I had such a great time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, and Blood
luckylulureads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
So this book is definitely not perfect, but I LOVED it nonetheless. I may be in the minority here, but I thought Furyborn was just okay, while this had me HOOKED.
I’d say the romance was more Insta-lust than Insta-love, and honestly I don’t see anything wrong with that. There’s definitely still some tension or push/pull in the relationship between Gemma and Talan that it seems realistic. Sure, he can kinda lay it on thick, but with reason. ..
Gemma herself is an unlikeable character, and yet I loved her. She deals with chronic pain and crippling anxiety, and as someone who can relate, it can be difficult to find the energy for kindness or generosity when you’re running on fumes like that. She can be moody, irrational, and selfish, but she is also aware of how her actions affect others in the aftermath. She’s a traumatized person who is working on healing and coking to terms with her pain. And I think she has incredible growth over the course of the book. As the author intended, Gemma is absolutely Amy March and Emma Woodhouse coded.
The plot of the book itself is super interesting, and I found myself unable to put the book down once the mysteries really got rolling. I had to know what all of these seemingly disparate threads meant. While the book takes a really wild turn in the second half, it quickly gets back on course, and there are some intense revelations. It puts a lot of the first half into perspective.
I absolutely cannot WAIT for book two, which I have on good authority is definitely Farrin’s book. Which hopefully means more Ryder!
I’d say the romance was more Insta-lust than Insta-love, and honestly I don’t see anything wrong with that. There’s definitely still some tension or push/pull in the relationship between Gemma and Talan that it seems realistic. Sure, he can kinda lay it on thick, but with reason. ..
Gemma herself is an unlikeable character, and yet I loved her. She deals with chronic pain and crippling anxiety, and as someone who can relate, it can be difficult to find the energy for kindness or generosity when you’re running on fumes like that. She can be moody, irrational, and selfish, but she is also aware of how her actions affect others in the aftermath. She’s a traumatized person who is working on healing and coking to terms with her pain. And I think she has incredible growth over the course of the book. As the author intended, Gemma is absolutely Amy March and Emma Woodhouse coded.
The plot of the book itself is super interesting, and I found myself unable to put the book down once the mysteries really got rolling. I had to know what all of these seemingly disparate threads meant. While the book takes a really wild turn in the second half, it quickly gets back on course, and there are some intense revelations. It puts a lot of the first half into perspective.
I absolutely cannot WAIT for book two, which I have on good authority is definitely Farrin’s book. Which hopefully means more Ryder!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Death of parent
katsmeowbrown's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt