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regulusreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
⭐️ | 4.5 stars
uhm WHAT. the ending of this book left me shattered, it was over before i was ready to depart from this world and im anxiously anticipating the sequel (and looking forward to reading Forever Red).
but going back to the beginning, this book follows Arlo. Arlo is a sweet but deeply anxious young man who’s at the beginning of his journey and just as he begins to think he understands what his life will be, everything changes. however, this change lights the path to a whole new understanding of himself and the parts of himself that had been obscured.
I also really enjoyed this take on . I haven’t read a lot of vampire-centric fiction but I liked that this was different and almost veering into sci-fi territory in how it works.
while I was unsure of the writing style at first it began to make sense due to it following Arlo and the way he thought. I relate to Arlo, not fully, but especially in regards to him being aroace and seemingly neurodivergent (at least to me). pages 269-272 made me cry, I felt so seen. while my heart experiences of being aroace are different to Arlo’s, his struggle with his identity is familiar. I’m still struggling with my identity and reading books like this are so healing. Arlo is not broken and neither am I.
the book had its slower moments and faster moments but I think it works. after the first couple chapters the book flew by and I finished it far quicker than I thought I would because I couldn’t put it down. the stakes hit you like a brick. i was devastated at the end and yet, it felt necessary.
ANYWAYS GOOD BOOK, GOING TO CRY NOW 👍
uhm WHAT. the ending of this book left me shattered, it was over before i was ready to depart from this world and im anxiously anticipating the sequel (and looking forward to reading Forever Red).
but going back to the beginning, this book follows Arlo. Arlo is a sweet but deeply anxious young man who’s at the beginning of his journey and just as he begins to think he understands what his life will be, everything changes. however, this change lights the path to a whole new understanding of himself and the parts of himself that had been obscured.
I also really enjoyed this take on . I haven’t read a lot of vampire-centric fiction but I liked that this was different and almost veering into sci-fi territory in how it works.
while I was unsure of the writing style at first it began to make sense due to it following Arlo and the way he thought. I relate to Arlo, not fully, but especially in regards to him being aroace and seemingly neurodivergent (at least to me). pages 269-272 made me cry, I felt so seen. while my heart experiences of being aroace are different to Arlo’s, his struggle with his identity is familiar. I’m still struggling with my identity and reading books like this are so healing. Arlo is not broken and neither am I.
the book had its slower moments and faster moments but I think it works. after the first couple chapters the book flew by and I finished it far quicker than I thought I would because I couldn’t put it down. the stakes hit you like a brick. i was devastated at the end and yet, it felt necessary.
ANYWAYS GOOD BOOK, GOING TO CRY NOW 👍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Excrement, and Kidnapping
madscientistcat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement and Acephobia/Arophobia
spot_the_book_unicorn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Alcohol
avaa1000's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Torture
lattefairies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Reading fallen thorns went from cozy and sweet to stressful and then traumatising and sad. I love these characters so so much and I love their relationships and their adoration of each other and that's why I'm never forgiving the author. I need book two like, yesterday. The way this book ends is so devastating my heart tore into As many pieces as the amount of characters I love which a lot.
I think my favourite thing about this book other than the incredible platonic love portrayal and the relationships and queerness is the main character. We don't find such great depiction of an aro/ace character easily and I'm so grateful I got to. I love arlo with all my heart and I relate to him so much. Him and Ben did not deserve this and I will forever be MAD. My heart is still broken and I still can't move on T T
I think my favourite thing about this book other than the incredible platonic love portrayal and the relationships and queerness is the main character. We don't find such great depiction of an aro/ace character easily and I'm so grateful I got to. I love arlo with all my heart and I relate to him so much. Him and Ben did not deserve this and I will forever be MAD. My heart is still broken and I still can't move on T T
“You don’t have to explain,” she winked, “boys have needs.” My laugh came out delayed as my brain processed what she said. It was just a joke, nothing to get worked up over, but… that’s not me. I’m not like that. I didn’t have needs.
Here are some of my favourite things about this book:
- how much queerness there is and how normalised it it.
- the diverse collection of characters.
- the lovely found family aspect.
- some of those plot twists were fire.
- I love that the vampire aspect was in fact a parasite, it made it more interesting.
- I love that we still have fantasy elements even though the vampire aspect turned out to be a parasite.
- I LOVE BEN AND CASPER they have my heart I already miss them.
- I love arlo with all my heart he's my baby if anyone lays a finger on him I'm rioting 😭
- MARIANNE!!! not elaborating on that. You'd understand once you read :).
A note: this is something I personally enjoyed and loved because I relate to arlo so much but it might be iffy to some people. We spend a lot of time in arlos head. We see his thoughts, observations, feelings, and emotions all throughout and I loved it a lot. But I also thought its very fitting considering what happens with the pov's later in the book.
I also want to point out that I VERY MUCH appreciate how arlos anxiety (and eyesight lol) were not cured after he turned and I think the way his anxiety manifested differently afterwards in a very subtle way, when it comes to his heart, was genius.
All in all. I cannot wait for book two 😔
—
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail