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nagako's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audio version of this book and I really enjoyed it. I think I would have had a more difficult time with it if I'd read it just because of some of the names and places but this really reminded me of reading a fairytale. There was something nostalgic about this story even though I had never read it before and I had a very good time listening to it.
steph_sosa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Hm.
I honestly feel very meh with this read. The story itself begun on an interesting note, though it starts off quite slow. MC lives in this sort of medieval fantasy world with this dark theme. There is the Wood, a dangerous and mysterious forest lurking with creatures that snatch people up and stuffs them into trees, and a wizard called the dragon who comes down to the village every ten years to take a girl up to his castle to teach magic too.
And then suddenly, about 60/70% of the way through suddenly we are in the kingdom and everyone is fucked and stuff is happening so fast. It almost feels like a complete one eighty somehow, as if the author had a change of heart of how the story should go. The change in the plot kept the book interesting for me, and I didn’t hate it by any means, but it was completely confusing and hard to catch up with. I found myself wishing that the Dragon did go with her to the castle, to keep a bit of the plot on a romantic note, simply because the book synopsis and beginning feel as if they are setting you up for that.
The characters overall are okay, but I did feel as if we had more chemistry between the MC and her best friend and not the MC and the wizard aka the ML. This by no means was a romance book, it was a book more about a dark fairytale and there was a bit of romance in it, which once again I don’t mind, but the synopsis almost sets you up for failure on this one. Ive read Naomi’s The Last Graduate series, and both characters have the same vibe of having their own story and other characters are more just revolving around it. The ending felt rushed, and I hard a hard time finding myself interested to find out the ending. When you go along with this idea of destroying the Wood only for it to end up being something bittersweet, it just wasn’t as fun for me.
Overall, this was an okay read. If you enjoy strong female characters, wizard/witches with more thought out magic systems, and a dark fantasy vibe with less romance and more storyline, then you may enjoy this book!
megamega101's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars
There was more chemistry between our clumsy FMC and Kasia than her and that asshole
The Wood was actually creepy, but you could not pay me to describe what happened at the end
There was more chemistry between our clumsy FMC and Kasia than her and that asshole
The Wood was actually creepy, but you could not pay me to describe what happened at the end
allyardon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
artemispraxius's review against another edition
I couldn’t get past the amount of times he verbally abused her for no reason. Got to chapter 4 before I was like “guy, your immortal, thousands of years old, act like it.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Vomit
lauregalie's review against another edition
5.0
I knew I would be captivated by this book before I even finished the first chapter. Language in this book is beautiful, it reads like a fairytale - and I thought it would be one, I thought I could recommend this to my cousin to read with her daughter. But then it just started to get darker and darker, it was creepy and violent but also really beautiful and enchanting. It was one of the most original fantasy books I have ever read and I am not a novice here.
The story is incredibly fast paced and suprising. It took me on a completely different journey from the one I expected. I loved this, I loved being suprised every step of the way. I was constantly worried about characters, because in this book nothing is ever certain.
I am not going to hide that seeing polish legends here was an additional bonus. I had a little problem with polish names thought, because I picked this book in english and they blended really weird with english sentences.
I am afraid of talking about main characters and accidentially spoiling even a little bit of the story. I just think that Agnieszka is a wonderful female heroine. I really liked Sarkan too, but... I COULD REALLY HANDLE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROMANCE HERE OKAY? I love me some good romance, yes - but I usually can take it or leave it. But here I've got few romantic and even sexy scenes - AND NOW I WANT MORE. The author is being a tease and I don't want this. Not now, not with these characters.
Something I was most concerned about is this book being a standalone. But this story wraps so beautifully. It's maybe not the usual happy ending that we could expect, but it's so satisfying. I don't think that there is a fantasy fan that won't be completely captivated by this book.
The story is incredibly fast paced and suprising. It took me on a completely different journey from the one I expected. I loved this, I loved being suprised every step of the way. I was constantly worried about characters, because in this book nothing is ever certain.
I am not going to hide that seeing polish legends here was an additional bonus. I had a little problem with polish names thought, because I picked this book in english and they blended really weird with english sentences.
I am afraid of talking about main characters and accidentially spoiling even a little bit of the story. I just think that Agnieszka is a wonderful female heroine. I really liked Sarkan too, but... I COULD REALLY HANDLE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROMANCE HERE OKAY? I love me some good romance, yes - but I usually can take it or leave it. But here I've got few romantic and even sexy scenes - AND NOW I WANT MORE. The author is being a tease and I don't want this. Not now, not with these characters.
Something I was most concerned about is this book being a standalone. But this story wraps so beautifully. It's maybe not the usual happy ending that we could expect, but it's so satisfying. I don't think that there is a fantasy fan that won't be completely captivated by this book.
la1ney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75
timetravelreader's review against another edition
5.0
I was instantly swept up into its fantasy world and could not put it down. Loved it and hoping for a sequel one day, but it’s also great as a stand-alone.
crimsongirl5132's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
The first part of the book was somewhat entertaining but it just seem to go on. Little to no character development. The transisitions werent very smooth.
Even though the main character is reading about magic, there's really no learning or growth, she's just good at it. Its the same with her best friend. Best friend becomes strong and hard to kill but is somehow just good at fighting, without having any sort of training.
I also did not appreciate the under age sex with an adult man.
Even though the main character is reading about magic, there's really no learning or growth, she's just good at it. Its the same with her best friend. Best friend becomes strong and hard to kill but is somehow just good at fighting, without having any sort of training.
I also did not appreciate the under age sex with an adult man.