antonique_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Murder
emily_mh's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book had a couple of things going for it. The magic system was incredibly unique. There wasn't just one type of magic present, and each type had been really thought out. I found Eva's the most interesting, especially the marrow aspect. Additionally, I really enjoyed the world building. It is mostly transmitted through Eva's POV, but there are great snippets of it in stories told by Baccha. I also liked how real Eva felt in her responses to what was happening around her.
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Colonisation, Slavery, Racism, Gore, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, War, Kidnapping, Confinement, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Medical content, Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual content
shmarr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Murder, Torture, and Violence
abbajane's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were a lot of things in this book that made me feel like the most popular YA tropes of the moment had been tossed into a bag and pulled out at random -- heir sisters forced to kill each other, infuriatingly beautiful men, wily old fey with a smart mouth, magic to control shadows, half-human half-animal creatures, blood magic. It got a little annoying a few times, and as I read I could tab each reference that felt like it came from another YA fantasy novel. The characters stayed a little shallow, the plot stayed a little predictable, and the dialogue stayed a little awkward. The writing was nice, and I feel like Joy had some really great lines and turns of phrases. I appreciate the nuance of this book in contrast to the most popular YA novels on the market, but overall it stayed just "meh" for me. Not sure if I will read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
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