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aleareads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It has me thinking morality and what makes a hero vs villain, and I love that the motivations of the characters are so fleshed out.
I would absolutely recommend for anyone, but especially if you love:
🦸♀️ superheroes, villains, and super powers
🦇 the Dark Knight trilogy
✨ thought provoking and thrilling fantasy
I absolutely cannot wait to read book 2; I will
be getting my hands on a copy soon!
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
earth_to_dani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
livist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I started reading this because I saw Victoria was rereading it as she prepares to write the final in the trilogy. I had always wanted to read this series so decided to read along side her (though she’s long since finished and moved on to the second book).
I loved all of these characters, and loved the premise. It very much parallels X-men which is my favorite marvel series, with each EO having their own unique power and origin story.
The characters were deeply flawed but more or less lovable. You can’t help but root for Victor as he has struggled so hard. He’s at least honest about his feelings whereas Eli lives in denial and instead of taking any accountability chalks everything up to God’s hand. So I like the bit of social commentary regarding religious fanaticism.
I loved Sydney and Serena with their complicated sibling love. Serena oddly falling under Eli’s own spell despite her own abilities to put under hers. She failed to see how she was be-spelled to her detriment. Ending in the tragedy of Sydney which helps kick off the rest of the book. Her betrayal of her younger sister makes her death satisfying even though when she releases her sister you sympathize with her a bit, but mostly with Sydney as she processes her love for her older sister and how she’s no longer who she thought she was.
A lot of found family moments. The plot pretty cleanly tied up. I just loved it.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Murder
kellymacbrown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There are definitely no good guys or bad guys in this story. At all. Maybe Dol. Dol is a good boy through and through.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
mformato's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
teaxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture and Murder
ellenwm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Addiction, Suicide, and Abandonment
meganemarshall's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
I don't understand how anyone could read this book and not root for Victor. Maybe I had the wrong idea going in. I thought it was going to be hero vs villain or 2 villains against each other. Instead, it was a functioning psychopath against a religious crazy psychopath.
I feel like we're supposed to see both Eli and Victor as villains, but I don't see Victor as a villain at all. Sure, he's killed people, and maybe in the next book, he goes full super villain. Instead, he gets out of prison with his bestie, hunts down a monster, and adopts a little girl and a dog. He is the perfect morally grey protagonist. Good - no, but not the worst of humanity.
Unlike Eli, who, on the other hand, is the worst. He is a villain. He is the bad guy. He's crazy. He acts like he has the moral high ground, but he's just a religious fanatic, like many serial killers before him. Relying on religion for his motives felt weak.
People really raved about this book, and maybe it just didn't hit for me. It was a good time, but it didn’t blow me away. I'll put the sequel on my TBR, but i'm not gonna pick it up immediately.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug abuse
cchaney876's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
triley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Blood, and Suicide attempt