kat1105'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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War and Sexual content
stardust_heidi'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
hazelgirl21'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
brookeew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Body horror, and Torture
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Confinement, Body horror, and Panic attacks/disorders
atxshopgirl'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? It's complicated
4.5
The main character wasn’t super relatable at first and felt kinda like a Mary Sue, but as the plot really picked up, a lot of the exposition and first-person voice that I found somewhat annoying at the beginning fell away and I really began to enjoy the way the plot unraveled and the way all the characters were interacting with and growing with one another.
The book was a bit slow to start, but once many of the other characters were introduced the pace picked up quite a bit and I found myself wishing there had been MORE content established with those characters, and more depth, despite how long it already is.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
abbyjme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Body horror, Mental illness, Violence, and Blood
katielaine_w's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
readwithde'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? No
3.25
This is a book of 3 stories, really: first, Diana and Matthew finding each other and choosing love over the rules of the Congregation. This is the primary plot and takes the most space, as it should. We do get early POV chapters from Matthew that glimpse his secrets, but as a reader, I didn't appreciate being kept in the dark so much, especially as he tends to keep literally everything a secret.
The romance is interesting at first, then picks up and becomes intense and truly lovely,
Spoiler
with the pinnacle being their "marriage" when Matthew returns to Sept-Tours at the midway part of the book. The action sequence of Diana's kidnapping and torture changes the romance, and it becomes very needy, desperate, and codependent with the only excuse being, "that's just how vampires are."The second story is about Diana's parents and their choice to get married and have a family
Spoiler
despite the Congregation's wishes; this includes their decision to spellbind Diana to keep her from accessing her full magic as they seem to knowingly go to their deaths. With her father's ability to timewalk paired with her mother's divination, they set up a path for Diana, essentially leading her to Matthew and Ashmole 782.This story is revealed in bursts, and is often confusing to follow. While I find it interesting and evocative, it leaves quite a few plotholes that are never directly answered. In fact, many important rules about magic and powers are handed out nonchalantly, making it easy to be confused if you don't pay close attention.
Finally the third story involves Ashmole 782 and the people who want to use it,
Spoiler
namely the Congregation and Matthew's Lazarus Order. Apparently it has something to do with the maintaining and evolution of daemons, vampires, and witches, along with how they first came to be, but it is never explained why this knowledge is hidden. If maintaining the species is necessary,The whole series seems to be centered on this book, but it is never explained why it is so dangerous, vital, or anything else other than what it may contain in an alchemical sense. It makes it hard for me to care who wants it or why when no one knows what is inside or why it's dangerous. A definite problem that is only obvious when not distracted by Diana and Matthew's romance or some disgruntled friend, ally, or enemy.
Overall, I love the concept, but it didn't need to be so detailed, so cerebral, or so lengthy. Likewise, the final 50 pages add two brand new characters from out of nowhere; they end up causing upheaval to the entire plan and structure. Some better pacing could fix many of these issues and smooth out the extra plotlines.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry