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hazydazywaffles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? No
2.0
Ok, i was very hopeful about this book cause i'd loved this author before but this one was very graphic. this poor girl like watches her parents and family die. that is sad and dark. Very disappointed. also, the whole spell thing was extremely confusing to me. This is christian fiction but it kinda felt liek the author was trying to combine christian morals with magic which it stands in the Bible very clearly how against God is to sorcery and witchcraft. Honestly wouldn't reread, didn't like it that much, not worth it.
P.S. not trying to hate on this author or anything, she is a good writer and can capture your attention, just have higher expectations for a christian ya
P.S. not trying to hate on this author or anything, she is a good writer and can capture your attention, just have higher expectations for a christian ya
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
writer_a_fox's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
soph22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
annikafleming's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Blood, and Murder
aflatoxicosis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
The beginning was very fun and fresh, I liked it. I was hooked. The middle was where things started to get boring, but then the climax happened. After that, it started to get boring again. The last 100 pages were a mix of (yet again) boring and intrigue. I definitely liked it because I am obsessed with Anastasia and what happened to the Romanovs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Animal death
libbylou905's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and War
meganleighr's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and War
foxonabook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The thing that drew me to this book was its premise. I have a long-standing fascination with the Romanovs and I will genuinely consume anything Romanov related (including Simon Sebag Montefiore’s brilliant history of the Romanov dynasty). So, naturally, I couldn’t resist borrowing this from the library when browsing the digital catalogue.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a YA book, and I realise that I have outgrown the prose and writing style associated with the genre. However, that didn’t take away from the story, which I found very enjoyable. The plot was at some points predictable, but predictable is sometimes welcome, especially when life keeps throwing curve balls at you.
The characters were likeable and nicely rounded. However, while I’m happy that Anastasia got her happy ending, I wish the author would have touched a little more on the PTSD she, her brother and even Zash would have inevitably experienced -it would have made the ending more believable for me. I understand this is YA and fantasy is designed for escapism, but Anastasia forgiving Zash in the space of a week seemed... well, as I said, the ending felt a little too good to be true considering what the characters had all been through (and that’s more on me since I am an adult reading YA).
Overall, an enjoyable read!
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a YA book, and I realise that I have outgrown the prose and writing style associated with the genre. However, that didn’t take away from the story, which I found very enjoyable. The plot was at some points predictable, but predictable is sometimes welcome, especially when life keeps throwing curve balls at you.
The characters were likeable and nicely rounded. However, while I’m happy that Anastasia got her happy ending, I wish the author would have touched a little more on the PTSD she, her brother and even Zash would have inevitably experienced -it would have made the ending more believable for me. I understand this is YA and fantasy is designed for escapism, but Anastasia forgiving Zash in the space of a week seemed... well, as I said, the ending felt a little too good to be true considering what the characters had all been through (and that’s more on me since I am an adult reading YA).
Overall, an enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and War
rstegema's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
5.0
I love the various historical fiction tellings of Anastasia and the Romanov family and the way this was narrated and imagined was phenomenal.
I listened over audible, and the voice actor was incredible. The story had some aspects I was expecting and some that were a total surprise that only added to the allure for me.
The magical additions in the story drew everything together while still allowing the characters to grow and build relationships in powerful ways.
I really loved this book and would highly recommend it!
I listened over audible, and the voice actor was incredible. The story had some aspects I was expecting and some that were a total surprise that only added to the allure for me.
The magical additions in the story drew everything together while still allowing the characters to grow and build relationships in powerful ways.
I really loved this book and would highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
wolf013's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- 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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: War