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katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Not half bad for YA fairy fantasy. The main character was a little annoying, but I cared enough to keep reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
noellegrace8's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It took me about 25% of the way through to start truly enjoying this book. Because it takes the path of a slow reveal of situations and motivations, the beginning groundwork can be almost frustrating because you don't know why some people are acting the way that they are. Also, for a book with so much death and otherwise adult themes, the characters and the writing style both are a bit juvenile at times. I struggled at first with the incongruency of a lack of contractions in dialogue mixed with colloquialisms like "that sucks," but I eventually got used to it and do recognize that it makes sense given the setting. I also really hate first person present tense because it feels overdramatic and impractical, and this book uses it throughout.
That being said, I really like the main characters. Some of the side characters are a bit flat, but Jude, Cardan, Maddoc, Vivvie, Dain, Taryn, Oriana... none of them are "good" or "bad." They just are. They make decisions, they have instincts and natures that make those decisions difficult. I love the complexity! I also think this book set up a series (trilogy) well, so I'm hoping to like the next two even more! The worldbulding is awesome. Holly Black has created a very interesting mix of "fae" and "mortal," complete with rich history and quirks and physical descriptions.
I don't factor audiobook reader into my overal star rating, but I give Caitlyn Kelly 3.5/5⭐️. Honestly, I think she was part of the reason I struggled to get into this book, but there's no telling for certain. She oftentimes doesn't seem to read with the same cadence that the words on the page suggest. She also has a cheesy tone when voicing male characters and over-acts when it comes to emotional (and even sometimes non-emotional!) scenes.
That being said, I really like the main characters. Some of the side characters are a bit flat, but Jude, Cardan, Maddoc, Vivvie, Dain, Taryn, Oriana... none of them are "good" or "bad." They just are. They make decisions, they have instincts and natures that make those decisions difficult. I love the complexity! I also think this book set up a series (trilogy) well, so I'm hoping to like the next two even more! The worldbulding is awesome. Holly Black has created a very interesting mix of "fae" and "mortal," complete with rich history and quirks and physical descriptions.
I don't factor audiobook reader into my overal star rating, but I give Caitlyn Kelly 3.5/5⭐️. Honestly, I think she was part of the reason I struggled to get into this book, but there's no telling for certain. She oftentimes doesn't seem to read with the same cadence that the words on the page suggest. She also has a cheesy tone when voicing male characters and over-acts when it comes to emotional (and even sometimes non-emotional!) scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Excrement, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and War
aralalala's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
As a romcom girly, I picked this up because of swoony bookstagram reels, only to be met first with a whole lot of blood, bullying, political conflict, violence, and complicated family relations before the very little romance around the last quarter of the book.
Nonetheless, I devoured this in one sitting.
It’s a complicated and complex tale, and the characters, even more so. They’re all questionable, but it was a thrilling ride despite it not being romance-heavy (again, as a romcom girly).
It’s not lighthearted at all and it’s not for days when you’re just looking to turn off your brain. It has really dark themes and intense scenes, but overall, it’s not as emotionally heavy as others that share similar themes (at least, I don’t feel that way).
The writing is so well done from a technical standpoint. It wasn’t dragging and you had the necessary details you need when you needed it. There were no plot points that did not make sense, and if there were plot-holes, I didn’t notice.
It was very easy to get sucked into its universe, and the plot was compelling enough to keep me turning the page.
Jude is a very strong and lovable character. As complicated as she is, it was somehow very easy to relate with her complexity. It was an exciting ride and I look forward to how the rest of the story unfolds in the series!
Nonetheless, I devoured this in one sitting.
It’s a complicated and complex tale, and the characters, even more so. They’re all questionable, but it was a thrilling ride despite it not being romance-heavy (again, as a romcom girly).
It’s not lighthearted at all and it’s not for days when you’re just looking to turn off your brain. It has really dark themes and intense scenes, but overall, it’s not as emotionally heavy as others that share similar themes (at least, I don’t feel that way).
The writing is so well done from a technical standpoint. It wasn’t dragging and you had the necessary details you need when you needed it. There were no plot points that did not make sense, and if there were plot-holes, I didn’t notice.
It was very easy to get sucked into its universe, and the plot was compelling enough to keep me turning the page.
Jude is a very strong and lovable character. As complicated as she is, it was somehow very easy to relate with her complexity. It was an exciting ride and I look forward to how the rest of the story unfolds in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War
abrielleemory's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a bit of a letdown after all of the hype on IG and TikTok. I listened to this on Spotify, so please don’t judge me for how I spell the names of characters.
I thought Jude was insufferable. She did the classic. I’m a strong, independent woman thing while also being too scared to stand up for herself half the time her obsession with her twin sister was so weird to me and that twist at the end made me very proud of Taryn. Vivienne was SO ANNOYING like she really tried to be the disinterested, cool older sister but was so removed that she had no character development.
I know this is framed as an enemies to friends situation, but I wish they would’ve stayed enemies the weird love thing just really didn’t click for me.
The authors overuse of descriptive language was really distracting. I understand she was trying to describe the world or do some world-building, but it kind of fell flat for me and was really over exaggerated.
I thought her becoming the spy was cool and I liked the other spy characters, but she just really annoyed me as a female main character.
I don’t think I’ll be reading the next books and I’m kind of glad that I listened to this as a free audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
saylorgarcia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
hagwife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
I think this novel is indicative of how I feel about Holly Black as a writer: when it's good, it's great, and the rest of the time its a bit lackluster.
The first half of the book is a mess of different threads, and while I'm not against complex stories and layers, there's so little but Jude's anger at the beginning to pin it all together. You can add bits of information in without revealing their importance and without making them seem extraneous. Jude's anger is also too unfocused for me for most of the book. I get that we're supposed to watch her carve out a place for herself in Faerie, but she has so little follow-through for the first half. Maybe that's meant to be her humanity warring with her desires. There are few fun dynamics to sort out, even if the reveals aren't earth-shattering ( intensity like Cardan's almost never translate's directly to hate and as if Locke isn't playing a long game for the matched set ).
I do enjoy Madoc's character a lot, if only because he's one of the few fae who really feel like a fae. He's true to his instincts and his passions: war, family, loyalty, and power. Everything he does revolves around those in excess, excess that matches his intensity. Most of the fae feel a little too human or watered down, more like spoiled magician's than faeries.
What is utterly remarkable is the end of the first book, because even though you know that Jude has to have a way to keep the throne for 7 years, you don't expect her to crown Cardan to do it. That we don't know about it is a trifle annoying. (It's a pet peeve of mine when we're in first person and something is deliberately hidden from the audience, because why would the narrator hide that from their inner monologue?) However, that twist and the clashing of your glee as the reader and Cardan's fury is priceless. Up until the twist I wasn't sure I was going to read the rest of the series, but I am now officially intrigued.
The first half of the book is a mess of different threads, and while I'm not against complex stories and layers, there's so little but Jude's anger at the beginning to pin it all together. You can add bits of information in without revealing their importance and without making them seem extraneous. Jude's anger is also too unfocused for me for most of the book. I get that we're supposed to watch her carve out a place for herself in Faerie, but she has so little follow-through for the first half. Maybe that's meant to be her humanity warring with her desires. There are few fun dynamics to sort out, even if the reveals aren't earth-shattering (
I do enjoy Madoc's character a lot, if only because he's one of the few fae who really feel like a fae. He's true to his instincts and his passions: war, family, loyalty, and power. Everything he does revolves around those in excess, excess that matches his intensity. Most of the fae feel a little too human or watered down, more like spoiled magician's than faeries.
What is utterly remarkable is the end of the first book,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
elisabethstre's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
junge dieses buch war not at all what i expected, but I LOVED IT
THE DARK MYSTERIOUS FANTASY? THE POLITICS??? i ate that shit up!! alterrrr die intrigen und plotttwists, das war alles SO GEIL, ich habe so viel nicht kommen sehen!!!! war geschockt
die ganze welt war so magisch und brutal; ich war so froh, nicht von einer heilen schönen feenwelt zu lesen, sondern von dieser abgefuckten grausamkeit und diesen komischen gestalten?? geil
jude war ganz anders, als ich sie mir vorgestellt hab! SHE WAS AN ICONIC, MORALLY GREY ANTIHERO and i love that for her!!!
ihr charakter war manchmal leider nicht soo richtig greifbar; ich hab es aber so gedeutet, dass sie die meiste zeit selbst noch nicht richtig wusste, was sie will und sich noch sucht; wenn das in den folgeteilen besser ist, hab ich nichts gesagt. i love her already!!
wirklich keine person in diesem buch ist ein guter „mensch“, alle waren irgendwie SO BÖSE und haben irgendwelche geheimen schemes gehabt, i ate that uppppp omg. jude auch nur bedingt sympathisch (bin mir nicht so sicher, ob ich sie mag?), but i was rooting for her, she was a queen and she was the moment!!!
das buch war fr 80% fantasy politics, es erinnerte mich stark an game of thrones, aber das hats auch so geil gemacht. it kept me guessing, wer der wahre feind ist und ich LIEBE DAS!! brauche sofort den zweiten teil
THE DARK MYSTERIOUS FANTASY? THE POLITICS??? i ate that shit up!! alterrrr die intrigen und plotttwists, das war alles SO GEIL, ich habe so viel nicht kommen sehen!!!! war geschockt
die ganze welt war so magisch und brutal; ich war so froh, nicht von einer heilen schönen feenwelt zu lesen, sondern von dieser abgefuckten grausamkeit und diesen komischen gestalten?? geil
jude war ganz anders, als ich sie mir vorgestellt hab! SHE WAS AN ICONIC, MORALLY GREY ANTIHERO and i love that for her!!!
ihr charakter war manchmal leider nicht soo richtig greifbar; ich hab es aber so gedeutet, dass sie die meiste zeit selbst noch nicht richtig wusste, was sie will und sich noch sucht; wenn das in den folgeteilen besser ist, hab ich nichts gesagt. i love her already!!
wirklich keine person in diesem buch ist ein guter „mensch“, alle waren irgendwie SO BÖSE und haben irgendwelche geheimen schemes gehabt, i ate that uppppp omg. jude auch nur bedingt sympathisch (bin mir nicht so sicher, ob ich sie mag?), but i was rooting for her, she was a queen and she was the moment!!!
das buch war fr 80% fantasy politics, es erinnerte mich stark an game of thrones, aber das hats auch so geil gemacht. it kept me guessing, wer der wahre feind ist und ich LIEBE DAS!! brauche sofort den zweiten teil
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
dlsmk's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
ohtoasty's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Jude is the main character of this story. She is written in a badass kind of way, wanting to be stronger than the limitations that life gives her. She wants to overcome the challenges in her way, even though they logically seem near impossible (not completely impossible, but incredibly difficult). I like that at Jude's core, she cares for her sisters and her family, but she cares for herself first and foremost. She is going out of her way, to get what she wants, and she does not care about who may be in her way. Things happen in this book simply because of her sheer will and determination. I find that I don't know why her body is filled with such spite and ill will, the author does not fully explain her motivations at times. But I can look past that.
I can't look past the world building though. I think I am intrigued enough to pick up the second book, because I am curious as to how the story moves through the book series, but I honestly have no fucking idea what is going on. There are other courts? Okay. I have no idea how much power they have and how that may differ from where she is living. Are they all located in the same location? Or do they travel? What kind of power do they have and is it different? Fuck if I know. I had the idea that some courts are more important than others, but I have absolutely no idea how they relate to each other and how important they are overall. I have zero idea what the governing system is like. The main point seems to be that a relative needs to place the King's crown on the new King's head. That is the most important aspect and I got that, but anything else, fuck if I know. I don't even know how important being a Knight is and what kind of status that gives you, just the fact that Jude wanted to be one.
I didn't care for Taryn, Jude's sister. She consistently gives up, wants to be a quiet small mouse, totally fucks over her sister for what seems to be very little reason. Like okay I guess. Vivienne is a lot more interesting to read. Technically a part of that world but desperate to not be. Queer and willing to take care of the younger brother in the mortal world. Way more interesting of a character and I'm excited to see more than her.
I don't really care at all for Cardan. I understand why he's sad, he's been pushed over, ignored, tortured by his family, he resorted to alcohol and not giving a fuck. He clearly had a very complicated view of Jude. She was beaten down over and over again but never ever gave up whereas he chose that path consistently. Apparently that angered him. Now she has power over him for a year and is awkwardly flirting I guess. Sure. I'm gay so angsty book boyfriends are hard for me to actually be interested in. He was no different. Not the worst I've ever read but not anything to gush over.
Book had a slow start considering how bad the world building was. Everything was leading up to the first plot point felt slow, the twist and everything after felt fast. Wish it had more even pacing throughout and that I understood what the fuck was going on.
I can't look past the world building though. I think I am intrigued enough to pick up the second book, because I am curious as to how the story moves through the book series, but I honestly have no fucking idea what is going on. There are other courts? Okay. I have no idea how much power they have and how that may differ from where she is living. Are they all located in the same location? Or do they travel? What kind of power do they have and is it different? Fuck if I know. I had the idea that some courts are more important than others, but I have absolutely no idea how they relate to each other and how important they are overall. I have zero idea what the governing system is like. The main point seems to be that a relative needs to place the King's crown on the new King's head. That is the most important aspect and I got that, but anything else, fuck if I know. I don't even know how important being a Knight is and what kind of status that gives you, just the fact that Jude wanted to be one.
I didn't care for Taryn, Jude's sister. She consistently gives up, wants to be a quiet small mouse, totally fucks over her sister for what seems to be very little reason. Like okay I guess. Vivienne is a lot more interesting to read. Technically a part of that world but desperate to not be. Queer and willing to take care of the younger brother in the mortal world. Way more interesting of a character and I'm excited to see more than her.
I don't really care at all for Cardan. I understand why he's sad, he's been pushed over, ignored, tortured by his family, he resorted to alcohol and not giving a fuck. He clearly had a very complicated view of Jude. She was beaten down over and over again but never ever gave up whereas he chose that path consistently. Apparently that angered him. Now she has power over him for a year and is awkwardly flirting I guess. Sure. I'm gay so angsty book boyfriends are hard for me to actually be interested in. He was no different. Not the worst I've ever read but not anything to gush over.
Book had a slow start considering how bad the world building was. Everything was leading up to the first plot point felt slow, the twist and everything after felt fast. Wish it had more even pacing throughout and that I understood what the fuck was going on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcohol, and Classism
dreadspawn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail