lisalovesreading's review
5.0
A page turner from start to finish
A refreshing re-telling of my favourite novel, Pride & Pr
Prejudice and I loved the murder mystery aspects along with delving into discovering a new Fae world. The characters and plot were strong and I felt invested in their happiness.
A refreshing re-telling of my favourite novel, Pride & Pr
Prejudice and I loved the murder mystery aspects along with delving into discovering a new Fae world. The characters and plot were strong and I felt invested in their happiness.
tori_renee_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
This was just meh for me. It’s a fae retelling of Pride and Prejudice which initially made me pick it up. There is no spice, which I didn’t realize before picking it up, and I feel like a lot of these types of books have a very weird balance where the plot isn’t great but the spice is or the spice is meh but the plot is great. This was one of those books that having spice probably would’ve saved the meh plot.
It’s so formulaicly P&P that I was able to predict everything miles away. The characters aren’t as developed because they are archetypes of the originals which made it harder to be invested. The FMC is also really annoying and repetitive throughout. The only redeeming part was the ghosts, Cordelia, and Fitz. I liked the added haunted elements because it actually gave stakes for the rest of the plot.
It was a good popcorn, fantasy escape that I read in one day to help cope with anxiety so do with that what you will.
It’s so formulaicly P&P that I was able to predict everything miles away. The characters aren’t as developed because they are archetypes of the originals which made it harder to be invested. The FMC is also really annoying and repetitive throughout. The only redeeming part was the ghosts, Cordelia, and Fitz. I liked the added haunted elements because it actually gave stakes for the rest of the plot.
It was a good popcorn, fantasy escape that I read in one day to help cope with anxiety so do with that what you will.
ash_bookshelf's review
3.0
I wish I could give this like a 3.75 stars. There were a few things that I was confused about such as Elle’s family saw Fitz murder people before but all of a sudden they find a body(I wasn’t sure how finding this body tied Fitz to his sisters death) and all of a sudden they pack up to rush to leave the castle.
I did like the pride and prejudice vibes and thought this was a really cool concept for a story. I do like the relationship between Elle and Fitz and I want more! I feel like their story is just getting started!
I did like the pride and prejudice vibes and thought this was a really cool concept for a story. I do like the relationship between Elle and Fitz and I want more! I feel like their story is just getting started!
caitwbowerz's review
adventurous
4.0
I so enjoyed the fae spin on one of my all-time favorite stories. The character development was cool and the plot details were creative. I do wish there had been a bit more spice in the romantic relationship - that’s probably my biggest complaint.
michaelalee412's review
3.0
When I first heard of Castle of Dusk and Shadow, I was fully on board, a loose retelling of my favorite Pride and Prejudice… Sign me up!
When I first started the book, it felt almost like a carbon copy and not loose, and I was worried for how the magic system would come into play. But once we entered Brytwilde I understood the reasons why Schade started the story the way she did.
The tension between Fitz and Elle was great, and in true PnP fashion he falls first and fights it, and she despises what he stands for, or rather what she THINKS he stands for. I love the magic system in this book. It was unique and explained in a way that helped you to understand how this world works.
This is a slow burn clean romance, but the tropes are endless! One bed, he falls first, Touch her and die (Literally!), marriage of convenience.
When I first started the book, it felt almost like a carbon copy and not loose, and I was worried for how the magic system would come into play. But once we entered Brytwilde I understood the reasons why Schade started the story the way she did.
The tension between Fitz and Elle was great, and in true PnP fashion he falls first and fights it, and she despises what he stands for, or rather what she THINKS he stands for. I love the magic system in this book. It was unique and explained in a way that helped you to understand how this world works.
This is a slow burn clean romance, but the tropes are endless! One bed, he falls first, Touch her and die (Literally!), marriage of convenience.
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
This is right in that zone where I feel bad giving up on it, but I'm also just not interested enough to continue. Am I overly harsh on Jane Austen retellings for never being as good as actual Austen books? Maybe. Am I overly weirded out by Fae stories just because I've read ones I didn't like? Maybe.
Still not having fun with this though, so moving on regardless.
Still not having fun with this though, so moving on regardless.
cantstopwontstopreading's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Lots of romantasy books seem to struggle to walk the line between fantasy and romance- swaying wildly between romance and fantasy to the detriment of the pace and plot of the story. This is not one of those books. I was hooked by the mystery and world building, and loved the slow burn romance.
thelongroadtosanity's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Elle and her family are subject to a deal with the Fae Queen after her father dies. A long time ago, her parents had agreed to allow their eldest daughter, Grace, to marry the Fae crown Prince, Fitz. Over the years, Elle and her father studied magic in secret, trying to uncover a way for them to help Grace escape her fate, to no avail. After the sudden death of her Father, a messenger from the Fae Queen arrives, informing the family that they must attend the Ashwood castle, home of the Fae, for the remainder of their human lives.
The day of Grace's wedding, Ellie makes a split-second decision to save her older sister from marrying the dark and broody crown prince, Fitz and hides herself under the magical veil, marrying him instead. Chaos soon ensues, and Elle struggles to find her own gifted magic while uncovering the secrets of the ghosts surrounding the castle, including her recently-deceased Father. Desperate to bring him back to life, she stumbles upon a plot involving the murder of a Fae Princess and the mystery of how her 'family heirloom' locket from her own father plays a part in grand scheme of things.
This was a nice, easy read. I enjoyed the Victorian/fae aspect and I thought that had been really well done, however I wasn't the greatest fan of Elle, the main character. She wasn't the worst FMC I've read about, but she definitely wasn't the greatest. I thought her dedication to her family and uncovering the truth was very well done, and were good characteristics for her. I also enjoyed her quirkiness about the contrast of the Victorian-styled human realm and the "impropriety" of the Fae realm. The comment about her not even showing anyone her ankle before had me giggling. Otherwise, she was just.... meh to me. I also wasn't a fan of how Fitz was portrayed as instantly falling in love with her.... I am more of the slow-burn type girl so when Fitz was the first to declare his feelings for Elle it had thrown me for a bit. (10/2023)
3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up)
The day of Grace's wedding, Ellie makes a split-second decision to save her older sister from marrying the dark and broody crown prince, Fitz and hides herself under the magical veil, marrying him instead. Chaos soon ensues, and Elle struggles to find her own gifted magic while uncovering the secrets of the ghosts surrounding the castle, including her recently-deceased Father. Desperate to bring him back to life, she stumbles upon a plot involving the murder of a Fae Princess and the mystery of how her 'family heirloom' locket from her own father plays a part in grand scheme of things.
This was a nice, easy read. I enjoyed the Victorian/fae aspect and I thought that had been really well done, however I wasn't the greatest fan of Elle, the main character. She wasn't the worst FMC I've read about, but she definitely wasn't the greatest. I thought her dedication to her family and uncovering the truth was very well done, and were good characteristics for her. I also enjoyed her quirkiness about the contrast of the Victorian-styled human realm and the "impropriety" of the Fae realm. The comment about her not even showing anyone her ankle before had me giggling. Otherwise, she was just.... meh to me. I also wasn't a fan of how Fitz was portrayed as instantly falling in love with her.... I am more of the slow-burn type girl so when Fitz was the first to declare his feelings for Elle it had thrown me for a bit. (10/2023)
3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up)