veggitorian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mvojtko's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I am honestly just really confused. And that could totally be because I took a long time to read this book, reading others in between, but I’m confused.
scarletphoenix4947's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
i_am_foreveryoung_'s review against another edition
I thought I was too high at first but it turns out this book just needs an editor. Not only did the sentence structure and word voice not make sense, but the story felt like we were missing entire chapters; it would suddenly jump from one place/mood/activity to another without explanation. Additionally, the world building, character development, and overall plot was quite simply, subpar. Many favorite tropes were thrown in, but there was no connection, no flow.
piasbookshelf's review
4.0
After taking a few days to gather my thoughts on this book, I really did enjoy it! Liam and I have a love-hate relationship right now but ugh. I just can’t help rooting for the guy! And JANE. Jane, Jane Jane. I love her as a character. I am looking forward to seeing her development in the second book. I want to see her grow and thrive. And don’t even get me started on Blair, I love him, seriously had me since he was first introduced. It’s hard to give a review without spoilers BUT, if you haven’t read it, please do. Seriously, give this book a chance. You will not regret being sucked into this world!
alyssadorn's review against another edition
2.0
I kept waiting for this book to make sense, come together, or have a coherent plot, but it never did. I read the Kindle version, though, so maybe it’s accidentally a version from the middle of the editing process? My main issues were:
1. The writing is almost incomprehensible. About once a chapter I’d have a “that word doesn’t mean what you think it means” moment and have to guess what the author meant. Almost every third paragraph the sentence structure was so abysmal I couldn’t parse its meaning after multiple read-throughs (at least to start, it got a bit better later but still happened often enough to be distracting); some examples below.
2. The character development and motivation was almost nonexistent and didn’t make sense when the author tried to show some growth. For example, our MC Jane hates all her siblings, including a sister who doesn’t seem to do anything but support Jane— where’s the motivation for her hatred? Then later when the author tries to show Jane coming to like/understand said sister, it’s all told and not shown, and the “development,” if it could be called that, feels unmotivated and trite.
3. There’s very little plot or action. It feels haphazardly thrown together.
4. The author tells a lot instead of showing.
5. The relationships were unconvincing and lacked chemistry except for during sex (for the romantic relationship(s)). I just didn’t believe Jane could meet a stranger in a terse situation and instantly trust them and become their friend, or that Jane and her sister were so adversarial, or even the tension the author tried to write between Jane and Liam.
The only scene I truly enjoyed was the singular spicy scene that seemed like it had gone through more rounds of editing than the rest of the book, as it was better written and even seemed to introduce some mystery (that was then left unaddressed for the rest of the book).
Also, there are no answers given or even bread-crumbed to the few mysteries we are given. I feel like the author needs to give us something by the end of book one, like the answer to a smaller mystery that could feed into a bigger one in book two, rather than making it feel like book one is just unfinished.
Writing style examples:
-“If my father noticed my sister’s act from the erected dais to the side of the vaulted room, he didn’t show it. Which showed me he didn’t. Otherwise, he did and couldn’t care.” - clunky phrasing typical of this book’s writing style.
-“The gesture showed how little he meant his statements but also proved he might.” - how is this a full sentence??
-“Blair’s simple structures appeared to have never had much time in the sea or too much.” - what??
-“As my blood dripped into my fur-lined slipper” - When did she get cut?? I reread the chapter and it’s never mentioned. I can guess when it happens, but it’s never mentioned before this, not how or where she was cut.
-“childish and evident as it was to pretend I didn’t know…” - evident?? Wrong word choice, probably meant “petty” or “common” (as a synonym for the slang “basic”)— “unimaginative.”
1. The writing is almost incomprehensible. About once a chapter I’d have a “that word doesn’t mean what you think it means” moment and have to guess what the author meant. Almost every third paragraph the sentence structure was so abysmal I couldn’t parse its meaning after multiple read-throughs (at least to start, it got a bit better later but still happened often enough to be distracting); some examples below.
2. The character development and motivation was almost nonexistent and didn’t make sense when the author tried to show some growth. For example, our MC Jane hates all her siblings, including a sister who doesn’t seem to do anything but support Jane— where’s the motivation for her hatred? Then later when the author tries to show Jane coming to like/understand said sister, it’s all told and not shown, and the “development,” if it could be called that, feels unmotivated and trite.
3. There’s very little plot or action. It feels haphazardly thrown together.
4. The author tells a lot instead of showing.
5. The relationships were unconvincing and lacked chemistry except for during sex (for the romantic relationship(s)). I just didn’t believe Jane could meet a stranger in a terse situation and instantly trust them and become their friend, or that Jane and her sister were so adversarial, or even the tension the author tried to write between Jane and Liam.
The only scene I truly enjoyed was the singular spicy scene that seemed like it had gone through more rounds of editing than the rest of the book, as it was better written and even seemed to introduce some mystery (that was then left unaddressed for the rest of the book).
Also, there are no answers given or even bread-crumbed to the few mysteries we are given. I feel like the author needs to give us something by the end of book one, like the answer to a smaller mystery that could feed into a bigger one in book two, rather than making it feel like book one is just unfinished.
Writing style examples:
-“If my father noticed my sister’s act from the erected dais to the side of the vaulted room, he didn’t show it. Which showed me he didn’t. Otherwise, he did and couldn’t care.” - clunky phrasing typical of this book’s writing style.
-“The gesture showed how little he meant his statements but also proved he might.” - how is this a full sentence??
-“Blair’s simple structures appeared to have never had much time in the sea or too much.” - what??
-“As my blood dripped into my fur-lined slipper” - When did she get cut?? I reread the chapter and it’s never mentioned. I can guess when it happens, but it’s never mentioned before this, not how or where she was cut.
-“childish and evident as it was to pretend I didn’t know…” - evident?? Wrong word choice, probably meant “petty” or “common” (as a synonym for the slang “basic”)— “unimaginative.”
rose99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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
3.5
kalynn0789's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing novel from a new author. The world building is great and I’m dying to continue with the next one. Must read!
lostinliterature's review against another edition
4.0
OMG I LOVED THIS. I want more of these characters.
aleoreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Please read the trigger warnings, although I personally did not have issue with anything in the book.
I was given an ARC copy for an honest review.
I don’t want to post any spoilers, but I adored so many of the characters and I know you will too. This story is well written and captivated me from almost the first page, I was so engrossed in the story I literally skipped cleaning my house to finish reading. I have so many questions that I know will be answered in the next book, I can NOT wait to see where the story goes. That cliffhanger though….I have so many questions.
I really hope that this book blows up for this author because she has talent and deserves the love for her book. I can not wait to read additional books she writes.
I was given an ARC copy for an honest review.
I don’t want to post any spoilers, but I adored so many of the characters and I know you will too. This story is well written and captivated me from almost the first page, I was so engrossed in the story I literally skipped cleaning my house to finish reading. I have so many questions that I know will be answered in the next book, I can NOT wait to see where the story goes. That cliffhanger though….I have so many questions.
I really hope that this book blows up for this author because she has talent and deserves the love for her book. I can not wait to read additional books she writes.