Scan barcode
cecilie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
scherkes's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
onlyoko's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Ahhh, this had so much potential!
Let's start by saying that I was expecting a dark academia, enemy to lovers, urban magic setting... But it wasn't really there. The academia setting is dropped almost immediately. The enemy to lovers is there, but it was a bit insufferable - we know they're enemies, but I feel like there is not a good reason for them to be enemies - especially in the beginning, it was painful to go through pages and pages of banter, the protagonist just hates everyone except her best friend, and even the academic rivalry isn't fleshed out enough to make it make sense (plus, anything academic is dropped almost immediately...).
Finally, the urban magic setting is there but used a lot less than it could have been.
I fear that the focus on the romance took away from everything else, sadly. The magic plot in particular is infuriatingly underdeveloped - we get a big revelation about both main characters at some points, but it's not treated as a big thing nor do the characters treat it as such, and it doesn't have any real consequence even if the climax of the magic happens somewhere around 2/3rds of the book, instead of at the end. The remaining third is painfully focused on the romance only, leaving all the very interesting developments of the magic completely underdeveloped.
Unlike some readers, I don't mind thebittersweet ending at all; however, it felt flat as everything else outside of the romance got a lot less attention than it could have.
TL;dr? Started great the first pages, then took a dip, then things got really interesting with a good buildup... but everything was completely dropped. This makes me sad, because both the characters and the world had potential, and I really like the writing style.
Let's start by saying that I was expecting a dark academia, enemy to lovers, urban magic setting... But it wasn't really there. The academia setting is dropped almost immediately. The enemy to lovers is there, but it was a bit insufferable - we know they're enemies, but I feel like there is not a good reason for them to be enemies - especially in the beginning, it was painful to go through pages and pages of banter, the protagonist just hates everyone except her best friend, and even the academic rivalry isn't fleshed out enough to make it make sense (plus, anything academic is dropped almost immediately...).
Finally, the urban magic setting is there but used a lot less than it could have been.
I fear that the focus on the romance took away from everything else, sadly. The magic plot in particular is infuriatingly underdeveloped - we get a big revelation about both main characters at some points, but it's not treated as a big thing nor do the characters treat it as such, and it doesn't have any real consequence even if the climax of the magic happens somewhere around 2/3rds of the book, instead of at the end. The remaining third is painfully focused on the romance only, leaving all the very interesting developments of the magic completely underdeveloped.
Unlike some readers, I don't mind the
TL;dr? Started great the first pages, then took a dip, then things got really interesting with a good buildup... but everything was completely dropped. This makes me sad, because both the characters and the world had potential, and I really like the writing style.
taman1ya's review against another edition
4.0
4.0 ⭐ stars
this took a very surprising turn. at one point, not even halfway, i was about to dnf it and move on. but im glad that i persisted because i liked it quite a lot.
i know people are saying that the writer could've used an editor and written better but for once did i think that the verbosity and prose worked in favor of the vibe of the story. though, i would like to add that it's not throughout that the flowery language was a good thing because at many instances did i think damn she talk a lot
this took a very surprising turn. at one point, not even halfway, i was about to dnf it and move on. but im glad that i persisted because i liked it quite a lot.
i know people are saying that the writer could've used an editor and written better but for once did i think that the verbosity and prose worked in favor of the vibe of the story. though, i would like to add that it's not throughout that the flowery language was a good thing because at many instances did i think damn she talk a lot
minb's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite books I’ve ever read. It’s totally up there with Becky Chambers for me. Absolutely enjoyed it from beginning to end
merveguerler's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this book with high expectations (I was promised academical rivals), just to think “what a waste of time” once I was finished.
So here is the thing: there is absolutely nothing happening in this book. They’re sheltered from the danger that is apparently searching for them in a cottage where no one can find them and once we get to the actual revelation (and only plot point), we are served the most underwhelming climax. The romance was the only thing that kept me going, and usually I like slow burns, but this one just dragged on and on. I would have excused everything regarding the romance, but we weren’t even given a happy ending. Spoiler Alert: They don’t end up together.
So save your time and skip on this one.
So here is the thing: there is absolutely nothing happening in this book. They’re sheltered from the danger that is apparently searching for them in a cottage where no one can find them and once we get to the actual revelation (and only plot point), we are served the most underwhelming climax. The romance was the only thing that kept me going, and usually I like slow burns, but this one just dragged on and on. I would have excused everything regarding the romance, but we weren’t even given a happy ending. Spoiler Alert: They don’t end up together.
So save your time and skip on this one.
jessicaseptember's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
sheisoceanblue's review against another edition
1.0
This book was described to me as a dark academia rivals to lovers with magic. While all three of those elements are there, none were sufficient. I'm amazed by how much one could write without saying absolutely anything.
The plot gets a 15% at the beginning of the book, gets completely forgotten, then closes itself at around 55-60%. The pace never picks up. You would think the author concentrated themselves on characterization, but even if a lot of the book focuses on the characters, they remain almost one dimensional, because they don't think, they observe each other's movements. We spent so much time with them without getting to know them, so what was the point?
The first few chapters were written so poorly it became clear as day the this wasn't edited nor, figures, published by any other than its author. There are so many tries to avoid repetition that they made it heavy. The narrator gets lost in their thoughts, becoming so vague so often that half of the novel is completely incomprehensible.
It always gets me how much arrogance do people have to dare putting something like this into the world as if it's its "final form" when I'm not sure it could even be considered a first draft.
The plot gets a 15% at the beginning of the book, gets completely forgotten, then closes itself at around 55-60%. The pace never picks up. You would think the author concentrated themselves on characterization, but even if a lot of the book focuses on the characters, they remain almost one dimensional, because they don't think, they observe each other's movements. We spent so much time with them without getting to know them, so what was the point?
The first few chapters were written so poorly it became clear as day the this wasn't edited nor, figures, published by any other than its author. There are so many tries to avoid repetition that they made it heavy. The narrator gets lost in their thoughts, becoming so vague so often that half of the novel is completely incomprehensible.
It always gets me how much arrogance do people have to dare putting something like this into the world as if it's its "final form" when I'm not sure it could even be considered a first draft.
rosagruen's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
very atmoshpheric, dark academia vibes with a good amount of romance. perfect fall read if you want something witchy !
giss17's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 Because there's potential but there's so many pages and literally nothing happened