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smutty_librarian's review
4.0
3.75 stars
I love Twelfth Night. It is my favorite Shakespearean comedy and I am drawn to retellings. In this novel, the world and the system of magic has so much potential. That is why I gave it almost 4 stars. Unfortunately, I still have no idea about the how/why/history of the butcher-baker relationship. This needs exposition because it has no mythology (unlike vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc.). If a supernatural slayer has to eat food specially cooked by supernaturally gifted bakers (at one point it is like 120 muffins in one sitting), I think the natural question is “but why?” It’s like shadow hunters who need to eat food prepared by culinary energy vamps...? Super weird, would be awesome if you could explain wtf was going on, but I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole and everyone expects me to act like this is an everyday thing.
I love Twelfth Night. It is my favorite Shakespearean comedy and I am drawn to retellings. In this novel, the world and the system of magic has so much potential. That is why I gave it almost 4 stars. Unfortunately, I still have no idea about the how/why/history of the butcher-baker relationship. This needs exposition because it has no mythology (unlike vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc.). If a supernatural slayer has to eat food specially cooked by supernaturally gifted bakers (at one point it is like 120 muffins in one sitting), I think the natural question is “but why?” It’s like shadow hunters who need to eat food prepared by culinary energy vamps...? Super weird, would be awesome if you could explain wtf was going on, but I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole and everyone expects me to act like this is an everyday thing.
mis_chievous's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Ok I admit that I chose this book primarily for that title, but I did enjoy the story too. The world building was interesting and there is no info dump – we are left to discover things as the story unfolds. For the most part this is good but I would have liked a teensy bit more explanation earlier in the piece.
I liked Violetta and Orion, they were pretty cute together. I also liked the Butcher/Baker bond that drew them together as well. I hated Sebastian. He was a horrible person, taking the baking from his sister ( which gives him the necessary energy to be a butcher) but only giving her the most minimal energy in return and making her feel like a burden, never telling her of all the dangers (ie vampires, werewolves etc) and then lying to her and abandoning her to run about the city cause he was jealous of Orion and wanted to show him up. Violetta’s masquerade as a boy, her interactions with Orion as both Violetta & Sebastien were amusing. I do wish Orion had told Violetta he knew about her masquerade earlier tho. And that brings me to my main gripe with the story was how NO-ONE told poor Vi a single frigging thing about the supernatural or her OWN supernatural powers/role. I mean her parents should have but didn’t for whatever reason. Then after they die and Seb , knowing she is a Baker still abandons her with out telling her anything – prick! Then Orion figures it out but still doesn’t tell her. Ok maybe not straight away but surely after they develop a friendship. Or you know when she meets his father’s actual Baker who offers to take as an apprentice but neither the Baker nor Orion bother to give her critical information about her own powers and needs which she should certainly have been told. Or Nick could have told her, or Armand but no. No-one thinks she needs to know despite being firmly drawn into the supernatural and it being tied to her survival. I was so annoyed on Vi’s behalf. I am very interested to read the next one tho.
I liked Violetta and Orion, they were pretty cute together. I also liked the Butcher/Baker bond that drew them together as well. I hated Sebastian. He was a horrible person, taking the baking from his sister ( which gives him the necessary energy to be a butcher) but only giving her the most minimal energy in return and making her feel like a burden, never telling her of all the dangers (ie vampires, werewolves etc) and then lying to her and abandoning her to run about the city cause he was jealous of Orion and wanted to show him up. Violetta’s masquerade as a boy, her interactions with Orion as both Violetta & Sebastien were amusing. I do wish Orion had told Violetta he knew about her masquerade earlier tho. And that brings me to my main gripe with the story was how NO-ONE told poor Vi a single frigging thing about the supernatural or her OWN supernatural powers/role. I mean her parents should have but didn’t for whatever reason. Then after they die and Seb , knowing she is a Baker still abandons her with out telling her anything – prick! Then Orion figures it out but still doesn’t tell her. Ok maybe not straight away but surely after they develop a friendship. Or you know when she meets his father’s actual Baker who offers to take as an apprentice but neither the Baker nor Orion bother to give her critical information about her own powers and needs which she should certainly have been told. Or Nick could have told her, or Armand but no. No-one thinks she needs to know despite being firmly drawn into the supernatural and it being tied to her survival. I was so annoyed on Vi’s behalf. I am very interested to read the next one tho.
elyl's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
smutty_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
I love Twelfth Night. It is my favorite Shakespearean comedy and I am drawn to retellings. In this novel, the world and the system of magic has so much potential. That is why I gave it almost 4 stars. Unfortunately, I still have no idea about the how/why/history of the butcher-baker relationship. This needs exposition because it has no mythology (unlike vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc.). If a supernatural slayer has to eat food specially cooked by supernaturally gifted bakers (at one point it is like 120 muffins in one sitting), I think the natural question is “but why?” It’s like shadow hunters who need to eat food prepared by culinary energy vamps...? Super weird, would be awesome if you could explain wtf was going on, but I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole and everyone expects me to act like this is an everyday thing.
I love Twelfth Night. It is my favorite Shakespearean comedy and I am drawn to retellings. In this novel, the world and the system of magic has so much potential. That is why I gave it almost 4 stars. Unfortunately, I still have no idea about the how/why/history of the butcher-baker relationship. This needs exposition because it has no mythology (unlike vampires, shapeshifters, witches, etc.). If a supernatural slayer has to eat food specially cooked by supernaturally gifted bakers (at one point it is like 120 muffins in one sitting), I think the natural question is “but why?” It’s like shadow hunters who need to eat food prepared by culinary energy vamps...? Super weird, would be awesome if you could explain wtf was going on, but I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole and everyone expects me to act like this is an everyday thing.
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