Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Dark Vault by Victoria Schwab

2 reviews

aviery's review

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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writingcaia's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I knew absolutely nothing of what I was going to read besides the book being a duology collection from one of my favourite writers, that was enough. And, it did not disappoint, in fact, it was exceedingly awesome and I only hoped, and wanted more of it by the end.
Mackenzie hunts lost dead people, aka histories, a job left to her at a very young age by her dying grandfather. It is a job controlled by the Archive where the dead are guarded after death, like story and image versions of their past lives, but sometimes they rise confused and it is to her and the the ones like her to get them back. Because of this inherited work, this reality she knows off, unlike the rest of the people, she’s forced to lie and conceal from everyone, including those she loves the most.
After tragically losing her younger brother, her family moves to an old building to live and start a new business, which means she’ll have a new hunting ground. Here’s where the plot starts, this grand building where tragedy and secrets are buried, where dangerous dead will roam, and where two boys will surprisingly show up to help her, confuse her, love her. Or will they?
The MC is brave, selfish sometimes, badass for sure, and just a girl trying to also be a “normal” teenager. 
Throughout the story of the books we see not only this paranormal, action filled story develop and conclude, but also, and obviously the goal of the story and characters, we see grief and death, and how people deal with it, differently, but always the pain and suffering, the anger, the helplessness. 
It is thus a story about the dead, truths and lies, and those they leave behind.
Really terrific, I hope Schwabb decides to go back to this world one day, as the ending does leave it open for it.


Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death

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