aftonslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could forget what happened in this novel and re-read it over and over again.
natcommon's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
I originally was going to give this a 3 star, but I kept thinking about it and moved it down. It was just ok and very cliché. I kept thinking about and comparing this book to the vampire movie The Invitation, as I read. Great premise, but not the greatest execution.
I originally was going to give this a 3 star, but I kept thinking about it and moved it down. It was just ok and very cliché. I kept thinking about and comparing this book to the vampire movie The Invitation, as I read. Great premise, but not the greatest execution.
paulineerika's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I'm bumping my rating up a half-point because while I think it's not quite as strong as The Year of the Witching, it was still a gorgeous, seductive take on Elizabeth Bathory. Henderson builds this world just as well as she did in that book, but the pacing is a little off and it doesn't quite have the same Gothic tension and mystery that you would expect. The action doesn't really pick up until the last few chapters, although it's done well.
The biggest reason I'm a fan is because of Marion's charisma and the little bits of humanity Henderson sprinkles in Lisavet. While the other characters aren't nearly as well developed, Marion and Lisavet are more than capable of driving the story and Henderson writes them incredibly well.
The biggest reason I'm a fan is because of Marion's charisma and the little bits of humanity Henderson sprinkles in Lisavet. While the other characters aren't nearly as well developed, Marion and Lisavet are more than capable of driving the story and Henderson writes them incredibly well.
grey_skiess's review
dark
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? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed reading this book and following the story of the bloodmaids' lives but it didn't really feel like a plot. It just felt like a meandering tale about daily lives that then took a twist and culminated in a very dramatic ending. I understand where this book and plot was trying to go, but there just wasn't enough of a plot line and intrigue to really push it to where it could have gone but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth the time reading it because it was a fun read and unlike most things I have read before.
haizteaspider's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
errinnnn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
faithjonesepp's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.0
passionyoungwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Marion arrives, fits in eventually with the other bloodmaids but soon realizes that something is “off”. She learns the house rules, and of course she rebels a bit by wandering off through the halls. Marion then understands that the rules to the game, or the ranking of being a bloodmaid at the House of Hunger isn’t exactly what it was told to be. After some time, she discovers the truth that was never to be revealed.
🩸
Marion left her home and the life she knew, for one that she felt would be better. Housing, food and clothing all paid for at the House of Hunger. All of the things she struggled to obtain before.
But Marion didn’t know that the price to pay to be a bloodmaid at the House of Hunger was something more than she was willing to give.
🩸
I knew this was a gothic read, but I had no idea it was labeled as a romance. Though, the “pleasures” - as they were called in the book - caught me off guard. Though, the intimacy shared made the craziness more believable. Everyone knows that when “love” is involved, especially when there is competition, jealousy follows.
🩸
Marion left her home and the life she knew, for one that she felt would be better. Housing, food and clothing all paid for at the House of Hunger. All of the things she struggled to obtain before.
But Marion didn’t know that the price to pay to be a bloodmaid at the House of Hunger was something more than she was willing to give.
🩸
I knew this was a gothic read, but I had no idea it was labeled as a romance. Though, the “pleasures” - as they were called in the book - caught me off guard. Though, the intimacy shared made the craziness more believable. Everyone knows that when “love” is involved, especially when there is competition, jealousy follows.
the_resistance_book_club's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0