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emilyreadddss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bluemorris129's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aliciasrealm's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up, because I loved the murder mystery investigation plot and the exploration of Signal's powers. I especially appreciate that Signa has positive relationships with other women. I liked Blythe (she's strong willed and awesome) and her brother Percy. The plot twists related to the investigation were great.
What I didn't like as much was the romance. I really thought this was going to be an enemies to lovers plot (looking at that "surly stable boy" line...) when it was really a Hades/Persephone style romance that unfortunately felt cringey at times. I think this was mainly because Signa is so young and naive, obsessed with adhering to the rules and etiquette of society (similar to Regency era England), but breaks these rules with little hesitation to get some action with Death. And I really liked Sylas so the twist near the end left me completely torn. If the set-up had been clearer from the blurb, maybe I wouldn't have felt so disappointed.
What I didn't like as much was the romance. I really thought this was going to be an enemies to lovers plot (looking at that "surly stable boy" line...) when it was really a Hades/Persephone style romance that unfortunately felt cringey at times. I think this was mainly because Signa is so young and naive, obsessed with adhering to the rules and etiquette of society (similar to Regency era England), but breaks these rules with little hesitation to get some action with Death. And I really liked Sylas so the twist near the end left me completely torn. If the set-up had been clearer from the blurb, maybe I wouldn't have felt so disappointed.
demievrything's review against another edition
5.0
Belladonna hatte ich schon lange im Auge, war mir aber immer unsicher, ob es mir gefallen würde. Umso mehr habe ich mich dann über das Rezensionsexemplar gefreut.
Ich war schnell in der Geschichte drin, es gibt viele Geheimnisse und Details, die man erst im Laufe der Geschichte erfährt, so dass es von Beginn an spannend ist.
Die Charaktere fand ich besonders gelungen, da diese vielschichtig sind und man alle namentlich genannten Charaktere wunderbar auseinander halten kann und niemand „zu blass“ bleibt. Sehr gelungen fand ich auch den Tod als Charakter, dessen Darstellung mich begeistert hat.
Die Beziehungen zwischen den Charakteren wirkten realistisch und echt und ich konnte diese gut nachvollziehen.
Gut gefallen hat mir auch das Erzähltempo, durch das es keine langatmigen Stellen gab, da immer mal wieder Wochen zusammengefasst oder übersprungen wurden.
Band 2 liegt jetzt auch schon parat!
Ich war schnell in der Geschichte drin, es gibt viele Geheimnisse und Details, die man erst im Laufe der Geschichte erfährt, so dass es von Beginn an spannend ist.
Die Charaktere fand ich besonders gelungen, da diese vielschichtig sind und man alle namentlich genannten Charaktere wunderbar auseinander halten kann und niemand „zu blass“ bleibt. Sehr gelungen fand ich auch den Tod als Charakter, dessen Darstellung mich begeistert hat.
Die Beziehungen zwischen den Charakteren wirkten realistisch und echt und ich konnte diese gut nachvollziehen.
Gut gefallen hat mir auch das Erzähltempo, durch das es keine langatmigen Stellen gab, da immer mal wieder Wochen zusammengefasst oder übersprungen wurden.
Band 2 liegt jetzt auch schon parat!
alicethornett's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
celestialpursuits's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
whatvreadnext's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵." 😐
Oh, well... That was, errm... not so good.
Sadly, the writing style did not work for me and I had to push myself not to dnf. I loved the idea of the haunted manor and Death being the MMC and wanted so much to like this book and not give up on it but I was really not impressed.
The way women were treated by men in the book, the painfully slow pace and the lack of chemistry made it so hard for me to get through. I found the main characters unlikeable and the romantic exchanges cringe-worthy, toxic or creepy. Everything about the FMC's and Death's interactions felt either awkward or wrong. The fact that the author sets their first meeting when the FMC is 2 months old is an unfortunate choice. And I found Death's personality (for the most part of the book) awwwwwwful. Creepy. Not in a good way.
But I do get that this is a matter of personal taste. There were some good moments and the whole story is utterly cool, just not how I would have liked it executed. Therefore, 3 stars.
PS. This would make a good movie (with a lot of adjustments) 👌
🫐🫐🫐 / 5
Oh, well... That was, errm... not so good.
Sadly, the writing style did not work for me and I had to push myself not to dnf. I loved the idea of the haunted manor and Death being the MMC and wanted so much to like this book and not give up on it but I was really not impressed.
The way women were treated by men in the book, the painfully slow pace and the lack of chemistry made it so hard for me to get through. I found the main characters unlikeable and the romantic exchanges cringe-worthy, toxic or creepy. Everything about the FMC's and Death's interactions felt either awkward or wrong. The fact that the author sets their first meeting when the FMC is 2 months old is an unfortunate choice. And I found Death's personality (for the most part of the book) awwwwwwful. Creepy. Not in a good way.
But I do get that this is a matter of personal taste. There were some good moments and the whole story is utterly cool, just not how I would have liked it executed. Therefore, 3 stars.
PS. This would make a good movie (with a lot of adjustments) 👌
🫐🫐🫐 / 5
valrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
kasey823's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.5