The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
20sidedbi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
jaydarjoker's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
sammysammsam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Terminal illness
FYI, my tags i marked for this story err on the side of assuming the reader is sensitive tomallorypen's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Just, no.
The narration was AWFUL. Same inflection for every single sentence, weird pauses, strange choices for character voices ⌠awful.
Even had the narrator been fabulous, though, the book itself was a hot mess. The premise was so promising - queer, fae retelling of Hades and Persephone? Hell yes! Main human character fighting a terminal illness by drinking vampire blood? Hardcore! And yet, this book was all over the place.
I couldnât figure out Arloâs character. He starts as over-protective and desperate (makes sense given the circumstances) but then doesnât spend any time at home with his sister, the object of his desperate protection, because heâs having a situationship with a man who he doesnât care for and who doesnât care for him, either.Â
Then, he actively hates/plots against/attempts to assassinate the person who kidnaps him AFTER killing three people in front of him without remorse ⌠which again, makes sense ⌠until all of a sudden heâs like âbut heâs hot and the sex is goodâ and then all seems forgiven. Arlo goes from swearing to never touching Faenir and denying him the one thing Faenir wants most, to having him over every surface in the span of a chapter. I think the author tried to have the sister give the tragic backstory to be the point where Arlo changes his mind about Faenir, but it was all tell and no show.
Faenirâs motivations also oscillate wildly, though not as badly as Arlo does. But the trope of only being able to touch one person and that person being the one you fall in love with can be well done, but it just felt yucky in this case.
The family dynamics were tired; there was never an explanation of how the other humans were compelled to kill Arlo; and there was no payoff or repercussion for Arlo keeping his illness a secret from Faenir. Faenirâs sudden ability to touch living things safely after assuming the throne - a significant change, given the entire plot leading up to it - was brushed over as an afterthought.Â
All in all - good concept, horrible execution. This felt like sloppy writing with poor characterization and low narrative payoff. The weird narration did nothing to help the  quality of the story.
The narration was AWFUL. Same inflection for every single sentence, weird pauses, strange choices for character voices ⌠awful.
Even had the narrator been fabulous, though, the book itself was a hot mess. The premise was so promising - queer, fae retelling of Hades and Persephone? Hell yes! Main human character fighting a terminal illness by drinking vampire blood? Hardcore! And yet, this book was all over the place.
I couldnât figure out Arloâs character. He starts as over-protective and desperate (makes sense given the circumstances) but then doesnât spend any time at home with his sister, the object of his desperate protection, because heâs having a situationship with a man who he doesnât care for and who doesnât care for him, either.Â
Then, he actively hates/plots against/attempts to assassinate the person who kidnaps him AFTER killing three people in front of him without remorse ⌠which again, makes sense ⌠until all of a sudden heâs like âbut heâs hot and the sex is goodâ and then all seems forgiven. Arlo goes from swearing to never touching Faenir and denying him the one thing Faenir wants most, to having him over every surface in the span of a chapter. I think the author tried to have the sister give the tragic backstory to be the point where Arlo changes his mind about Faenir, but it was all tell and no show.
Faenirâs motivations also oscillate wildly, though not as badly as Arlo does. But the trope of only being able to touch one person and that person being the one you fall in love with can be well done, but it just felt yucky in this case.
The family dynamics were tired; there was never an explanation of how the other humans were compelled to kill Arlo; and there was no payoff or repercussion for Arlo keeping his illness a secret from Faenir. Faenirâs sudden ability to touch living things safely after assuming the throne - a significant change, given the entire plot leading up to it - was brushed over as an afterthought.Â
All in all - good concept, horrible execution. This felt like sloppy writing with poor characterization and low narrative payoff. The weird narration did nothing to help the  quality of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Terminal illness and Murder
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