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psychnp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Love the FMC - great character development for her, hope we get more for the other characters in the rest of the series
This reads as a romance in a fantasy setting, I typically enjoy when romance is a subplot rather than the focus.
If you're a romance reader who enjoys spice I'd say this will be a 5 star read for you.
That being said - I still enjoyed it greatly, what plot there was outside of the relationship was excellent and I hope we get more of it in the rest of the series.
This reads as a romance in a fantasy setting, I typically enjoy when romance is a subplot rather than the focus.
If you're a romance reader who enjoys spice I'd say this will be a 5 star read for you.
That being said - I still enjoyed it greatly, what plot there was outside of the relationship was excellent and I hope we get more of it in the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Sexism, Violence, and Alcohol
cheerydeery's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
Picked this up after finishing ACOTAR and its…quite similar on many aspects but not to the point of plagiarism. I’d recommend it for those who enjoyed ACOTAR. Please note though there is mention of SA in this book and it definitely made me uneasy. Nothing described graphically, but enough context that it may trigger others.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
leviathanbunny363's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
sillyhumantricks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.5
This story was so good and the characters were so interesting, then the last few hours of the audiobook were hard to get through because it was such a boring, overdone story. Not at all interested in continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
kerrythefire's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.5
This was ok but I wanted it to be so much more. I felt like it had some really good bones and potential, but I never pulled me in much below the surface.
Even with the flashbacks, I felt like I wanted more of Callie and Des' relationship development. I wanted to really understand their closeness... and I felt more told than shown. It didn't help that at times where I thought Des was kinda broadcasting things, Callie had a really aggressive doubt or confusion response. Like, she should have gotten it a little quicker.
I was interested in the mystery plot, but it needed more world building to actually hook me. As it is now, I don't think I'll continue with the series because I don't care quite enough to find out for the time I'd need to put in to get there...
I, like others, also didn't really get why they needed to make Callie 16 at the start. I feel like she could have been about to turn 18 and it still would have worked...
TWs:rape, ongoing sexual assault of a minor by parent figure, gore, blood, violence, death
Even with the flashbacks, I felt like I wanted more of Callie and Des' relationship development. I wanted to really understand their closeness... and I felt more told than shown. It didn't help that at times where I thought Des was kinda broadcasting things, Callie had a really aggressive doubt or confusion response. Like, she should have gotten it a little quicker.
I was interested in the mystery plot, but it needed more world building to actually hook me. As it is now, I don't think I'll continue with the series because I don't care quite enough to find out for the time I'd need to put in to get there...
I, like others, also didn't really get why they needed to make Callie 16 at the start. I feel like she could have been about to turn 18 and it still would have worked...
TWs:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gore
lazy_raven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️.Would have given 5 stars if there was a content warning in the beginning. 75% of the story revolves around off page rape, either in the past or implied in the future. There are only 3 smutty scenes, but they are well written and consent is present
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Pregnancy
All rape is off page but the story revolves around it. There is also a brief mention of infanticidehanschub'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i love laura thalassa’s work. this was a highly anticipated read for me and i was not disappointed. if you like fairies and supernatural beings and spice and tension, you’ll love this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Slavery, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
livist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This started a bit slow but got better. I would say this one leans more romance than fantasy. A lot of the magic is just doing more common things, so I guess it’s more like cozy fantasy? Idk genres
When I read romantasies I’m torn between two parts of me: the toxic romantic and the matured realist and this book was no exception.
The toxic romantic is like my own siren, she calls me to chill out and just enjoy the overbearing protectiveness of the male lead and ignore the large age difference between them.
I was purely a toxic romantic in my teens and early twents and that aged me would have found 0 problems with this story. However, my old ass was so perturbed. Like I always just ask why couldn’t she have been ending high school and all her sad years were in college? It’s so icky that he wants to fuck her at 16 and while the toxic romantic is all heart eyes over the, “I knew it from the moment I saw you trope,” the realist in me is like eewwww she wasn’t even 16 yet when you first met her!!!
Usually in these situations other stuff is happening fast enough to take me out of that mind set/distract me but because this leans more romance, that was the central focus. Their past and how it affects their present.
There’s a fantasy plot unfolding ever so slowly in the background but it’s only enough to delay them hooking up for most of the book and then suddenly she’s kidnapped and held for days in prison. It felt like it came from left field because it wasn’t the primary focus and then bam she’s in prison.
Also the main character is so so so insecure it is so frustrating. I don’t know how many times she had to be like,”he looked at me seductively BUT THATS JUST HOW HE IS. He doesn’t think I’m pretty bc I’m just me and he left me.” I wanted to just scream to get therapy girl.
Ultimately, Caly trades one possessive guy for another, albeit she has more history with Des.
There were some cute and funny moments too. Endearing he wanted to watch movies with her. I liked Desmond overall. I liked him a lot at the beginning when it seemed he had a strong moral compass and didn’t take her favor. I think the whole repayment thing was an interesting plot device too.
I liked the whole until the end of darkness metaphor and it being more meaningful in that darkness never seems to end. I liked some of the seemingly random customs/traditions, I enjoyed that part of the world building. Also lol to werewolves basically having a period.
I honestly liked the flashbacks to show their relationship building but when it was clear he wanted more from teenage her I was icked out. That’s when I wanted to be like let’s never go back to the past ever again.
I know a lot of her self esteem issues come from trauma bc the girl has really been put through the ringer and she seems like she’d be more bad ass but unfortunately a lot of it gets sidelined. I mean the girl gets nerfed instantly when she goes to the other world.
Otherwise, I thought the idea that earth has supernatural beings that walk amongst humans and there’s a separate magical world as a cool concept. I honestly wish we spent more time in magic land or ever more demonstrations of Cali doing more than fretting over her insecurities.
I’ll probably finish this series. This review seems very critical as it is the realist that often writes, but I enjoyed it overall and want to see more of where this goes. I just hope Caly gets some self love and we never tread back to high school ever again.
When I read romantasies I’m torn between two parts of me: the toxic romantic and the matured realist and this book was no exception.
The toxic romantic is like my own siren, she calls me to chill out and just enjoy the overbearing protectiveness of the male lead and ignore the large age difference between them.
Usually in these situations other stuff is happening fast enough to take me out of that mind set/distract me but because this leans more romance, that was the central focus. Their past and how it affects their present.
There’s a fantasy plot unfolding ever so slowly in the background but it’s only enough to delay them hooking up for most of the book and then suddenly she’s kidnapped and held for days in prison. It felt like it came from left field because it wasn’t the primary focus and then bam she’s in prison.
Also the main character is so so so insecure it is so frustrating. I don’t know how many times she had to be like,”he looked at me seductively BUT THATS JUST HOW HE IS. He doesn’t think I’m pretty bc I’m just me and he left me.” I wanted to just scream to get therapy girl.
Ultimately, Caly trades one possessive guy for another, albeit she has more history with Des.
There were some cute and funny moments too. Endearing he wanted to watch movies with her. I liked Desmond overall. I liked him a lot at the beginning when it seemed he had a strong moral compass and didn’t take her favor. I think the whole repayment thing was an interesting plot device too.
I liked the whole until the end of darkness metaphor and it being more meaningful in that darkness never seems to end. I liked some of the seemingly random customs/traditions, I enjoyed that part of the world building. Also lol to werewolves basically having a period.
I honestly liked the flashbacks to show their relationship building but when it was clear he wanted more from teenage her I was icked out. That’s when I wanted to be like let’s never go back to the past ever again.
I know a lot of her self esteem issues come from trauma bc the girl has really been put through the ringer and she seems like she’d be more bad ass but unfortunately a lot of it gets sidelined. I mean the girl gets nerfed instantly when she goes to the other world.
Otherwise, I thought the idea that earth has supernatural beings that walk amongst humans and there’s a separate magical world as a cool concept. I honestly wish we spent more time in magic land or ever more demonstrations of Cali doing more than fretting over her insecurities.
I’ll probably finish this series. This review seems very critical as it is the realist that often writes, but I enjoyed it overall and want to see more of where this goes. I just hope Caly gets some self love and we never tread back to high school ever again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
cburch16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
maddykreed's review against another edition
1.5
this book was terrible, but i talk shit about people who leave one star reviews so oh well.
listen, all i’ll say is, for the love of christ at least make your characters 18 at a MINIMUM. how hard is it to put the character in college instead of high school? come on man.
listen, all i’ll say is, for the love of christ at least make your characters 18 at a MINIMUM. how hard is it to put the character in college instead of high school? come on man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence