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geo81's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
melissch's review against another edition
4.0
Listen. I don’t understand what my brain is chill with reading currently, but imma just roll with it.
I think this was my third re-read?
I think this was my third re-read?
bmdayton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kynnlara's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
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
4.75
An old, enchanted alchemical manuscript missing for centuries suddenly manifesting from hiding into Diana's hands; the last of the Bishop witches -- as in one Bridget Bishop from the Salem Witch Trials. Coincidence? No, and it puts a target on Diana's back immediately as her ignored powers begin manifesting when one particular creature becomes interested in her: a vampire named Matthew Clairmont. Vampires, daemons, and witches all want their hands on this book for their own reasons, and Diana is the inextricable key. Matthew's initial interest was also the manuscript, but he quickly realizes that his interest becomes less and less about the book and more about the witch that has no idea how powerful she actually is.
I LOVE this book. It's s solid start for the trilogy, and I had the second book (Shadow of Night) ready to read immediately upon completing the first. The historical context of everything is this book is phenomenal. From the details about alchemy that Diana Bishop is studying to the sheer research that has gone into historical accuracy for Matthew Clairmont's ancient origins, everything gives the plot depth and make it seem "real" in the any sense that a fantastical novel could possibly be. The plot is interesting in the point that there is one. It's mysterious and tied to the character's flaws and development in its progression, and I'm so excited to keep reading.
I LOVE this book. It's s solid start for the trilogy, and I had the second book (Shadow of Night) ready to read immediately upon completing the first. The historical context of everything is this book is phenomenal. From the details about alchemy that Diana Bishop is studying to the sheer research that has gone into historical accuracy for Matthew Clairmont's ancient origins, everything gives the plot depth and make it seem "real" in the any sense that a fantastical novel could possibly be. The plot is interesting in the point that there is one. It's mysterious and tied to the character's flaws and development in its progression, and I'm so excited to keep reading.
stacias99's review against another edition
1.0
This book was not for me, at all. There were so many things I hated about it... Where to begin? First, I despise romance novels. That's what this book was despite any marketing that says otherwise. My policy when picking books is to read the publisher's description, look at the overall GoodReads rating & if my friends have read it, check their ratings/reviews. I try not to read reviews so my opinions aren't colored by other people's thoughts. I should have in this case. Once I got 1/2 way through reading it, I said to myself, I can't be the only one who thinks this books sucks, let me check the reviews... Lo & behold, I should have done that before buying the book. Sigh.
Second, though I was expecting a fantasy (I mean it's a book about witches & vampires!), I could have stomached it if it was a good romance, but it had all the ickiness of [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361039443s/41865.jpg|3212258] and none of the entertaining aspects. I didn't find stalking, obsession and patronization super romantic when I read Twilight, and guess what, I still don't. At least, however, Stephanie Meyer's book wasn't a boring drudge. This was, for 75% of the book (and I know that to be precisely true cause I was reading the ebook version), a super dull read that I resented each boring and irritating moment of (I have never been able to not finish a book - it's a problem). The fact that it picked up the pace and was actually about something resembling magic and having a plot in the last 25% of the book was not enough to make me forget how much I hated the prior 75% of the book.
Third, the protagonist was the epitome of a Mary Sue. Others do a much better job of describing all the things that make her a horrid character. I don't want to spend another minute thinking about her. I can't think of a single well-drawn character in the whole book.
I could go on and on, but the only joy I can find in this read is that it's finally over & I never have to think about it again. I'm personally going to avoid reading anything by [a:Deborah Harkness|3849415|Deborah Harkness|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1404866722p2/3849415.jpg] like the plague.
Second, though I was expecting a fantasy (I mean it's a book about witches & vampires!), I could have stomached it if it was a good romance, but it had all the ickiness of [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361039443s/41865.jpg|3212258] and none of the entertaining aspects. I didn't find stalking, obsession and patronization super romantic when I read Twilight, and guess what, I still don't. At least, however, Stephanie Meyer's book wasn't a boring drudge. This was, for 75% of the book (and I know that to be precisely true cause I was reading the ebook version), a super dull read that I resented each boring and irritating moment of (I have never been able to not finish a book - it's a problem). The fact that it picked up the pace and was actually about something resembling magic and having a plot in the last 25% of the book was not enough to make me forget how much I hated the prior 75% of the book.
Third, the protagonist was the epitome of a Mary Sue. Others do a much better job of describing all the things that make her a horrid character. I don't want to spend another minute thinking about her. I can't think of a single well-drawn character in the whole book.
I could go on and on, but the only joy I can find in this read is that it's finally over & I never have to think about it again. I'm personally going to avoid reading anything by [a:Deborah Harkness|3849415|Deborah Harkness|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1404866722p2/3849415.jpg] like the plague.
chroniclesofabookmum's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably one of the oldest books that I own, it has been on my shelf for so long and I just have not found the motivation to pick it up. I found the whole series in a charity shop bought them because of the hype that they had on bookstagram and just left them to gather dust on my shelves wondering whether I would like them.
I don’t know why I didn’t pick this book up sooner. I absolutely loved it. I found the plot really addictive and I just did not want to put it down. I read the entire book in 2 days and even downloaded it on audiobook so I could listen to it during my car journey. I found the concept quite unique, however I did get hints of Sabrina the Teenage Witch in parts. I suppose its living with her aunt and being a witch? Maybe there’s more to it than that.
I am the first one to say I am a heartless cow. I don’t like romance most of the time it just doesn’t do it for me. But the forbidden romance in this book really kept me going. I was routing for Matthew and Diana throughout the whole of this book and really enjoyed watching their characters develop into each other. It disgusts me to say because that is just not me. Well done Deborah, you have defrosted my once frozen heart.
This book is so well written. The author really does know how to capture the readers attention with her descriptions and world building. I really felt when reading that I was one of the characters in her book. I felt like I was there with them. It takes a special skill for an author to engage their reader like that however Deborah definitely did it. This also helped the reader to establish strong connections with the characters. I found myself genuinely caring for them and routing for them throughout.
There was something missing for me. I’ve read a lot about a cliffhanger ending but I didn’t get that at all? It was missing a 5 star element for me and maybe its because it was a little too long. Parts seemed a bit unnecessary and I just wanted to urge the book to get to the point in parts which is a shame because apart from that I am a big fan.
I finished this book today and I have had to stop myself from picking up the next book. Rest assured both of the other books in the series is in my TBR in November and I hope I get chance to read them.
I don’t know why I didn’t pick this book up sooner. I absolutely loved it. I found the plot really addictive and I just did not want to put it down. I read the entire book in 2 days and even downloaded it on audiobook so I could listen to it during my car journey. I found the concept quite unique, however I did get hints of Sabrina the Teenage Witch in parts. I suppose its living with her aunt and being a witch? Maybe there’s more to it than that.
I am the first one to say I am a heartless cow. I don’t like romance most of the time it just doesn’t do it for me. But the forbidden romance in this book really kept me going. I was routing for Matthew and Diana throughout the whole of this book and really enjoyed watching their characters develop into each other. It disgusts me to say because that is just not me. Well done Deborah, you have defrosted my once frozen heart.
This book is so well written. The author really does know how to capture the readers attention with her descriptions and world building. I really felt when reading that I was one of the characters in her book. I felt like I was there with them. It takes a special skill for an author to engage their reader like that however Deborah definitely did it. This also helped the reader to establish strong connections with the characters. I found myself genuinely caring for them and routing for them throughout.
There was something missing for me. I’ve read a lot about a cliffhanger ending but I didn’t get that at all? It was missing a 5 star element for me and maybe its because it was a little too long. Parts seemed a bit unnecessary and I just wanted to urge the book to get to the point in parts which is a shame because apart from that I am a big fan.
I finished this book today and I have had to stop myself from picking up the next book. Rest assured both of the other books in the series is in my TBR in November and I hope I get chance to read them.
leannehymes's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.25
melindar91's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one! It started very slow for me, but was well worth it to keep going.
justsomejerk's review against another edition
It's overly long with so many tedious descriptions of irrelevant things. Diana was meant to be an adult but acted like a teenager, and Matthew became increasingly controlling and awful over the course of the book. The actual world building was so interesting but it's not worth forcing myself through the slog of a love story.
sparkles_f's review against another edition
1.0
******SPOILERS********
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This story was just fine with the light romantic subplot--why did we have to go into, "oh I'm a genetic super freak Mary Sue who can bear a vampire's child!"
This story is a bait-n-switch. I came for the witches and the demons and the vampires and the magic, but I was left with the feeling that this is a subpar love story. The author took a boring/unremarkable romance and surrounded it with supernatural creatures hoping no one would notice. Blergh, I say.
The book also could have used some better editing. There were a few portions that I just skipped over because it really just added nothing to the story or the plot. (The amount of times I muttered that I didn't care about something while reading this book...
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This story was just fine with the light romantic subplot--why did we have to go into, "oh I'm a genetic super freak Mary Sue who can bear a vampire's child!"
This story is a bait-n-switch. I came for the witches and the demons and the vampires and the magic, but I was left with the feeling that this is a subpar love story. The author took a boring/unremarkable romance and surrounded it with supernatural creatures hoping no one would notice. Blergh, I say.
The book also could have used some better editing. There were a few portions that I just skipped over because it really just added nothing to the story or the plot. (The amount of times I muttered that I didn't care about something while reading this book...