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sonlight21's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
For me this book felt like when you find Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or The Spider wick Chronicles for the first time. It is a deep immersive world that doesn't destroy you with world building but slowly introduces more and more aspects of the magic place you have entered as you journey through the story, it reveals small pieces of itself as you go along, like some ancient fossil you are digging up from the ground.
The characters in the book are wonderful! Each character is a fully flushed out individual of their own. Even the "un-important" background characters (exmp. caffeine frenzy daemon) have their own personality and story. The characters change and grown in response to their surroundings and experiences. They are not stones, unmoving, they are alive and energetic.
One thing I did not love was the amount of characters that very randomly showed up for a few moments and then disappeared but were INCREDABLY integral to the plot. It was not that they felt flat or random but rather that I desired to know and understand more of the character and what role they played before they left. I wanted more time with them on page and in interactions. However the book is BURTSTING to the brim with characters each one deep and rich in their own right so I understand why some got such little time in the light (the book was 579 pages haha I am not sure it could have handled more).
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book though there are parts I didn't love and some aspects I am sure I missed. I will say I think the show does the book justice and in some ways adds to the experience and grows the world more.
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
cgward00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I should've paid more attention to the dozens of content warnings this book has: around 78% the book revealed that the trilogy is actually all about pregnancy and how the three supernatural races are meant to begin interbreeding. Pregnancy is a deal-breaker in books for me. A shame since I otherwise enjoyed the characters and vaguely historio-supernatural vibes even if some of it was a bit one-note at times.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy
abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I went back and forth on what I wanted to rate this. I have mixed feeling about this book.
Based on the blurb, I was excited. I thought this sounded great. I think this book had a great start and based on the summary, I knew the love story of Diana and Matthew was coming. I liked that Diana was older and she had life experience before meeting Matthew and them getting involved.
I started to lose interested around the time Matthew watched her sleeping, but I stuck with the book. I lost more interest as the relationship between Diana and Matthew developed.
I went into this book hoping it was a more mature and developed version of Twilight -- mainly featuring a better female character and a better romance. I don't think I had unreasonable hopes/expectations. But neither of those panned out for me.
The plot wasn't horrible, though I found to be predictable. The writing style was okay. The characters, mainly Diana, had me going back and forth and I still can't really decide how I feel beyond I think they were flat and some of the character development went backwards. I'm not really sure what I think about the relationships, mainly the one between Matthew and Diana. I can't decide if it's better or worse than Edward and Bella.
Despite my mixed feelings, overall I did enjoy reading this book. I plan to read the sequel. I have low exceptions and I'm curious how this series will compare to Twilight.
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Medical content
gillian_aftanas's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Infertility, Misogyny, and Sexual content
dizzyappealam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and War
amy_reading_23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Stalking
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Death of parent
kat1105's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and War
arsrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and Kidnapping
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Before I began reading this book, someone told me that a lot of people will say it feels like Twilight for adults, but it really isn't that. Someone else told me that it reads like a textbook. And yet another person said they'd only recommend the show. So, I had a lot to consider going into this, but I did form my own opinions, not to worry.
I immediately understood why people make the Twilight comparison. There's a pretty possessive vampire love interest (he even gives the "I'm dangerous and you shouldn't trust me" speech) and a female protagonist who basically gives up her own life entirely to follow said vampire wherever he may go. However, there are some pretty distinct differences. First of which being that Diana is a witch, not a human, and she has power of her own from the get-go, making her a very strong character. She's also really smart (though she doesn't necessarily display the full degree of her intellect when it comes to anything regarding Matthew). I found her likable and interesting.
I also understood the comparison to a textbook. There is an almost unnecessary amount of information - and if you don't have a strong interest in alchemic history, there might be some times where the text loses you. I felt my mind wandering on several occasions - as the book is nearly 800 pages long and at least a quarter of the story is taken up by intense intellectual argument or discussion. However, it was also really key to the story, and I think if I had spent too much time skimming through it, I would have been confused by several of the action sequences.
While some people may say this is better as a show, I don't have an opinion on that yet. My plan is to finish the series before I even attempt to embark on the television series. I like having sound judgment going into something like that and my mind would be swayed if I didn't read the entire story first and know all the characters and plot by heart.
At first, I planned to give this book 3 stars - only because of the pacing, honestly. After finishing it, I realized it was the only book I wanted to talk with others about for nearly a week straight, which proved that it deserved a higher rating. It has now been nearly a month since I finished it and so much of it is still fresh in my mind, plus I'm still interested in seeing what happens next. All good signs! I look forward to reading the sequel and seeing how the time travel plays a part in this tale.
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent