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distortthecode's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.75
bernard0_cf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Colonisation
kriscent's review
adventurous
slow-paced
1.0
There are some... unique ways the author describes things. Some of it is engaging and then there are others that just yanked me out of the story.
"The horrid flap-slap of the raw-head’s flayed skin scuttled closer,"
"The meat ka-ploshed in the Matanzas River"
These are just a few examples of the ones that made me pause and think it myself, "there's definitely more effective ways to describe this than that"
It also took a lot for me to get into this book. I thought about DNFing quite a few times and I think part of that is because of how long this book is. I don't mind a 800 pg long epic as long as there's content that aids the story. This had a lot of fluff.
There was also a lot of information that the author just assumed the reader understood. I know a little about wicca but nothing about vodun or the other types of witchcraft so I ended up having to research what was going on if I couldn't infer it. Or if I had to look up what things meant in the many, many, many different languages included in this freaking book. Nothing ruins the immersion of a story like having to stop to do research.
I didn't like the characters, I really didn't like the love interest. I felt like they had no chemistry. You don't find out any information until the last couple chapters of the book (or at least not any information that is pertinent to our main character and advances the story).
This book is definitely meant for a specific subset of readers that meet all of the qualifications to make this book interesting. If you don't meet every single one of these check boxes, you honestly just might as well stop reading because it really doesn't get any better. If I had any sense I would have DNFed the first time at 3% but I'm an overachiever and had have to finish things I start so here I am.
"The horrid flap-slap of the raw-head’s flayed skin scuttled closer,"
"The meat ka-ploshed in the Matanzas River"
These are just a few examples of the ones that made me pause and think it myself, "there's definitely more effective ways to describe this than that"
It also took a lot for me to get into this book. I thought about DNFing quite a few times and I think part of that is because of how long this book is. I don't mind a 800 pg long epic as long as there's content that aids the story. This had a lot of fluff.
There was also a lot of information that the author just assumed the reader understood. I know a little about wicca but nothing about vodun or the other types of witchcraft so I ended up having to research what was going on if I couldn't infer it. Or if I had to look up what things meant in the many, many, many different languages included in this freaking book. Nothing ruins the immersion of a story like having to stop to do research.
I didn't like the characters, I really didn't like the love interest. I felt like they had no chemistry. You don't find out any information until the last couple chapters of the book (or at least not any information that is pertinent to our main character and advances the story).
This book is definitely meant for a specific subset of readers that meet all of the qualifications to make this book interesting. If you don't meet every single one of these check boxes, you honestly just might as well stop reading because it really doesn't get any better. If I had any sense I would have DNFed the first time at 3% but I'm an overachiever and had have to finish things I start so here I am.
wrxryna's review
5.0
If you're looking for a new, unique Urban Fantasy with more world building and magic than you can shake a stick at- look no further!
The world of C.R.O.W. has everything from New Orleans Voodoo to charming Scottish Sunshine men.
The main character, Milla, is hiding secrets - not only from the world but from herself, because she's trying so desperately to avoid her own truths.
While the book is advertised as a "hipster witch vs. MLM huns" dynamic, there is so much more to it than that!
The anti-MLM bit is very relatable and definitely a main issue- but the forces at work behind both sides of the fight are vast and unique from anything I've read before.
I was NOT expecting such an immersive story from the "hipster witch vs. MLM huns" tagline.
This book feels like the corner stone and ground work for the rest of Brown's world to build on with ease.
A couple of things I do want to mention:
There is a lot of reference to other established magic systems (like Wicca and Vodun). So, if you don't have that basic understanding, you may find yourself looking up some words or phrases.
The same goes for the Scottish common words and sland that are a part of Darkly's vocabulary.
It was never enough to make me want to put the book down, but it just added a bit time to make sure I could figure out what was already an existing magic, vs something the author created for this world.
(I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
The world of C.R.O.W. has everything from New Orleans Voodoo to charming Scottish Sunshine men.
The main character, Milla, is hiding secrets - not only from the world but from herself, because she's trying so desperately to avoid her own truths.
While the book is advertised as a "hipster witch vs. MLM huns" dynamic, there is so much more to it than that!
The anti-MLM bit is very relatable and definitely a main issue- but the forces at work behind both sides of the fight are vast and unique from anything I've read before.
I was NOT expecting such an immersive story from the "hipster witch vs. MLM huns" tagline.
This book feels like the corner stone and ground work for the rest of Brown's world to build on with ease.
A couple of things I do want to mention:
There is a lot of reference to other established magic systems (like Wicca and Vodun). So, if you don't have that basic understanding, you may find yourself looking up some words or phrases.
The same goes for the Scottish common words and sland that are a part of Darkly's vocabulary.
It was never enough to make me want to put the book down, but it just added a bit time to make sure I could figure out what was already an existing magic, vs something the author created for this world.
(I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
axrobertson's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want to preface this review by saying had this been any other plot; it would have been a 3.5/4 ⭐️ for me.
Let’s start with the best part (in my opinion) the plot. Although slightly frustrating that the flashbacks don’t give you any “answers” until the last several pages, the plot itself was so uniquely incredible. To take witches and magick and intertwine them into a story about pyramid schemes and huns was brilliant. You can tell the author was either involved with one herself, or did the right kind of research because as an “ex-hun” myself everything felt spot on.
The MMC and FMC lacked chemistry for me, but their love story was cute. I did feel the reason this book took me longer than most to finish is the extreme detail the author adds to the book regarding magick, Ways, Hex’s, and how those things physically make her feel. Either way, love love love to see something different in the magical realism space and this was definitely it for me!
Let’s start with the best part (in my opinion) the plot. Although slightly frustrating that the flashbacks don’t give you any “answers” until the last several pages, the plot itself was so uniquely incredible. To take witches and magick and intertwine them into a story about pyramid schemes and huns was brilliant. You can tell the author was either involved with one herself, or did the right kind of research because as an “ex-hun” myself everything felt spot on.
The MMC and FMC lacked chemistry for me, but their love story was cute. I did feel the reason this book took me longer than most to finish is the extreme detail the author adds to the book regarding magick, Ways, Hex’s, and how those things physically make her feel. Either way, love love love to see something different in the magical realism space and this was definitely it for me!
abbi3d's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Fantastic concept. So much potential for the plot. However, it was utterly ruined by the two dimensional and frankly altogether annoying main characters. The bulk of the dialogue was damn near impossible to get through due to its unnatural flow, but most importantly the REALLY annoying way Scottish jargon was overused, INCORRECTLY.
The amount of times Darkly used the word “nae”, he may as well have been written as a horse. It was the death of my patience. My eyes have rolled so frequently I fear I may be permanently cross-eyed.
Another frustrating element was the overuse of different languages. Listen, a little bit of French to spice things up here and there, fine, but there’s no need to use as many languages as you can possibly think of. It’s was all just a bit too much. Okay, a LOT too much.
I really wish I had DNFd this book but I’m too stubborn for my own good. It look me MONTHS to schlep through to the end. I’m glad it’s over. Now someone, please put me out of my misery ?
The amount of times Darkly used the word “nae”, he may as well have been written as a horse. It was the death of my patience. My eyes have rolled so frequently I fear I may be permanently cross-eyed.
Another frustrating element was the overuse of different languages. Listen, a little bit of French to spice things up here and there, fine, but there’s no need to use as many languages as you can possibly think of. It’s was all just a bit too much. Okay, a LOT too much.
I really wish I had DNFd this book but I’m too stubborn for my own good. It look me MONTHS to schlep through to the end. I’m glad it’s over. Now someone, please put me out of my misery ?
emilyinthewoods's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
violetbonsai's review
The story does seem interesting but there was just too many mixes of foreign languages alongside words created for this book that it was hard for me to be able to follow along.
I was already struggling at 5% so decided not to force myself :( Book itself seems decently wrote but just not for me.
I was already struggling at 5% so decided not to force myself :( Book itself seems decently wrote but just not for me.
beckaboo1220's review
Very slow to open. The writing is fine, but there are a lot of mixed languages and foreign concepts that make it difficult to understand the world.