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bookishfoxes's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have to say I'm very disappointed. I went into this thinking I would love it. There was no doubt about it, it felt like a fact. Roses are usually red, my cat is a lovable idiot, and I will like Holly Black's books. Sadly, this was not the case.
I could've known this was a possibility. While I absolutely adored the folk of the air series (minus the lost sister novella, yikes that one) and enjoyed the first book on the middle grade series Black has written with Cassandra Clare, I was also deeply disappointed with the Spiderwick Chronicles. But I just thought it would be a one time thing - 2 if you count the TFOTA novella.
As soon as I started this book, I disliked the main character. And, ok, she got a tiny bit better by the end. But honestly? I didn't care for anyone but Roiben. I kept on reading because I am not about to DNF a Holly Black book.
And, yeah, it took a long time for me to get into it, but eventually I did a bit. Because even though it felt rushed and downright sloppy, Black's writing is still pretty addictive. And as I said before, I did quite like Roiben. I think if it wasn't for him this would've been two stars.
At the end, I don't know how to feel about this. I wouldn't put it on any recommendations posts. But I don't hate it as much anymore as I did the first 100-ish pages.
As for the rest of the series? Who knows. Since I was so sure I'd love this, I had already bought the sequel. Maybe I'll give it a chance some day so my money was at least worth something. But maybe once I started reading other books, this will slip from my mind and I'll never find myself interested to dive into this series again.
I'm glad that this was released in, what, early 00s? Because I very much enjoying TFOTA and that shows that Holly Black's writing has improved a lot since then, meaning I won't be scared off from her recent books.
I'm hoping to read the TFOTA spin off series this year, or at least the first one, because now I've read 2 books by this author and both are rated badly.
I could've known this was a possibility. While I absolutely adored the folk of the air series (minus the lost sister novella, yikes that one) and enjoyed the first book on the middle grade series Black has written with Cassandra Clare, I was also deeply disappointed with the Spiderwick Chronicles. But I just thought it would be a one time thing - 2 if you count the TFOTA novella.
As soon as I started this book, I disliked the main character. And, ok, she got a tiny bit better by the end. But honestly? I didn't care for anyone but Roiben. I kept on reading because I am not about to DNF a Holly Black book.
And, yeah, it took a long time for me to get into it, but eventually I did a bit. Because even though it felt rushed and downright sloppy, Black's writing is still pretty addictive. And as I said before, I did quite like Roiben. I think if it wasn't for him this would've been two stars.
At the end, I don't know how to feel about this. I wouldn't put it on any recommendations posts. But I don't hate it as much anymore as I did the first 100-ish pages.
As for the rest of the series? Who knows. Since I was so sure I'd love this, I had already bought the sequel. Maybe I'll give it a chance some day so my money was at least worth something. But maybe once I started reading other books, this will slip from my mind and I'll never find myself interested to dive into this series again.
I'm glad that this was released in, what, early 00s? Because I very much enjoying TFOTA and that shows that Holly Black's writing has improved a lot since then, meaning I won't be scared off from her recent books.
I'm hoping to read the TFOTA spin off series this year, or at least the first one, because now I've read 2 books by this author and both are rated badly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Murder, and Abandonment
wintert_ide's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
rory18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
juliesleseecke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction
atpioworria's review against another edition
Just not my style of book. I cant even try and rate it but maybe someone else will like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
hullomoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
3.75
I haven't read the book since I was in high school and it held up better then I expected. The plot was engaging and I appreciated how the main characters have depth and aren't one-note instantly lovable people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Racism
ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
“If curiosity killed the cat, it was satisfaction that brought it back.”
the unseelie court makes the greenbriar family look downright laidback.
You can break a thing, but you cannot always guide it afterward into the shape you want.
written about 10 years before the folk of the air, i can definitely see holly black's growth as a writer. though i like tfota more, i still really enjoyed tithe! more of a contemporary urban fantasy setting (a major portion is in human side of new jersey lol) there was more brutality to this one imo bc of the faeries proximity to humans and the general nature of the unseelie court.
“Just so you know, I trust you.”
“You shouldn’t,” he said automatically. Nevertheless, he found himself no longer wanting to punish her for her faith in him. Instead, he found himself wanting to be worthy of it. He wanted to be the knight he had once been. Just for a moment.
as always, i love holly's protagonist kaye and the tortured knight lord roiben rath rye (say that three times fast). i also really enjoy corny and can't wait to see what happens next with his character 👀
“Kiss my ass, Rath Roiben Rye.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
jkoncurat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture
amypalmer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was good. I enjoyed it and it was nice and short however it did wow me. I also at time felt the human side of the story was unlikeable and unrelateable. The fantasy elements are where this book is good however its 3 stars because it is just OK.
Positives are that the faerie lore is good, the creatures are described well (when they are present). The different type of fae is interesting and not just your typical fae. However there is not enough of this. I find a transformation that happens in the story interesting and not the typical beautiful fairy that we have come accustom to.
The racism at the begining was just off, as was the character, being a child who drinks and smokes regularly with a terrible parent, does what she wants with no repercussions, typical boring rebel teen trope.
This side of the book was what made me not like it. This books is also in the weird realm of not being g for children but also not really for adults either. It does feel like half a story too at times. I will be reading the other two books in the series.
Positives are that the faerie lore is good, the creatures are described well (when they are present). The different type of fae is interesting and not just your typical fae. However there is not enough of this. I find a transformation that happens in the story interesting and not the typical beautiful fairy that we have come accustom to.
The racism at the begining was just off, as was the character, being a child who drinks and smokes regularly with a terrible parent, does what she wants with no repercussions, typical boring rebel teen trope.
This side of the book was what made me not like it. This books is also in the weird realm of not being g for children but also not really for adults either. It does feel like half a story too at times. I will be reading the other two books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
sassper17'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use