winnisanderaon's review against another edition
I got half way through and had to DNF. I truly and thoroughly wanted to like this book. However, this is the second book by Kristoff I tried to read but I just can’t enjoy his writing style.
ktxx22's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this start to finish. Big broad strokes of story telling! Loved the narrator to bits! I found the sexy time bits well written even if they did make me mildly uncomfortable. This is delightfully brutal, gore filled, and a dark school setting to boot! I’m so glad I picked this book up! Can’t wait to read book two!! Assassins. Murder. Blood oaths. Revenge. And SAND KRAKENS!! It leaves you with a desire to know more about these characters! I’m so ready!
readwithacapricorn's review against another edition
4.0
4/5✨
Frankly, this was a great series starter.
The world-building was well fleshed out and not all that complex. My only issue is the long-ass footnotes in the first third of the book - it took away from the narrative instead of adding to it and I skimmed over most of them (coming from someone who has a history degree and spent three years reading academic articles, I hate footnotes with a passion
Frankly, this was a great series starter.
The world-building was well fleshed out and not all that complex. My only issue is the long-ass footnotes in the first third of the book - it took away from the narrative instead of adding to it and I skimmed over most of them (coming from someone who has a history degree and spent three years reading academic articles, I hate footnotes with a passion
mdzreynolds's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️4.5. The footnotes took you out of the story a bit and it took a while to get in the groove of past and present but overall a fantastic read. I just love Jay Kristoff’s writing style and humor.
tiamariatamera's review against another edition
3.0
Ok. Kristoff me mate. Heck.
So it took a quick minute to get into this read, I was like ok cool cool, assassin story - yes - taking revenge for her Familia's death - yes - political intrigue - yas - grim dark - yas. She had the ingredients to concoct a delicious, scrumptious cake. However, the flavours are slightly off. The undertones a little too strong. Would Gordon Ramsay be disappointed? I can't speak for him, not only is he Gordon Ramsey, but a book is not a cake. It just made for an ok METAPHOR (ahhhhh great foreshadowing).
So I really loved:
- the world, she was gorgeous with all the death goddesses, a gritty, gross scumbag city which I
can't recall the name of at this second lmao.
- the politics, she was spicy
- murder mystery thingy that went down (the tension)
- THE BLOOD MAGIC THAT WAS SICK ALSO ADONAI AND HIS SISTER THAT WAS EVERYTHING. I is
sucker for vampire boi who's skin is that of a FRESH SUICIDE (more foreshadowing oOoo)
- the dude who had the same shadowy powers as Mia, he was really intriguing (he does fkn die
before all the spice can be sucked out of his character but I'll get over it. maybe). Also I read this
like a month or two ago I can't remember details, not sorry
- the blood and gore YES
- I actually rlly loved the prologue that everyone hated. It was cool, with the shifting perspectives and situations, I was just upset I didn't get more of this edginess throughout and yeah I agree it was a little nonsensical... but, in a cool way.
She was a choice:
- Mia being built up as a badass who can't be fcked with, as shown through her actions, attitude
and entire BEING, then in a climatic moment where she can finally be a badass assassin and take
her revenge which is literally her entire life's motive she backs out WTF and everyone around be
like are you sure you wanna do this sweaty? Like yes this has been the whole point of the book???
Don't back out and fail at making her a sympathetic, good hearted knight now. It's a bit late for
that.
- everyone was out here rlly mad at the over use of strange, nonsensical metaphors... but I actually
like them? I think I found them campy and fun, really stressing the overall grim world
where people's appearances can be described as a FRESH SUICIDE like come on that's hilarious
and kinda cool.
- at the time I found the whole betrayal of those two siblings kinda weird and random? Idk. But I
guess it makes sense since their dad was low key screwed over by the assassin thang, but also he
served like his whole life there? Idk I think there just needed to be more hints and build up of
their motives to betray Mia and the entire institution.
- Tric's death was rlly out here just so Mia could be angsty. Right? U can't tell me I'm wrong :( he
had some actual interesting motives and story :( bring him back :(
- also Mia was rlly THICK and I mean in the head. dude. She rlly was that shallow to think Tric was
mad at her for some top secret reason he wouldn't share WHEN HE WAS UPSET ABOUT THEM
TAKING HIS TATTOOS WHICH WAS HAPPENNING IN LIKE THE NEXT FEW HOURS. Girl grow a
brain, they had legit already had a little convo about this but nah she had to push him to tell her
what was wrong even tho it was so bloody obvious like a FRESH SUICIDE aha I get it Jay. It's fun.
- oof not a fan of the footnotes. And I am one who can't skip content but bro. I had to. Just personal
preference.
- also why the consistent flashbacks and then like 0 by half way through? ummmmmmmmmm. I
didn't like them that much anyway but it was weird
- the ending was also a bit rushed for me, espiecally when you have so much build up and
consistent world building and then just ATTAC, BETRAY, PROTEC, ATTAC, MIA IS SPECIAL,
DEATHHH in the last like 30 pages. Choices. It was just jarring, not necessarily bad.
In conclusion, some choices were made that would've disappointed Mr. Ramsay if this book were a cake. However, most comes down to personal preference. However again, some of it was just weird inconsistences with motive and characters that I feel should've been picked up on? However again again, I may continue as I rlly like the concept and the world, and apparently most of the weird shit gets fixed. So... 2.5 idiot sandwiches out of 5 (more idiot sandwiches the worse, I don't make the rules, Gordon does).
So it took a quick minute to get into this read, I was like ok cool cool, assassin story - yes - taking revenge for her Familia's death - yes - political intrigue - yas - grim dark - yas. She had the ingredients to concoct a delicious, scrumptious cake. However, the flavours are slightly off. The undertones a little too strong. Would Gordon Ramsay be disappointed? I can't speak for him, not only is he Gordon Ramsey, but a book is not a cake. It just made for an ok METAPHOR (ahhhhh great foreshadowing).
So I really loved:
- the world, she was gorgeous with all the death goddesses, a gritty, gross scumbag city which I
can't recall the name of at this second lmao.
- the politics, she was spicy
- murder mystery thingy that went down (the tension)
- THE BLOOD MAGIC THAT WAS SICK ALSO ADONAI AND HIS SISTER THAT WAS EVERYTHING. I is
sucker for vampire boi who's skin is that of a FRESH SUICIDE (more foreshadowing oOoo)
- the dude who had the same shadowy powers as Mia, he was really intriguing (he does fkn die
before all the spice can be sucked out of his character but I'll get over it. maybe). Also I read this
like a month or two ago I can't remember details, not sorry
- the blood and gore YES
- I actually rlly loved the prologue that everyone hated. It was cool, with the shifting perspectives and situations, I was just upset I didn't get more of this edginess throughout and yeah I agree it was a little nonsensical... but, in a cool way.
She was a choice:
- Mia being built up as a badass who can't be fcked with, as shown through her actions, attitude
and entire BEING, then in a climatic moment where she can finally be a badass assassin and take
her revenge which is literally her entire life's motive she backs out WTF and everyone around be
like are you sure you wanna do this sweaty? Like yes this has been the whole point of the book???
Don't back out and fail at making her a sympathetic, good hearted knight now. It's a bit late for
that.
- everyone was out here rlly mad at the over use of strange, nonsensical metaphors... but I actually
like them? I think I found them campy and fun, really stressing the overall grim world
where people's appearances can be described as a FRESH SUICIDE like come on that's hilarious
and kinda cool.
- at the time I found the whole betrayal of those two siblings kinda weird and random? Idk. But I
guess it makes sense since their dad was low key screwed over by the assassin thang, but also he
served like his whole life there? Idk I think there just needed to be more hints and build up of
their motives to betray Mia and the entire institution.
- Tric's death was rlly out here just so Mia could be angsty. Right? U can't tell me I'm wrong :( he
had some actual interesting motives and story :( bring him back :(
- also Mia was rlly THICK and I mean in the head. dude. She rlly was that shallow to think Tric was
mad at her for some top secret reason he wouldn't share WHEN HE WAS UPSET ABOUT THEM
TAKING HIS TATTOOS WHICH WAS HAPPENNING IN LIKE THE NEXT FEW HOURS. Girl grow a
brain, they had legit already had a little convo about this but nah she had to push him to tell her
what was wrong even tho it was so bloody obvious like a FRESH SUICIDE aha I get it Jay. It's fun.
- oof not a fan of the footnotes. And I am one who can't skip content but bro. I had to. Just personal
preference.
- also why the consistent flashbacks and then like 0 by half way through? ummmmmmmmmm. I
didn't like them that much anyway but it was weird
- the ending was also a bit rushed for me, espiecally when you have so much build up and
consistent world building and then just ATTAC, BETRAY, PROTEC, ATTAC, MIA IS SPECIAL,
DEATHHH in the last like 30 pages. Choices. It was just jarring, not necessarily bad.
In conclusion, some choices were made that would've disappointed Mr. Ramsay if this book were a cake. However, most comes down to personal preference. However again, some of it was just weird inconsistences with motive and characters that I feel should've been picked up on? However again again, I may continue as I rlly like the concept and the world, and apparently most of the weird shit gets fixed. So... 2.5 idiot sandwiches out of 5 (more idiot sandwiches the worse, I don't make the rules, Gordon does).
canadianbookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
This is a reread. I just love this book so much
leo_the_first's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so f***ing good!
It takes a few pages to get used to the writing style, but once you're used to it it takes the book to a whole new level.
It's hard to review it without getting into spoilers. And that's why I'll stop my review here, with a recommendation: read the book!
Jay, you did it again! One more of your books goes to my favorites shelf.
It takes a few pages to get used to the writing style, but once you're used to it it takes the book to a whole new level.
It's hard to review it without getting into spoilers. And that's why I'll stop my review here, with a recommendation: read the book!
Jay, you did it again! One more of your books goes to my favorites shelf.