Reviews with content warning for Murder - Vraja oaselor sub clar de lună

I appreciated the unique concept of this story. However, I feel like there was not as much character development as I would have hoped. There is a strong female friendship at the forefront of the story. Despite enjoying the strong friendship, the romance lacked development. I like Bastien and Ailesse as individual characters, and the romance between them had potential but felt rushed. I would have preferred waiting until the next book for them to get together. It would have allowed the tension between them to build and given them more time to get to know each other better. The side characters are likable, but I just didn't feel invested enough in the story to continue reading the sequel. Overall, if you want an easy to get through adventure story that's easy to get through, this might be enjoyable for you.

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just_an_avocado's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is everything I wanted and expected, plus so much more!
The progression of Bastien and Ailesse’s relationship is perfect. I love enemies to lovers when it’s done well, and this was definitely one of those times. I think they’re personalities perfectly complement each other, and the way they so gradually and reluctantly fall for each other is so well-executed and believable.
I also really enjoyed the lore and magic of this world! The concept of the souls of the dead being a color regular human eyes can’t see and the grace bones of birds giving the Leuress the ability to see that color is so clever and unique! Plus the grace bones are such an interesting and cool idea themselves! Killing animals to receive their special abilities by wearing their bones but only receiving those graces if the kill is honorably performed and with pure intentions is just amazing, though killing animals is never exactly pleasant to think or read about.
The mythology and gods of this world is super interesting, too. The story of Tyrus and Elara’s love, their banishment from one other, and the resulting Underworld and Paradise, plus the connection between the myth and the main plot, was so fascinating to observe.
Also, there are some plot twists that I did not see coming that really took this book to the next level and made it something so unique! I loved this so much and can’t wait for the sequel!

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spearly's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I picture a bridge and the girl I’ll kill there. Any Bone Crier will do. They’re all murderers. I’ll take what they stole from me, my father’s life for one of their own.
Nine more days, Bastien. Then my father will be at peace. I’ll be at peace. I can’t imagine the feeling.

There's a terrible price to pay for the ancient magic that allows Ailesse and the rest of her clan to ferry the dead to their final resting place. Girls must lure their soulmate to a bridge with a siren song and kill him with a bone-carved knife. Ailesse, the heir to her clan, plans to do just that... until her soulmate arrives, ready to kill her instead.

I enjoyed this fantasy a lore more than some other fantasy series. I think I've read enough fae lore to last me a lifetime (I get it, they have big dicks). The world building wasn't too in-your-face - as in, I didn't suffer through hundreds of pages trying to make sense of the world - and the story itself was pretty interesting. It's no secret that enemies to lovers is a god-tier trope, and this definitely took it to the next level; I mean, come on. The first time Ailesse and Bastien meet, they literally try to kill each other.

Except.. Purdie included some time jumps (of about 2 weeks or so) twice in the novel, and I feel like we lost some of the relationship development in the process. We have these 2 people, each plotting to find a way to kill the other, and then time jump they are sharing soft looks, acting all awkward around each other, barely resisting the urge to just make out. idk. I feel like the book would have benefitted from a biiiit more of a slow burn. I wanted to see Bastien really battle with himself over his emerging feelings for Ailesse, considering her kind literally murdered his father. I wanted to see Ailesse struggle to unlearn everything her mother has taught her about her right of passage. There was no... angst. I don't want peace.... I want PROBLEMS, ALWAYS.

The side characters were great though. Or, I guess Sabine doesn't really count as a side character seeing as the story is literally told partially from her POV, but she's a side character in my eyes because y'all know I just read this for the romance. I loved her strength. The way she resolved to set aside her own insecurities to save her best friend. The way she, too, had to steel herself against the tradition that has been ingrained in her since she was born.

Marcel was adorable. He really balanced out the tension of the story with her earnestness. Jules... well, I hated her. lmao. I see where she's coming from (considering she, too, lost her father to the Bone Criers, and is own her own quest of revenge), but still. That girl is dumb. Literally,

the boy she loves is surrounded by an invisible enemy that only Ailesse can defeat, and she STEALS Ailesse's grace bones and the bone flute??? When she KNOWS she needs them to get rid of said invisible enemy?? I get why she did it (rather, I get that she thought she had reason to do it), but GIRL. Read the ROOM. Priorities, you know?

And honestly istfg if we have a love triangle for book two... we riot at dawn. Hey, fantasy writers! You can write a fantasy book that doesn't have a needless love triangle!! I believe in you! But hey... if she's aiming for a love <i>square</i>... I can get behind that.

I think I'd really like to read a fantasy where the women fight in fucking PANTS. Seriously. The Loreal (jk it's the Leuress(es?)) are a magical clan of literally ALL WOMEN who are BADASS and FIGHT and have an ancient purpose and they still wear dresses? nAH.

I will definitely be picking up book 2, but for the record, I think this book could have made a really strong standalone if Purdie had decided to wrap things up. I can think of plenty of ways this story could have been self-contained within one slightly longer novel, and I also think it could have been even stronger. Alas, I am not the author, so the point is moot.

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book_banter's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-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? No

4.0

I couldn’t put this book down. I finished it in 3 days! Overall, really neat world building, pretty unique premise, and I loved the relationship between the two female protagonists.
The ending felt a bit rushed and I really wanted the romance(s) to be more diverse.
I’ve preordered the sequel.

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