now_booking's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
This was amazingly brilliant. I’m no stranger to this author’s work being a fan of the Psy-Changeling series. But even that took me a couple of years to get into. Bookish friends on Bookstagram have been trying to get me to try this series for years but when I saw that the first 2-3 books featured the same main characters, I didn’t think I would like it. I was wrong! I definitely need more of Elena and Raphael! The chemistry is fantastic, the banter entertaining, the world building fabulous, the action explosive, the secondary characters compelling, the lead characters, well-developped and intriguing and leaving you wanting to know more about them. For such a well-developed world, the story never felt draggy as first books in these sorts of fantasy series can be. I can’t wait to start the next book- this was an unexpected delight!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Death of parent, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual violence
josefiend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
2.0
Unfortunately, while the cast of this book is diverse, this book is full of racist/fetishizing language. A lot using food to describe skin color as well as flagrant use of the word “exotic.” There was also groundwork for some racist character archetypes, though I’m assuming you’d have to keep reading this series to see if those come to their typical end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Gore
bookwyrmknits's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This is an enjoyable book (I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime to binge-read most of it) but it got a bit more gory than I was ready for in places. I guess "angel serial killer" should have been a clue about that. Still, the characters—especially the side characters—were fun to read about
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gore, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Vomit
More...