Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

306 reviews

alissa2023's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lululobbesreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

It was a Roller-coaster for sure. The MMC and FMC are amazing but seriously flawed and morally grey yet they work well together.

This book has a lot of action, twists, turns and gives you the "should I like you vibes".

If you like vampires with hunger game trials then this is for you!

Spice: 4 : Innuendos,  sexual thoughts/desires, open door scenes.

Language: 3 : F word is a constant by the FMC and MMC. Use of own world cussing.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

stephreads214's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? No

5.0

Hunger Games with adults and gods and vampires meets Underworld. I loved this book so much. There was never a dull moment. Something was always constantly happening. Didn’t know if I was going to throw up or cry half the time. But I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Bravo! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cersmessenger's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

readbyjaimes's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

Lovedddd this book! So glad I went back to read it after DNF-ing last year. I related a lot to Oraya in a lot of different ways and thought that she was so strong. And I loved Raihn
he’s gonna have to work hardddd to get back in my good graces though.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lubelle867's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked learning all the world lore and I enjoyed the characters. I also LOVE a grumpy FMC.

If you like vampires and hungergames(ish) tournaments, you will most likely enjoy this book.

I was NOT expecting the plot twist at the end. As someone who can usually predict the ending, especially in romantasy books, it was nice to be shocked 😂

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cecez_libraryy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

readwithmesashamarie's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

4.5

January 2025 Book Club Pick
 
Thank you to my public library for a free copy of this book in exchange for literally nothing (except the expectation that the book would be returned in the same physical state it was checked out in).

You know the feeling when you start a new fantasy series, and you just know this story, these characters, this setting, is about to consume your entire life? Well I’ve been fighting off that feeling with a toothpick while reading this book because I CANNOT allow myself into a reading slump once I’ve finished the first three books in this series. All that to say: “Yeah, I enjoyed book one. What of it,” she said, feigning disinterest. 

I have mixed feelings about trials. Mostly because I’ve read so many of them. I like their predictability mixed with huge spikes of anxieties (yes, plural, I have many). I never know the outcomes but I can always anticipate that there will be another scheduled trial until the competition is over, or our character dies. Which is unlikely…seeing as they are what’s moving us through the story. I guess I passively enjoyed the trials as a plot device in this novel, and appreciated that they helped split the book into sections.

Each section began with a little peek into our FMC’s past. With each new flashback we watched her grow up surrounded by predators. We watched her learn how to navigate her harsh and deadly reality of being a human in a world full of vampires, which led, in some cases, to even more dire consequences. Despite being a total badass, our FMC only views herself as weak and as prey. It’s that mindset that has kept her alive and helped her hone her hunting skills, but one of my favorite moments in this novel was when the MMC reminded her of her strength. Her turning into a vampire would make her stronger physically, but her true strength came from how she had survived already just as herself. 

This first novel had a pretty small core cast of characters. We learn the most about our FMC and MMC and one or two additional characters who are in their orbit at different periods throughout the book. However due to the trials we got a broader view into the other key players of this world. There are multiple breeds of vampires, various stages of class or wealth, and humans who are lucky to simply be alive. We are also introduced to a cast of gods and goddesses for whom the trials take place.

Overall I enjoyed this story. There is a staggering amount of violence against our characters and committed by them. If you’re even slightly squeamish this book will not sit well with you. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m working on my own fantasy novel, or if it’s my autistic pattern recognition, but none of the big twists, turns, or reveals were shocking to me. I had already predicted who our FMC and MMC were around one hundred pages into the book and got to enjoy watching how the author pulled it off as the story progressed. I think it’s worth mentioning because I can’t be certain it’s for the reasons listed, or if others also found this predictable. Either way, I’m nervously anticipating what high jinx these characters will get into in the next book. 


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sophieseltz's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny tense medium-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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

stuffed_with_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I like the moon trials concept and creative world-building of the book. I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, and the twist at the end was satisfying. It felt, however, like the FMC was too easily forgiving the MMC when he hadn't earned it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings