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eatallthestars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the characters and the plot kept me guessing. The constant perspective switching was also fun. The shakespeare/r+j references were also great.
My only complaint is that Olivia Blake’s writing can sometimes be too long and flowery. It’s lovely to read but sometimes I just want to read faster.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book has solid positives — rival families, Romeo & Juliet retelling without being too on the nose, fun family dynamics and pasts, and, of course, the pretty writing.
I especially enjoyed Mascha's character, who is just such a solid older sister: she makes wild choices for siblings, she's on the darker side of morally grey, would kill people for her mum but above all just loves her family, maybe a bit too much. We see a lot of her interactions with Sasha but I wish we would've seen more of the other sisters! There's seven of them and this book would've worked just as well with just Mascha and Sasha — a bit disappointing.
Sasha and Lev are the epitome of insta-love but this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, so I feel like I have to forgive Blake for that. They're both living and acting in the shadows of their parents and older siblings and while Dima and Mascha have the more fascinating plot, it still works out so well that Sasha and Lev are our protagonists.
It seems like the magic in this story is merely a side note, if it's not being used to bring everyone who dies back to life. Seriously. You thought SJM was bad? This is worse. I can't really feel sad for character deaths (of which there were many) when they all appear alive again in the next scene. But besides that? Some witch drugs and not much more witchy stuff.
Still, an engaging and fun story, which I wish would've been worked out a little bit more.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I would burn down the world for this love
Romeo & Juliet modern retelling with rival witch families.
Olivie Blake certainly knows how to write characters with depth and how to rip your heart out.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
midnightrose_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, and Alcohol
jessiereads98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Alcohol
2treads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What keeps pulling me back to Blake's stories is her unwavering willingness to make villains of both the good and the not-so-good. Evil is never clear cut with ther characters and I love that, because every one person has a certain level of complexity with a capacity for being evil. Everyone gets a chance to choose themselves, most times in a roundabout way and when they embrace it, it is great to see on the page.
With witches, fae, shadow creatures, and the living dead, One For My Enemy was quite enjoyable. From the very first unrequited love to the two that follow in the next generation, I was invested in this story of two families using their unique talents to build empires and garner power, to the deals made and unmade to undercut each other, to the banter and the constant plotting.
There isn't much world-building here as it is set in a fairly modern New York and I didn't mind in the least as it was the characters and their interactions that I was most interested in and that hooked me into the story.
And what intentions there were. All the plans that are dismantled and remade, the truths and lies that motivate, the loss and grief that begins to forge changes in all, but at the root of it, it was the loyalty to family and the greatest hurt that comes when one is betrayed by family, that remains with me.
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Misogyny