Scan barcode
bookbelle5_17's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
Review of One for my Enemy
By: Olivie Blake
Two witch families, both alike in magic, in dangerous Manhattan we lay our scene. From ancient rivalry, results a new war for power where wicked deals make wicked hands unclean. From forth the heirs of these two witches, two pairs of rivaled lovers are forced to make a sacrifice.
This is a paranormal retelling of Romeo and Juliet that was sexy and exciting as the next generation must bear the burden of their parent’s greed. Blake creates several characters that each have their own personalities, but because Blake only wanted to focus certain a lot of the other characters suffered lack of development. The romances were enjoyable to read, and the sexy times aren’t two graphic. Sasha was my favorite of the sisters. I was disappointed by the Fae, Byrn, who was introduced as someone playing both sides. He is implied as half human and half Fae, but he came as a weak and passive character, just sassy. He doesn’t have much power, and the witches have more power that he covets. I know the author wanted to focus on the witches being the dangerous ones, but I guess I’m used to Fae having more power than humans. There is drug use with characters selling drug that causes hallucinations and puts you in euphoric state of mind. There is also violence, because this is a mafic type of story but with witches and magic. I liked the references to Russian mythology and fairytales combined with the retelling of the famous Shakespeare play. There’s a lot of clever ways Blake pays homage to the original Shakespeare play, but if you’ve never read or seen Romeo and Juliet you can still enjoy this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
thehannahclaire's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
cortanasreadingnook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Every piece of you, body and soul, remembers what it is to love me, don’t they? Whether your heart is in your chest or not. I know you do, because I do.”
One For My Enemy is an alluring and equally gut-wrenching retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette. This is a beautiful modern standalone adult fantasy that focuses on wicked magic and an enticing web of love strung by rivalry and politics.
This was my first Olivie Blake book and I have no idea why it took me this long to pick up her books, because I’m pretty sure this pulled me back into reading after a slump. The chemistry between the characters was so deliciously wicked that I couldn’t put it down. I just adore it when men are down bad, devoted to their women and both levsasha and mashadima SERVED. The plot of this book was messy yet clever and intricate, accentuating how staggering formidable women are. I can definitely say this is a retelling well-done. I expected the ending, yet at the same time it broke my heart that sacrifices had to be made and secrets were undone. Yet, we still reached a perfect conclusion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
chasinggrace's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.75
I cried - a lot. If you’re a sucker for all-consuming declarations of love, this is your book. Knowing that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling didn’t make it any less hurtful!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i liked the idea of the book, and i liked some of the characters, it was an interesting take in romeo and juliet. my only issues were:
1. i wasn’t a fan of the narrator of the audiobook and
2. there wasn’t much plot, it was just a lot of dialog that wasn’t going anywhere
that being said there were some very poetic moments in the author’s writing. overall i liked it
1. i wasn’t a fan of the narrator of the audiobook and
2. there wasn’t much plot, it was just a lot of dialog that wasn’t going anywhere
that being said there were some very poetic moments in the author’s writing. overall i liked it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and Torture
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
What a fantastic roller coaster of a book. The plot drove relentlessly forward, the main cast of characters were clearly outlined from the beginning but were filled in as the story progressed, and the foreboding air of tragedy hung above the whole time but didn’t fall predictably. It really did feel like reading a tragic play; the focus was entirely on the characters and their relationships and histories and the worldbuilding really only consisted of “vaguely moody New York City but with some witchcraft”. I didn’t mind the sparse setting details seeing as the plot was so active I never felt bored. The stakes were high and the tensions were higher and I enjoyed watching things fall apart and get rebuilt as everything spiraled into tragedy.
Read if you like dramatic tragedies with both poetic speeches and also realistic dialogue.
Read if you like dramatic tragedies with both poetic speeches and also realistic dialogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
e_riahh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Lovers to enemies. Enemies to lovers.
A modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling complete with family drama and forbidden relationships, plus quite a few twists thrown into the mix. The story revolves around two powerful witch clans who have been rivals for over a decade: the Antonovas and the Fedorovs.
The characters felt realistic, multi-faceted, and thankfully, developed without being entirely predictable. Which was great, especially since I’m not a huge play-lover so the characters are ultimately what kept me tuned in. But I did enjoy being surprised multiple times for a retelling!
This is my third book by Blake and each time I’m reminded that I love how she writes—always so poetic.
A modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling complete with family drama and forbidden relationships, plus quite a few twists thrown into the mix. The story revolves around two powerful witch clans who have been rivals for over a decade: the Antonovas and the Fedorovs.
The characters felt realistic, multi-faceted, and thankfully, developed without being entirely predictable. Which was great, especially since I’m not a huge play-lover so the characters are ultimately what kept me tuned in. But I did enjoy being surprised multiple times for a retelling!
This is my third book by Blake and each time I’m reminded that I love how she writes—always so poetic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
mrs_bastos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
karenreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Olivie Blake, what have you done to me? You took me on a roller coaster ride and broke my heart and pieced it together and broke it again. Over and over.
The foundation of this story was Romeo and Juliet, but this is a story completely on its own, though it is enhanced by the comparisons with the play.
Back stabbing and betrayal, loyalty and family, and love. So much contained within these pages. I cried. I underlined and annotated so many pages.
The foundation of this story was Romeo and Juliet, but this is a story completely on its own, though it is enhanced by the comparisons with the play.
Back stabbing and betrayal, loyalty and family, and love. So much contained within these pages. I cried. I underlined and annotated so many pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting