styxx's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Murder
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
swampkun's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thought this book was a great cozy end-of-summer read, though at times it felt slow and the dialogue unrealistic, as if striving for poetic over believable. But the writing style is compelling, and I enjoyed the way the writer explored fate through the lens of grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide
Constant mentions of grief over the death of a parent throughout. There are frequent mentions of murder and manslaughter, and a scene of a death by poisoning is depicted. A character’s suicide is mentioned in passing.lizzym126's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Classism, Death, Toxic friendship, Blood, Car accident, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
mel024's review
dark
informative
mysterious
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
3.25
hmm. hard to say how i feel about this book!! it felt very very derivative
of every other quote unquote dark academia book out there, but that possibly says more about the genre itself than this book in particular. the books greatest strength was also its biggest failure; the mysticism inherent in the tarot never felt real, even though Hays painstakingly explained what they meant. any mentions of ann feeling a sense of magic or power was noted in past tense, as afterthoughts. it simply failed to live up to the expectations it set for itself in the mysticism. the characters were interesting, albeit incredibly tropey — there’s not much original about the woof ok writing that out just made me knock my review down from 3.5 to 3.25. not a bad read by any means, but let’s just say i was glad i got this from the library and didn’t waste money on it
of every other quote unquote dark academia book out there, but that possibly says more about the genre itself than this book in particular. the books greatest strength was also its biggest failure; the mysticism inherent in the tarot never felt real, even though Hays painstakingly explained what they meant. any mentions of ann feeling a sense of magic or power was noted in past tense, as afterthoughts. it simply failed to live up to the expectations it set for itself in the mysticism. the characters were interesting, albeit incredibly tropey — there’s not much original about the
Spoiler
spoiled heiress turned cold blooded killer, the ambiguously brown manual laborer who never stays on the right side of the law, and the pervy academic praying on younger students.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Murder
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder
libraryofmoss's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Death of parent
gardens_and_dragons's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dark academia will always be my favourite genre and this story is a good example. It’s a really good debut for the author and excited to see where she goes with it.
the atmosphere of the Met was filled with claustrophobia and mystery, the history of the tarot was interesting, and the characters suffer from their own hubris. it ticks all the boxes for a dark academia.
I liked that there was always a push or pull on whether things are orchestrated or designed by fate here.
Mostly did not rate it higher though I enjoyed it because the ending felt like it could have been a bit more expansive.
the atmosphere of the Met was filled with claustrophobia and mystery, the history of the tarot was interesting, and the characters suffer from their own hubris. it ticks all the boxes for a dark academia.
I liked that there was always a push or pull on whether things are orchestrated or designed by fate here.
Mostly did not rate it higher though I enjoyed it because the ending felt like it could have been a bit more expansive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Drug use
Moderate: Murder and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
lindsayerin's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide
shaylac's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this book up because it has everything that I enjoy reading, suspense, mystery, history, mysticism, and a little bit of romance. I'd have to say that the first half of the book had me intrigued and kept my attention with the character/plot building and learning the history of tarot cards. But once I got to the middle/second half of the book, my interest and intrigue started to wane and the plot started to lose my interest.
I did find the ended to be quite a plot twist though that I actually enjoyed and didn't feel like the book left you on a cliffhanger.
I did find the ended to be quite a plot twist though that I actually enjoyed and didn't feel like the book left you on a cliffhanger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Toxic friendship
speedofhuman's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I found the book hard to put down, the research and tarot information was much more compelling to me than the murder mysteries woven around them. The male character’s behavior towards the women was pretty stereotypical and I found them to be somewhat flat — I could have lived without any of the romantic bits added in TBH.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
zosiablue's review
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tarot, art history, intrigue! And a love letter to NYC (The Cloisters is a really museum.) The art and divinity bits were fascinating, the relationships well done, and the murdery bits unnecessary and not that believable. There was so much juiciness here that the plot didn't need the extra layer. Super fun. And now I want to go to The Cloisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse