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A review by cassreadsforever
City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards
3.0
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded down due to length of the novel)
If you liked the following, you will probably like this book:
- Crescent City
- Shadowhunters
My favorite elements: I love a good high urban fantasy book. Put us in NYC and you almost immediately lose me. The beginning of this novel throws you in the thick of the action in a club where our MC human is being harassed. We exit into the demon ridden city and our MC and her friends are attacked by Darkslayers who do not belong to a Darkslayer circle. I loved the first 50% of this novel. There is so much tension between the MC, Loren, and Darien. Let us talk about, Darien. I love this man. He is my favorite version of morally grey, aka "I'm morally grey but I don't really want to be that way, but I can't stop." I was and am still ecstatic over the diabetes and anxiety representation in this book. As somone with chronic illness, I was shocked to see a checkup appointment. Regardless of if it felt like filler, this scene made an impact on me.
My criticisms: This book was a smidge bit on the long side at 750+ pages. It dragged quite a bit after the initial 50%. The front half had me very attached to all the characters and once we got further into the story, I was growing tired of nothing particularly happening in between the action scenes. I hate the book research scenes, I don't know but this always feels like a cop out for filling plot holes. The world building was a bit too complex and I'm not sure I retained what a Darkslayer is regardless of how many times the word was used. I can give you a jargon filled definition which isn't helpful...
Will I finish the series?
I will be finishing the series regardless of the latter half of the novel.
Tropes:
- Mental Health Conditions Representation
- Disability Representation - Diabetes
- Grumpy/Sunshine Relationship
- VERY slow burn
- Tall, dark, and brooding
- Dark Academia
- Supernatural City
- Morally grey love interest
- "Touch her, you die"
Favorite quote(s)
- "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
If you liked the following, you will probably like this book:
- Crescent City
- Shadowhunters
My favorite elements: I love a good high urban fantasy book. Put us in NYC and you almost immediately lose me. The beginning of this novel throws you in the thick of the action in a club where our MC human is being harassed. We exit into the demon ridden city and our MC and her friends are attacked by Darkslayers who do not belong to a Darkslayer circle. I loved the first 50% of this novel. There is so much tension between the MC, Loren, and Darien. Let us talk about, Darien. I love this man. He is my favorite version of morally grey, aka "I'm morally grey but I don't really want to be that way, but I can't stop." I was and am still ecstatic over the diabetes and anxiety representation in this book. As somone with chronic illness, I was shocked to see a checkup appointment. Regardless of if it felt like filler, this scene made an impact on me.
My criticisms: This book was a smidge bit on the long side at 750+ pages. It dragged quite a bit after the initial 50%. The front half had me very attached to all the characters and once we got further into the story, I was growing tired of nothing particularly happening in between the action scenes. I hate the book research scenes, I don't know but this always feels like a cop out for filling plot holes. The world building was a bit too complex and I'm not sure I retained what a Darkslayer is regardless of how many times the word was used. I can give you a jargon filled definition which isn't helpful...
Will I finish the series?
I will be finishing the series regardless of the latter half of the novel.
Tropes:
- Mental Health Conditions Representation
- Disability Representation - Diabetes
- Grumpy/Sunshine Relationship
- VERY slow burn
- Tall, dark, and brooding
- Dark Academia
- Supernatural City
- Morally grey love interest
- "Touch her, you die"
Favorite quote(s)
- "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."