i had such a struggle in the beginning, the author really threw us into deep water and expect us to swim and initially, i drowned. the 2.5 to 3 stars?
i had such a struggle in the beginning, the author really threw us into deep water and expect us to swim and initially, i drowned. the world building was dense, with words and names thrown left and right and we are expected to put them together. i read the first three chapters in 3 days and got headache after each reading session. it was... bad. and i almost dnf'ed but then i saw people having the same experience still enjoyed it so i persist.
and it finally clicked for me, at around 88 or 90 pages in and it's smooth sailing since then. however, i saw some people saying the payoff wasn't worth it and i have to say... i agree. while i enjoyed figuring out who did it, i felt like the reveal was anticlimactic. for a story set in a dual timeline, the past timeline also ended anticlimactically. i was expecting more betrayal or a deeper relationship between the people, but all i can feel for is kai and ziede. many things are still left unclear, such as how bashasa fate's ended, what will happen next, and that one demon escape. i like the characters and the plot enough, but it feels like we are just skimming the surface. the resolution and the world building in general are just not for me. ...more
some incoherent thoughts: - it's still some form of romeo-incarnate that cause all the trouble, but i'm glad the story doesn't focus on him. it's refresome incoherent thoughts: - it's still some form of romeo-incarnate that cause all the trouble, but i'm glad the story doesn't focus on him. it's refreshing to see it focuses on other couples, with the same circumstances - i think it's a really great retelling, incorporating the og shakespeare elements and some slavic stories. i like the world building and i highly recommend it reading during a rainy night, with some city streetlights shining on you because it made it so much more atmospheric! - the characters are differentiable from each other, but blurred with other similar characters from other retellings (i.e. deathless by catherynne valente). idk it seems like there's a formula in writing slavic-inspired retellings character, from their characterization to their hardened but fairytale quality they have? - this one unfortunately falls to the same trap of chloe gong's these violent delights: while i love the writing, there are to many emotionals exposition rather than world building exposition or other exposition that moves the plot forward. it certainly drives the emotion and angst home, but i do wish some parts of it to be shortened - the plotting and elements of power wielded and stored until the right time was perfection - i truly wish we got to know more of the antonova sisters. it feels like we know all the fedorov brothers well, but for the antonovas we only know marya and sasha - it wasn't as devastating as i hoped it would be, but it was a great read to lose yourself in!...more
**spoiler alert** If I wasn't so busy, I could probably read this in one sitting because it was such a great story!
As always, the writing is very viv**spoiler alert** If I wasn't so busy, I could probably read this in one sitting because it was such a great story!
As always, the writing is very vivid and descriptive, it was very atmospheric and easy to relate with both Prosper and Alastor's feelings. Prosper got a bit overshined by the other characters, but he definitely had a lot of growth throughout the story, and I'm glad he stayed true to his compassionate self. His and Alastor's relationship grew to a tenuous alliance but it's really fun to see them work together and see how much the resemble each other, with Prosper doing grey things and Alastor saving Prosper multiple times.
I'm glad we had more time exploring Alastor and Honor's relationship, seeing how much Honor evolved and how much Alastor felt for him. This book also showed Alastor in a more older and mature way, less petulant and more ancient as the creature that he is. Learning about the fiends realm history, his relationship with his family and especially Pyra, as well as with Honor Redding really gave more depth to his character.
I also really enjoyed the side characters, how much we see Nell and the witches shone, as well as Zachariah and the Ancients. I do think Prue was underdeveloped but with the amount of new characters shoved at us in the last third of the book, it was understandable. I like how the final showdown went down and how it was resolved, especially how the townspeople wasn't made to forget and instead let to know the whole truth. I do think this book is waay too long at 400+ pages, but overall it was a satisfying ending!...more
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I tried so hard to like this one, but I just couldn't.
Pros: - The setting, theI received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I tried so hard to like this one, but I just couldn't.
Pros: - The setting, the atmosphere, the coven history & rules and the political climate. The writing was very atmospheric and I really enjoyed the setting, of an island full of witches separated from the mainlanders, how the history and rules and political settings are tied to it and the story's impact.
Cons: - Our main character, Tana, was very sheltered, selfish, and gullible. She had ONE job out of her place as the leader's daughter, the culmination of work of centuries of existence, but she couldn't even do that right and decided to throw it away for some guy she just met, who insulted and look down on her all the time. And she had the audacity to feel betrayed by her mom bc she didn't tell her everything, knowing full well she had no relevance or work to do related to the secrets of the coven. She just feels entitled to know because she's daughter of the leader, but doesn't want to pull the weight of her duty. - The insta-love is heaaavy in this one. There is no chemistry or whatsoever with Wolfe, our main love interest. They just met for one night, they insulted and look down on each other and their choices, and suddenly they're in loooove unable to forget each other. At least with Landon, as bland as he was, Tana was actually having an open, honest, and respectful conversation, as disappointing as that might be. And Landon was actually a decent guy too- I was hoping for a twist, for him to be actually evil, but nope he's actually just too good, stable, and secure for Tana apparently. I just couldn't understand and see the chemistry with Wolfe, especially with how demanding and never asking for Tana's input he was. - Everything was underdeveloped tbh. As I mentioned there's a lot of potential in terms of the setting and the plot, but it was overshadowed by the underdeveloped romance and characters. Even the side characters, like Ivy and Tana's parents who actually have much potential, are just sort of being there without any point to further the plot. - Which brings me to my final point, the plot was underdeveloped and felt pointless. The ending solved nothing of the issues faced by the Covens and how they're perceived by the mainland, we didn't see whether the proposed solution actually work and who will form the alliance (though I suspect it might be Ivy). The whole plot/book was just a romance between Tana and Wolfe, nothing more for the plot.
I was going to give this book 1.5-2 stars, but the more I think about it the more I grew to dislike it ...more
Ending 2022 and starting 2023 with a disappointing book :/ Winterwood has great writing and atmospheric setting, but the tension felt flat, the connecEnding 2022 and starting 2023 with a disappointing book :/ Winterwood has great writing and atmospheric setting, but the tension felt flat, the connections between the main characters are nonexistent and very insta-love, and the main characters felt very passive. The writing conveys the cold of the setting and the loneliness/isolation Nora felt really well, but at the same time it's quite obvious that the loneliness is partly because Nora isolates herself. She never gave friendship a chance (not even with Suzy but instantly with Oliver lol) and unable to speak about things normally (like instead of saying "the forest doesn't like it", she can say "lighting bonfire too close the forest can cause forest fire" or something).
I enjoyed the vibe but overall felt quite frustrated and impatient with the whole story. It was beautiful, it was haunting, but it felt like it has no emotion (except for loneliness)....more
I'm sad to report I enjoyed it less than the first book. Maybe it's because when I first started it, I was in the middle of a slump, but it's also becI'm sad to report I enjoyed it less than the first book. Maybe it's because when I first started it, I was in the middle of a slump, but it's also because it took so much longer for Gwen and Wells to get together and the banter wasn't as funny. The atmosphere and the chemistry was great though, and I enjoyed the second half more!...more
Really quick, but very cozy and magical. I love how the chapters feel like a stream of conciousness, it's really easy to read. This book make me realiReally quick, but very cozy and magical. I love how the chapters feel like a stream of conciousness, it's really easy to read. This book make me realize how much I love books about family and sisterhood, the bond the Owen women has is really strong! I especially love Sally's first memory of meeting the Aunts and the Aunts recollection on how accepting the girls have changed their life trajectories. ...more
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING OMG. well developed characters, smoldering romance, tight knit community and family, as well as struggles being lgbt+ in a communTHIS BOOK IS AMAZING OMG. well developed characters, smoldering romance, tight knit community and family, as well as struggles being lgbt+ in a community that holds fast to their tradition- all explored really well without sacrificing the other element!
Can you tell this is going to be one of my favorite book of 2020 ...more
Perfect conclusion to the series! It is filled with angst and tension, also amazing action and plot. While it is filled withActual rating: 4.5/5 stars
Perfect conclusion to the series! It is filled with angst and tension, also amazing action and plot. While it is filled with romance, it never truly take over the storyline!
The final battle was a bit anticlimactic and I find it was focusing on some unecessary details at times. But overall, this is a solid YA series....more
This book has no business being 530+ pages. When you already stretching out a duology into a trilogy, you already grasping for plot and words to fill This book has no business being 530+ pages. When you already stretching out a duology into a trilogy, you already grasping for plot and words to fill the pages. Forcing it to be around 500 pages made it worse.
Don't get me wrong, there are some enjoyable things from this book. Maybe because I had such a low expectations from this book (I've seen so many people DNF-ing it), but there are, surprisingly, things that happen in this book. But the pacing and the plotting... you feel the length. You feel the slog. You feel the desperation to clock the 500 pages mark. There is no need for the first part where they camped to be 100 pages-ish before they moved out. There is no need for numerous flashback dialogue or scenes every time our character remember something. We were there, we remember what Reid or Lou said thank you very much.
Editors and agent should do their job better in general, especially if they know the book doesn't have enough substance to be this long.
I love the new characters and the new lore woven into the story and I do wish we get to know them better. Instead, we are shoved with Lou and Reid, who became even clearer in this book that they had no compatibility beside their sizzling physical chemistry. Their characters are just fundamentally too different, they are considerate of each other but just can't trust each other enough. They can say whatever, but they don't trust each other especially in fights, which caused one of them to be distracted and ended up in a danger that requires saving. Repeat 100x. Honestly. Lou can't trust that Reid, a captain of witch hunters can protect himself. Reid can't trust Lou, daughter of Morgane, can protect herself. They also can't communicate well, full of deflections and deterrents "to save each others' pain".
*eye rolls*
Story wise, I'm curious how this story will end and I will probably read the final book. But dang, that was a chore to get through. ...more
I received an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Cute and adorable with intriguing mystery and amazing representation! However I I received an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Cute and adorable with intriguing mystery and amazing representation! However I didn't really clicked with the art style and the plot was okay in the end....more
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