Reviews

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton

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erinreadsbooks's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a cute story but it felt a bit juvenile. The premise was cute—two friends secretly pining for each other are given a quest in a magical realm. But there were a few lingering errors (missing words, misused words) and the author was overly explanatory at times. It felt like the author was talking down to the reader. I liked the characters but apart from the two protagonists, everyone felt a bit flat.

Read if you like simple storytelling and cute YA romance.

joiceeg's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

quantumlilies's review

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

emsillay's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

girlbosslindsey's review against another edition

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probably could've given this a little bit more of a chance but. wasn't feeling it

bridget1499's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

The premise of this book is so cool, but the execution fell extremely flat. The author advances the plot using coincidences, luck, and by making all the characters super naive which doesn't fit well into a story about fae and theives, both of which are supposed to be cunning. The love between Esme and Sybil is also pretty one dimensional, and I found myself not really caring about either of them since they didn't seem like multidimensional characters. The book was entertaining enough to read completely, but I don't think I'll be reading much more from this author any time soon.

sdevine's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I have been waiting for this book for over a year like I added it on Goodreads before I even had a cover and unfortunately, I was so underwhelmed.

Sapphic, Friends to lovers romantansy with fae, a hidden world, and a Moulin Rouge vibe? Sign me up. I don’t know what I expected but this wasn’t quite it. I got through this pretty quick and I overall enjoyed the writing style however, all of the characters felt off. Not quite one dimensional but not fully formed either, somewhere in between. My favorite characters we only see briefly (Chloe (don’t have access to physical copy so I don’t remember the spelling I’m sorry!!), Hyacinth, and Lucien) and our two main characters are fine. But just fine.

I think the romance also felt a little odd because right from the start we know they’re in love with each other, clearly. They both think about it constantly and don’t get me wrong, I understand the pining for your best friend BUT I think it could’ve been done better. There wasn’t much tension between the girls and I think because you don’t get to see the build up of their relationship, it’s just kind of eh. Like happy for them but I also don’t really care? I al,almost cared more about their dream cottage and cozy life than what was happening in the moment.

Everything also felt like it wrapped up just a little too well. If this were marketed as a low-stakes heist type of cozy fantasy, I think I would’ve had different expectations. But to be fair, I actually haven’t seen much marketing for this at all, a mutual on booksta (@amodelwhosread) recommended it forever ago and I’ve had my eye on it since. I came across the arc on net-galley (shoutout to NG for the arc in exchange for an honest review btw) and that put it back on my radar.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It was fast paced, low stakes, and the world building was interesting enough. I’d love to read more set in this universe and will likely pick up more from this author! Would love a sequel heist to get our girl Chloe with Lucien involved too. Maybe a magic cat thrown in for funsies.

nataliemix's review

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this book singlehandedly put me in a reading slump

pepgiraffe's review

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No

1.75

I read this for book club and hated it. It is hard to believe that this isn't a debut novel. A lot of the concepts are interesting and if you can visualize things, it is gorgeous, but many of the main plot points are asinine.

It makes no sense that

Maeve would send someone in with no chance of getting the jewels.

I get that she was desperate, but the idea that

someone with no experience would be able to go to a different realm and find their way to the target and successfully complete the mission

all with a two day lead time is so unbelievable as to take me out of the plot.

Why did the two main characters like each other? One was kind, and the other was, I don't know, there?

How was everyone able to keep borrowing clothes from each other when they weren't the same size? Were the clothes magic?

What was the purpose in

continuing to make absinthe out of jewels

? You are already popular; that seems like a waste.

Was there any point where I was supposed to think that

Maeve wasn't the bad guy

? Why are the two main characters laughably gullible? How does the clock work if it has no innards? Why is the key the only magic thing about Sybil? Why does Sybil think that Lucien abandoned her instead of being worried that he just disappeared? Why would Sybil spend all that time at home stealing things if she wasn't going to bring any of them to pawn when she finally left?

Okay, I am out.

jasper_is_atypical's review

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Honestly was very disappointing. For characters that were supposed to be smart, they did a lot of stupid shit (fair in some circumstances, slightly mind-boggling in others.) It felt like most of what they did was so the plot could go the way the author wanted it to and not because it made much sense. Felt cramped and not at all exciting like promised. Instead of rooting for the main romance I was rooting for Esme to leave Sybil and their frankly unhealthy relationship behind. She is obviously uncomfortable and unhappy, only going along because she cares about Sybil and feels an obligation to protect her. Now I don't really see this as a spoiler, but I'll hide it anyways...

The reason they need to do the job is because they are poor and behind on rent. The only reason they are behind is because Sybil, who came from a rich background, gets too bored at her jobs to keep them for long. Literally stated.

For this reason and for the way she treats Esme as a whole Sybil is extremely unlikable and comes off as snobbish and uncaring about others. She chases her own excitement at Esme's cost, which is made even more appalling by the fact that Esme took her in off the streets and is doing everything in her power to take care of her as a charity case. Just. No.

I wanted this to be good so bad. The idea of a heist in fae with a sapphic romance sounds wonderful, but the execution left me wanting.

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