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doubletherazzle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
Fantasy where the bachelor meets hunger games and not mad about it. The writing isn’t fantastic and I caught a few editing issues and I’m sure there are plot holes if you think too hard about it, but I liked the story and the tropes - dark broody misunderstood MMC, mysterious feisty strong-willed MFC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Bullying
ariel790's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
Requires the Sequel
I am torn between rating this book a 3 or 4. The main character's motivations are shallow, her past purposely left frustratingly vague. Her relationship with Torin is clearly an enemy to lovers trope that is painstakingly slow to develop and is mostly a tease. Left in a complete cliffhanger. Most goodies promised for the sequel. Yet I wanted to keep reading and still want to follow these characters to the next tale. The world in which the characters live is messy, and complicated. The characters themselves are interesting and their drama promises intrigue. I want to praise the author for these developments. For this, I want to put a 4.
I think I will go with a 3, after writing this all down. The story is purposely left incomplete in order to do a second book. Thus leaving me as a reader unsatisfied and dependent on getting my Ava and Torin fix with a secondary purchase. I, unfortunately, am not made of money, and have to carefully deliberate each purchase. Especially in the current economy. So, it will be some time, most likely, before I can pick up the next. Even though at the moment I really, really want to. This is a testament to the author's writing and storytelling, but use of shameless tactics. As it sits with book one, the story is incomplete. There is not a satisfying conclusion or tie up of at least some events. Majority of what Ava "discovers" by the end didn't take much investigative work and was known, as the reader, before the first half. It needs more. So as a stand alone, yes a 3 rating will do. With its sequel (or sequels?) together, most likely higher.
I am torn between rating this book a 3 or 4. The main character's motivations are shallow, her past purposely left frustratingly vague. Her relationship with Torin is clearly an enemy to lovers trope that is painstakingly slow to develop and is mostly a tease. Left in a complete cliffhanger. Most goodies promised for the sequel. Yet I wanted to keep reading and still want to follow these characters to the next tale. The world in which the characters live is messy, and complicated. The characters themselves are interesting and their drama promises intrigue. I want to praise the author for these developments. For this, I want to put a 4.
I think I will go with a 3, after writing this all down. The story is purposely left incomplete in order to do a second book. Thus leaving me as a reader unsatisfied and dependent on getting my Ava and Torin fix with a secondary purchase. I, unfortunately, am not made of money, and have to carefully deliberate each purchase. Especially in the current economy. So, it will be some time, most likely, before I can pick up the next. Even though at the moment I really, really want to. This is a testament to the author's writing and storytelling, but use of shameless tactics. As it sits with book one, the story is incomplete. There is not a satisfying conclusion or tie up of at least some events. Majority of what Ava "discovers" by the end didn't take much investigative work and was known, as the reader, before the first half. It needs more. So as a stand alone, yes a 3 rating will do. With its sequel (or sequels?) together, most likely higher.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Alcohol, and Blood
ashleycmms's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and War
Minor: Bullying
lotte5322's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Violence, Abandonment, and Blood
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