Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Lute

One of the main problems with this book is that it doesn’t feel like it knows what it’s supposed to be. Is it horror? Is it romance? Is it YA? Is it adult? I don’t know, and obviously neither does the author.

Nina married a lord on this island in the UK where 7 people die every year as a sacrifice to the island itself. Why? Don’t know. How? We also don’t know. The island chooses at random apparently or you can pick your own adventure so to speak and volunteer but only if the island approves. Even the premise is confusing and doesn’t really seem to know the rules. Also this is set in some weird future where there’s a war going on. What does this add to the story? Absolutely nothing!! The war is also never explained, nothing is explained except the tithe itself, and even that is done in a weird flashback sequence that’s poorly written.

Also, this was marketed as an adult debut but the writing, the characters, the plot, the themes, the execution, all of it screamed amateur YA novel. I honestly think the only reason this isn’t listed YA, is because there are two sex scenes in the book, both of which are random and not good.

I did not enjoy this book at all, nothing was done well and I had to force myself to finish it. I wouldn’t really recommend this to anyone because I don’t think there’s much to get out of it on any sense.

Content Warnings

bluwuberry's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

antimony's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

enjoyable! the atmosphere was good and i liked the characters. the pacing did feel a bit odd to me, fast at first then dragged in the middle then super fast at the end but oh the end was really good!

Content Warnings

sarrie's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

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

2.5

2.5?
I'm not sure exactly what the... point? On this one was. I saw some themes on home, parenthood, sacrifice, etc. Yet it all seemed to lack something for me.
The plot itself seemed pretty predictable, and for the book was just weirdly crammed. I feel like perhaps we needed more space to explore what the author was doing and seeing, more tension needed created for it to really pack an umph.
Additionally I really just did not like that romance?

I know she was on the island for 7 years and the person in question 'hated her' the 'whole time'. Did he fall in love with her at first sight? Which coincidently would have been on his wife and child's funeral?! There just wasn't any development there. Maybe I missed it but what seemed to be described was - She arrived, newly married and he hated her. In fact he got into a fight with her new husband/his old best friend (which seems to be implied to have something to do with her?), then proceeded to 'hate' her but in truth pine over here since. Keep in mind she showed up like days after his family died in a fire.

It was just kind of ick and felt very awkward. I had other icky feelings on how parenthood, death of a parent, children at risk felt clumsily handled but I think this just wasn't for me.

Content Warnings

chiaraogan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

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