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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
So, I think this is a case of chosen marketing actually hurting a book. It doesn't really matter how hard one tries, it's going to influence how one reads a book, considering that is what it was created to do. Soto's story is irrevocably intertwined with Harry Potter in my mind to its detriment.
The plot itself is okay, a 3 star at most, but I enjoyed parts of it. The problem lies in that because I was beat over the head that this was originally a Dramoine fanfic, I spent a lot of my reading time trying to decipher which characters were the basis for the ones here. Obviously Evermore is Hogwarts, but what about everywhere else? These little things stacked up over the course of the story and, thanks to this as well as my ADHD, I couldn't fall into the narrative the way I usually do, the way I want and need to.
I absolutely will say that Ella Lynch narrated her heart out and was the bright light in an otherwise lackluster experience. I have since read another book by Julie Soto, and it's not her writing style that was the problem, as I really enjoyed that one.
2⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Forever Publishing, and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of the audio book for the purposes of this review. My opinions are, as always honest and my own.
The plot itself is okay, a 3 star at most, but I enjoyed parts of it. The problem lies in that because I was beat over the head that this was originally a Dramoine fanfic, I spent a lot of my reading time trying to decipher which characters were the basis for the ones here. Obviously Evermore is Hogwarts, but what about everywhere else? These little things stacked up over the course of the story and, thanks to this as well as my ADHD, I couldn't fall into the narrative the way I usually do, the way I want and need to.
I absolutely will say that Ella Lynch narrated her heart out and was the bright light in an otherwise lackluster experience. I have since read another book by Julie Soto, and it's not her writing style that was the problem, as I really enjoyed that one.
2⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Forever Publishing, and Hachette Audio for providing me with a copy of the audio book for the purposes of this review. My opinions are, as always honest and my own.
Just finished my first of the three Dramione fanfics turned independent books I plan on reading this fall! I can say I really enjoyed the tension between Briony and Toven in the book, and I enjoyed the overall plot of the present timeline as well.
However… there were quite a few things that I didn’t particularly like. For instance, I could almost feel the strain in the author distinguishing the worldbuilding and magic system away from the established world in the original source material. This resulted in, what I feel like, was a somewhat confusing system and dynamic between the Line and the world’s royal family, the Eversuns? Why do both exist and who takes precedence? Why is there conflict between these groups in the first place..? Also, who is Mallow anyway?
There were also a TON of names to remember throughout the book, but I’ll say the author did provide a helpful reference point for this problem at the start of the book. I also didn’t love the flashbacks in the book because they seemed to serve no real purpose in advancing the storyline or character relationships (mostly because the character’s internal monologue already tells details of these prior events before they occur in flashback). Additionally, not much actually happens in the book itself as a lot of the battle occurs prior to the first chapter, with the storyline focusing on Briony living in the Hearst Manor and attending like three scary parties.
Overall, interesting character and relationship dynamics but some apparent struggle in creating an interesting, independent world and magic system. I think it’s worth a read, especially if you’re familiar with the Harry Potter books. (I have not and that may be a central problem with my understanding of the book.)
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Abortion, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm going to need everyone to ignore how long I took to read this because...back to school. Nonetheless, I really liked Rose in Chains! The magic system/politics was interesting to see play out and it was darker than the fantasy books I normally read. Still good. Can't wait for book two to see what happens next!
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Only Julie Soto can make me like a comporary romantasy (aka not paranormal from 2010). Obviously, you can kind of feel the skeleton of the fanfic behind, but it didn't annoy me. I appreciate how the relationship unfolds at a slow pace, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the implications of this world. Ends on a bang, can't wait for the next book.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated