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kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a minute to get through this book but I really enjoyed it! Although the ending had a bit of a weird vibe for me and I’m curious if there will be a book 2. Maybe an origin story for WYN? Oh and I really loved the themes of consent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
Lately, vampire stories in the YA realm have been a bit hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed the way Sterling imagined vampires in this one! The concept of the Death Oracle made for some interestinig twists to the way we typically image vampires. This is the second book where they focus on the fact that teenagers shouldn't be turned into vampires because their brains aren't fully developed, and I think Claire does a good job showing why. This book takes it further than the previous one, and I think it makes it more believable.
Both Elise and Claire have distinct voices throughout the book, and the way their relationship evolved felt realistic. I also appreciated the fact that Elise didn't realize she was queer until later in the novel, and the conversations about identity were on point. I love rep like this because queer identities aren't clear cut for everyone, and seeing characters who are also working to figure it out speaks volumes for teens who are also trying to figure it out.
There were a few things throughout the book regarding world building that could have been fleshed out a little more, but all in all, this is definitely an entertaining, enjoyable read!
Both Elise and Claire have distinct voices throughout the book, and the way their relationship evolved felt realistic. I also appreciated the fact that Elise didn't realize she was queer until later in the novel, and the conversations about identity were on point. I love rep like this because queer identities aren't clear cut for everyone, and seeing characters who are also working to figure it out speaks volumes for teens who are also trying to figure it out.
There were a few things throughout the book regarding world building that could have been fleshed out a little more, but all in all, this is definitely an entertaining, enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Violence
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Homophobia
caidyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
A great queer read. I love the queering of vampire stories, even though I feel that vampires are inherently queer. But the world is finally catching up. It was a fun read with really great characters. I also enjoyed the mythos of it. Definitely would like to know more about the other creatures!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Drug use
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