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whitleyray's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
5.0
"My aunts had warned me that Matthew Clairmont wanted something. They were right."
Why had I never heard of this book until it was a book club pick?? I usually borrow from the library if I haven't heard much about a book or its author but on a strong recommendation, I purchased it. And I'm so happy I did. This is a book that I needed to mark up with sticky tabs and will likely re-read again in the future. I should have bought the whole series!
Diana Bishop is a scholar researching ancient alchemy when she requests and receives a manuscript that has been spelled for years to keep hidden. Pulling this book suddenly thrusts her into a world she has been trying to avoid for years. Diana is a witch hailing from a powerful line of witches. After her parents were killed, she sought to remove herself from the world of witches, vampires, and daemons, denying her power and refusing to use it. But now she's faced with pressure and enemies from all sides as they compete to get the book back from her or kill her in the process. Should she accept the help of an enemy vampire? One who's bent on protecting her, even when she doesn't want it?
A cousin commented, “It’s like a better version of twilight…" and I agree! 5/5 stars!
okinmybook's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
logan08's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jorievi's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jessamariie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
larb's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the first half of this book. I had high hopes but I felt very let down by the end. Diana is treated like a child throughout even though she’s supposed to be a very powerful witch. Matthew is insufferable. Controlling. Stubborn. And not even good in bed to make up for any of it. If the goal was to write him as an old, conservative, boring white male, mission accomplished.
lindsaymck's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
gloryreadstoomuchh's review
5.0
Im honesty surprised that it took me almost exactly two years to re read this book, i dont even understand why i was nervous because this is the best vampire story ever, like i love matthew and diana so baddd omg. The story starts with diana getting a hold of a manuscript that witches, vampires, and demons, having been trying to get for a millennium. She unlocks it, but once she realizes it has magic (diana doesnt use her magic) she sends it back. All of a sudden many different creatures keep approaching diana trying to figure out how she did it. Que the enter of the greatest vampire ever written, matthew clairmont. At first he is just trying to get the manuscript from her but they soon fall madly in love.
Now for some backstory, ill mention that are really important to the trajectory of the story:
1. Dianas parents were very powerful witches and before they went on a trip to nigeria, they spellbound diana and the key to breaking this was her feelings for matthew (her shadow man), there is also speculation on who killed them, but knowing they were going to die and other things confirmed the story shows that other witches killed dianas parents.
2. There is this thing called the covenant run by three of each creature (one of them being peter nox) and amongst other things, it bans creatures to cross breed, or even be together: ex. Witches and demons, witches and vampires, vampire and demons.
Peter nox is a witch from the library that kept trying to intimidate diana and try to get into her mind to reveal the secret on how she got into the manuscript (there was no secret, diana father went back in time and spelled the book so that only diana could open it) now this is when there is a lot of danger in the story, the witches broke into dianas house and matthews sons lab so matthew takes diana to france, where we meet his vampire mother and their housekeeper, ysabeau and marthe. I really do love them, ysabeau was so cranky as first but she really become a mother to diana once her and matthew were married, even though she knew they were breaking the law. I like marthe but her giving diana that tea so she couldnt have children without her knowledge was so weird like why would you do that. In france was were diana and matthews relationship really blossomed and soon after they arrive another vampire threatens diana and diana gets kidnapped but a witch in the covenant. Matthew ends up rescuing diana, and this is when we found out she was spellbound, her parents bedtime stories were the doing, and he mom helped her fly to get out of the cave they trapped her in. after this matthew travels back to oxford (he kills gillian, the witch who sent dians the picture of her dead parents), but when he gets back to france, him and diana are married.
After this diana and matthew go to new york where dianas aunts live, i really liked this part of the story because sarah and em interacting with matthew was so nice. Marcus and miriam (matthews son and miriam works at the lab) come to stay at the house too. Right after this a vampire named juliette attacks matthew, he almost dies, diana kills juliette using her magic, and diana saves him by giving him her blood (she also promise anything to the goddess so keep that in mind) and she has to get healed later as well because he drank alot from her. Soon after we meet sophie and nathaniel, demons (sophies family were witches and her daughter (in her belly, shes pregnant) is a witch) and shes been having dreams of diana and gives them a figurine that belonged to matthew. They also find a missing page of the manuscript and find out that diana and matthew were meant to marry and conceive. After this one of matthews friend’s come to settle their affairs because diana and matthew are going to time walk back in time to find the manuscript before dianas dad bewitched it and finally figure out what is inside, also matthew wants diana to learn more of her magic.
Thats where the book ended, i really forgot how good this book was and how much i loved it, its amazing how many elements we in one book, so excited to start the second tomorrow, from what i remember, it was my favorite.
Now for some backstory, ill mention that are really important to the trajectory of the story:
1. Dianas parents were very powerful witches and before they went on a trip to nigeria, they spellbound diana and the key to breaking this was her feelings for matthew (her shadow man), there is also speculation on who killed them, but knowing they were going to die and other things confirmed the story shows that other witches killed dianas parents.
2. There is this thing called the covenant run by three of each creature (one of them being peter nox) and amongst other things, it bans creatures to cross breed, or even be together: ex. Witches and demons, witches and vampires, vampire and demons.
Peter nox is a witch from the library that kept trying to intimidate diana and try to get into her mind to reveal the secret on how she got into the manuscript (there was no secret, diana father went back in time and spelled the book so that only diana could open it) now this is when there is a lot of danger in the story, the witches broke into dianas house and matthews sons lab so matthew takes diana to france, where we meet his vampire mother and their housekeeper, ysabeau and marthe. I really do love them, ysabeau was so cranky as first but she really become a mother to diana once her and matthew were married, even though she knew they were breaking the law. I like marthe but her giving diana that tea so she couldnt have children without her knowledge was so weird like why would you do that. In france was were diana and matthews relationship really blossomed and soon after they arrive another vampire threatens diana and diana gets kidnapped but a witch in the covenant. Matthew ends up rescuing diana, and this is when we found out she was spellbound, her parents bedtime stories were the doing, and he mom helped her fly to get out of the cave they trapped her in. after this matthew travels back to oxford (he kills gillian, the witch who sent dians the picture of her dead parents), but when he gets back to france, him and diana are married.
After this diana and matthew go to new york where dianas aunts live, i really liked this part of the story because sarah and em interacting with matthew was so nice. Marcus and miriam (matthews son and miriam works at the lab) come to stay at the house too. Right after this a vampire named juliette attacks matthew, he almost dies, diana kills juliette using her magic, and diana saves him by giving him her blood (she also promise anything to the goddess so keep that in mind) and she has to get healed later as well because he drank alot from her. Soon after we meet sophie and nathaniel, demons (sophies family were witches and her daughter (in her belly, shes pregnant) is a witch) and shes been having dreams of diana and gives them a figurine that belonged to matthew. They also find a missing page of the manuscript and find out that diana and matthew were meant to marry and conceive. After this one of matthews friend’s come to settle their affairs because diana and matthew are going to time walk back in time to find the manuscript before dianas dad bewitched it and finally figure out what is inside, also matthew wants diana to learn more of her magic.
Thats where the book ended, i really forgot how good this book was and how much i loved it, its amazing how many elements we in one book, so excited to start the second tomorrow, from what i remember, it was my favorite.
cristinatonceanu's review against another edition
5.0
After the first 80 pages, I really wanted to give up. It didnt spark my interest and I was a little bored. I don't waste my time with books that don't tickle my mind. But after some turned pages, I was hooked!! I felt the urge to talk to someone about it (i dont mean a therapist haha).. It was the first time my stubborn nature did me good because I didn't give up.
Amazing!! I freakin' loved it! ❤
Amazing!! I freakin' loved it! ❤