Such mixed feelings about this book!!!!!! (spoilers ensue) 
DNF at about 50% - I’m not sure if this is a DNF for now or a DNF forever. This book has amazing qualities but also a lot of contradictions. For instance, Diana says that she would like protection from Matthew and then continues to act annoyed and complains when he is protecting her? There’s more contradictions before and after that. There are also empty details - big ideas having to do with plot points have no explanation. On the other hand, I loved the way the setting is described; I loved the way science and history play a unique role into the creatures’ lives; I also loved the concept of the story; I am also a sucker for a forbidden romance. I decided to DNF because I got extremely confused about some notions in the story. I thought maybe it was just me not picking up on some nuances or maybe since school just started back I wasn’t in a good mindset to soak in the prose. Upon researching reviews I realized I’m not the only one. I’ve got too many fun books planned for spooky season (Happy September first!) to spend more time on this book - I already spent three weeks on this one just to get to 50%! I did look up spoilers and apparently we don’t even find out anything about the Ashmole manuscript - which is the part I was most invested in. I don’t normally count DNFs towards my goal, BUT sometimes I do if I spend time researching the rest of the story and the author’s life. So on Goodreads it’s counted but it helps that this app actually lets you put something as DNF!! Cheers! Happy incoming Mabon!