Update after second reread:

Everything I said below plus IM SCREAMING AND NOT READY FOR BOOK THREE AGAIN. Also, I never talked about Rosier in my review below, so let’s mention how much I dislike him here. Also, I swear in the first book, Violet said Alesana is one year older than Rookwood and Rosier, but she graduated this year meaning she’s two years older? Just some discrepancies.



Review of first read:

ITS LITERALLY NOT POSSIBLE TO RATE THIS BOOK ANYTHING LOWER

OH MY GOSH WHERE DO I START

SIRIUS, JAMES, AND REMUS KILL ME. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I CAN'T

LEO OH MY LORD MY NEW HUSBAND I AM IN LOVE HE IS THE ONE I WANT AND NEED MORE

CAN WE TALK ABOUT DRACO AND HOW ADORABLE HE IS????

"I WOULD NEVER HI-IT YOU." I CRY INSIDE THINKING ABOUT IT.

"DO I EAT BREAKFAST LIKE AN ABUSED PERSON." RIGEL IS SO SASSY AND AMAZING I LOVE HER

PANSY IS JUST PERFECT I WISH SHE WAS CANON

OMG SNAPE CARES SO MUCH WHY ISNT THIS THE REAL HIM

RIGEL CRYING ON DRACO I DEAD DEAD DEAD DECEASED I CANT DO THIS I NEED TO READ BOOK THREE BUT I ALSO CANT HANDLE THIS *cries for eternity*

Reread 2018 Review:

I have picked up on so many little tidbits this time around that I am literally scared out of my mind for what is going to happen in book 4. We know the Triwizard Tournament is happening, and Riddle has mentioned and done some things that would definitely make things a million times more difficult for my child and I'm really just scared, so scared for Rigel being put into a position where she has to make a decision and there aren't any good options and she's stuck and doesn't know what to do. And if Riddle involves Archie/Harry into this, ITS JUST A BIG NOPE. Not to mention the other things he's mentioned and done in the last few chapters.

2017 First Read-through Review:

NOT EVEN POSSIBLE TO SAY ANYTHING. THIS ONE WAS SO MUCH DARKER AND SADDER AND MORE PAINFUL TO READ AND NOW IM SO WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE I JUST CANT 😭😭😭

WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO HAPPEN TO MY CHILD. WHY CANT SHE JUST BREW IN PEACE. WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS HORRIBLE STUFF WHICH SHE CANT TELL ANYONE ABOUT. SHES SO ALONE AND LONELY AND I FEEL SO SAD AND HURT THAT I CANT PROTECT HER.

LITERALLY SCARED OUT OF MY MIND FOR BOOK FOUR CAUSE RIDDLE IS FREAKING ME OUT AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON HER MIND 🙈🙈🙈

3.5/5 stars

This was such a cute story. I think I definitely enjoyed it more when I read it the first time many years ago, but Miri is such a strong and lovable character and the whole quarry-speech part of the book was interesting and unique to read about! I’m a bit worried I won’t enjoy the second and third books as much, but I do want to see more of the world this story is set in!

I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would! While the first book had a sweet, innocent feel about it, this one focused on more important issues and was darker and more thought-provoking. I liked the difference because it showed how much Miri has to grow and change when faced with new problems that are a lot bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. I felt like the love triangle was done well - it was something I wasn’t sure about at first, but I liked how it ended and Miri being all confident and speaking her mind was nice to read about!

3.75/4 stars

This started off a bit slow and I sort of guessed the huge reveal from the beginning, but the last bit was pretty intense and a lot happened all at once. The whole scene with Sus and the little King was kind of funny? To think a whole war could end because of that is a bit unrealistic though, but everything after fit so well for the story and when Miri finally got home I almost got teary-eyed. Also Peder is amazing and they’re so perfect together agkgkfl

I’m sad. And depressed. This book is a lot to take in. Major trigger warnings for abuse. I felt like I knew what was coming, but I still wasn’t prepared enough. Makes me want to keep all my friends closer and make sure they’re okay, even if they’re acting like everything is fine. Claudia is right, that you can’t talk about what you could/should have done, but you can try and make sure stuff like this doesn’t happen to anyone else again.

I still found the ending mostly cute, even though it was a bit dramatic lol

I went into this with high hopes, especially because of the hype surrounding this book. And honestly, I don't know how to feel. The first half of the book was good. I actually enjoyed the romance and I related a lot with Stella. Michael was so nice and understanding and patient. It was almost perfect. But then after the first half, things changed. Michael became violent, angry, and possessive. He started showing all those traits I attribute with most romance books, and especially with a certain fae named Rhys. I guess some people like those traits in a guy, but I feel like its overdone. Why are all men so violent and obsessed? Some of Michael's words and inner monologue was just really troubling and sort of problematic. It wasn't that apparent in the first half of the book, but in the second half it got to a point where he was constantly thinking along the lines of "she's mine", "I only want her to kiss me", "why is she smiling that way to that guy" ...etc. Also, there was a lot of sex. Which sort of makes me uncomfortable, but it got especially awkward since they were always at it literally everywhere. It kind of made me feel like it was written for entertainment value rather than plot. I felt like Stella, as a character, would stick to her strict routine, instead of randomly having sex multiple times a day, in random places. But it felt like all of that was thrown out the window once she and Michael were in a "relationship". Obviously I don't have autism so I can't speak to how accurate this could be, but it felt off a bit. Michael's whole "I'm not good enough for you" and "I'm bad like my father" was just annoying. It's a trope that's been done a lot, not just in contemporary romances but every genre, and it's just something I don't much care for. I get people are affected by their family etc. but I just got annoyed a little by the end.

I think I'm going to rate this a 3 stars. I don't think I'll be reading the second book though 🙈

This was really good! Especially loved Leo, Remus and Snape’s moments of realization!

Lol can I say that I prefer my characterization of Alan more? And Kel is definitely aromantic and I like to think asexual, so I’d only see them having a really close friendship and nothing more