dbguide2's Reviews (863)

Andrew, Thomas, and Dove, Andrew’s twin sister, were three main characters who all felt so real. I don’t know how Drews did it but it worked so so well. The characters, along with the atmosphere of the setting, allowed me to feel as if I were right there along with them; going to school with them, battling the monsters in the forest with them. Even though Dove featured less than the boys you still got a feeling for her personality, how much she loved her brother, had a confusing relationship with Thomas. I loved how codependent the boys were. It made me think of The Wicker King by K. Ancrum – another book I loved. Andrew and Thomas wanted to be near each other, had to be near each other. Even if it sometimes seemed to be a bad thing, their relying on each other. That they both had this innate need to be near each other. I drank it all in so much.

Thomas with his “I hate everyone but you” attitude (a microtrope I do love). Andrew with his near-obsession with Thomas. Dove pulling away from her brother and Thomas even though she was close before. I couldn’t pull myself away from any of it. I did think their school was a bit weird/unbelievable for not being more present in their lives. But also I’ll choose to believe that either they had no idea how to deal with everything or the school was (dealing with it) and the characters just refused to listen. I think with another writer I would’ve gotten annoyed at how many times Andrew went on about Thomas, how almost all of his thoughts and (nearly) his whole world revolved around him; but I never got that with Drews. I think that spoke of how good their writing was.

The plot was interestingly weird and there was a definite focus on the characters rather than the plot. Even so, the plot was still excellent. it balanced whatever weird things were happening in the woods with their lives and glimpses into their schooling. Obviously the focus wasn’t meant to be on their classes, it never was. Only what they were going through that day, how it made them feel. The book did something I love (specifically in horror movies) where things seem to be fine… until they aren’t. Until odd things start happening, keep rising until they’re so visible. It’s one way to get me into a story and to keep me there.

The writing was so good. I easily fell into the world and the descriptions of Andrew’s writing and Thomas’s drawings were so well-written they came alive. Also the physical books have illustrations (I think maybe the normal ones not just special editions). Now I know what to look forward to for Drews’ backlist books and their new releases (the cover for Hazelthorn just released and it is absolutely excellent). It’s magical and stunning and I thoroughly recommend it to you all! 

The coffin on the cover first interested me and then the mention of feuding families – especially as I was eyeing the synopsis and thinking there’s possibly bantering to be seen between Miles and Gabriel. Which I’m happy to report there was! I liked Gabriel more than Miles at the start but did like Miles as more time went on. I’m definitely picking up the sequel to see what happens with these characters.

I love a good mystery and that was here with the history between the two families. Us trying to figure out where the issues began, what happened in the past that caused the families to not speak to each other now. It’s definitely not the end of it, I know we’ll get more of it in the sequel – since it’s a duology, it’ll finish up in the second book. Of course I’d have to reread this by the time October rolls around as I’ll remember nothing. That’ll renew my mind for the mystery and history’s that’s sure to come back in the sequel. I wasn’t able to understand everything of the history but I think that was more me not paying full attention.

I liked how the plot tied in greatly with the mystery but also with the two main characters, Miles and Gabriel. I do like a deadline (in books, miss me with that in real life) and in here it’s well… in its literal sense – a deadline. Always happy to have a “I hate you but I need to work with you” plot in books. Naturally that almost always progresses to a “oh, you’re actually… quite okay”. Plus in here there’s all that family history they have to work through first. I also liked the magic system in here and am eager to revisit it in the sequel. There was a bit of the romance, which I liked but then realised (only at the END) that there’s another book 😂. Yet another reason I can’t wait for the sequel. 

I’ve read several Hess books and every time I’m just reminded of how good Hess is at writing. It makes me excited to go into Hess’s other books. I like how I’m never bored or get so annoyed with characters that I want to immediately dnf. I can’t wait to get to the next chapter, to lose myself in the book, his writing. I’m so happy to have found Hess last year and I need to get to World Running Down and the other books!

I’ve said multiple times on here that I’ve been struggling these past few years with science fiction. Not because I don’t like the genre, just that most of the books are difficult and I can’t get myself to read them like other books. But I’m slowly getting back to sci-fi and I’ve found that Al Hess definitely is helping that. Very slowly, but we’re getting there. That’s largely due to the good writing, characters, and world-building – and it’s not even limited to this book! Basically every book I’ve read from Hess makes me want to get back to the science fiction genre as a whole.

I immediately liked Denver and Ezra from the get-go – which I’m always happy about when I read a book. I don’t mind getting to know characters but I am always a bit happier when I like them from the start. They’re both funny, their banter was great, and their romance was so sweet. They cared about each other and treated each other well. If Hess wants to bring them back for a sequel or a novella (as he loves novellas), I’ll be all for it. I definitely wanted to spend more time with them and will easily reread the book for them. The supporting characters were also very interesting. Trevor and Taisha grew on me until I liked them too, they were good and added nicely to the rest of the character line-up. They also played off each other quite nicely and that speaks well to the author’s writing.

I do know that for sci-fi I like weird creatures or aliens so I think that’s why I liked this so much. Hess wasn’t afraid to really lean in to the weirdness of the book and plot and it worked well! Add the mystery element and Denver trying to make everyone believe him and everyone refusing to – I wanted to keep on reading.