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632 reviews by:
takarakeireads
fake dating - meh. and I was also like... uh so we just jumped into these two people having a pre-established work relationship and they were pining for each other the whole time but like WE as readers didn't get to see any of that. So I'm like.... do I care?? I also kind of hate the male narrator for these books he sounds pretentious AF and it's not sexy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ace of Spades/The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor... in hell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Alcohol
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I give this book props for being the OG Dark Academia (which is why I read it), but personally I am more interested in more recent additions to that genre. That being said I can respect it for the influence this book has had. I like that the subgenre has moved into a place of critiquing elitist academia in a not so subtle way (I feel that any critique of academia in this was too vague to be taken seriously).
I definitely feel like it could have ~100 pages of monotony edited out, or those parts should have been replaced by more time with Julian in the classroom / explaining the catalyst of what they were studying influencing the original group (and why they were in the woods...)
I found it interesting to think about the moral quandary of Bunny being a supremely unlikeable character and how we as readers can empathize with the desire to get rid of him from the other character's POV. All the characters are disastrously flawed and the only one I actually feel bad for in the end is Camilla. If you can stand to read about pretentious flawed horrible characters who are continually awful to each other then I guess it's an interesting character study book.
I definitely feel like it could have ~100 pages of monotony edited out, or those parts should have been replaced by more time with Julian in the classroom / explaining the catalyst of what they were studying influencing the original group (and why they were in the woods...)
I found it interesting to think about the moral quandary of Bunny being a supremely unlikeable character and how we as readers can empathize with the desire to get rid of him from the other character's POV. All the characters are disastrously flawed and the only one I actually feel bad for in the end is Camilla. If you can stand to read about pretentious flawed horrible characters who are continually awful to each other then I guess it's an interesting character study book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Grief, Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fans of the Green Bone Saga will rejoice in getting these prequel stories. I highly recommend reading the whole trilogy before this for max effect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am not sure how to rate this book. This was really far outside of anything I typically read, and I'm leaning towards a general "this book was not a book for me, but someone else out there would love this book!" I get the sense that it was doing some really unique things probably also for people who read more similar-type of books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Medical content
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma
adventurous
dark
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
I'm upset it's over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Incest, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately another YA fantasy that falls to the "this duology probably should've been edited down into one book" pitfall. At the beginning I was really interested in the world building and the concept of this world - where people can turn into their worst nightmares. However, the plot really dragged and I wasn't really into the writing in general (a lot of repetition). I really just felt like things were starting to get interesting when the book ended, meaning that there wasn't enough substance in book 1 to keep me interested in reading book 2 (feels like all the action will be in that book).
Someone please explain to me this whole 'vampires shown in media is just making them seem sexy when they are evil' bit... but then she befriends one and lets her bite him (which we don't even get to see). Like what is this critiquing?? In fact this is like a main critique I have with this book in that a lot of important things happen off page and we're just told about them later?
Another example - when she confronts her old teacher at the end, I was like - why are we just being shown only this part? one encounter with him earlier in the book, and she just figures out he's the one sending kids off ??? where was the mystery building up to this reveal?
Another example - when she confronts her old teacher at the end, I was like - why are we just being shown only this part? one encounter with him earlier in the book, and she just figures out he's the one sending kids off ??? where was the mystery building up to this reveal?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence
Moderate: Death, Trafficking, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I'm not a *huge* short story fan in general, but I absolutely adore Olivie Blake's writing and will truly read anything she writes. Some of these stories are almost like novella length! I felt like she did a fantastic job with all of them of really grabbing your attention from the get-go and immediately getting you interested in the story.
1 - invisible string / willow
2- tis the damn season / dorothea
3 - This Love / TLGAD
4 - Lucky You / Only The Young
5 - Karma / Vigilante Shit
1 - invisible string / willow
2- tis the damn season / dorothea
3 - This Love / TLGAD
4 - Lucky You / Only The Young
5 - Karma / Vigilante Shit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Terminal illness
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:
Yes
- multiple pov
- everyone is bi
- creepy forests
- different powers
- tarot fortunes
- monsters
I really enjoyed the All of Us Villains duology so I wanted to read more by C.L. Herman. I really liked this as well and am looking forward to the sequel. There are definitely some parallels between them, and I can see how this was written prior and maybe some of those themes were expanded upon in AOUV (but they are still v different books!). TLDR: if you are a fan of AOUV duo def check this out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
The difference, however, is that as a bisexual person you are constantly asked Why? Why do you want these things? Why do you have sex with the people you do? How can you know this is what you really want? Are you sure? How can you be sure? What if you change your mind? I dream of a world where people stop asking bisexual people these questions and instead ask themselves these questions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Minor: Racism, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia