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851 reviews by:
verypeculiarpages
*eARC provided by publisher. All opinions are my own.*
BEAUTIFUL FRICKIN’ COVER. Sadly, I just wasn’t into this book. I read something about this being Phantom of the Opera-esque but I really didn’t pick up on that at all, besides the singing aspect and murder??
I did like the idea of using song as weapon and such, but the worldbuilding just felt a bit weak at times. The plot sort of meanders for a majority of the book until the very end when everything is rushed together and wrapped up VERY quickly. I also didn’t really feel much of an attachment to any of the characters. I enjoy seeing more F/F romance, especially in YA fantasy, but Cadence and Remi’s relationship didn’t feel like it had much substance and growth. Disappointed because I felt like this could’ve been really cool if the plot had been a bit more interesting! 2.5
BEAUTIFUL FRICKIN’ COVER. Sadly, I just wasn’t into this book. I read something about this being Phantom of the Opera-esque but I really didn’t pick up on that at all, besides the singing aspect and murder??
I did like the idea of using song as weapon and such, but the worldbuilding just felt a bit weak at times. The plot sort of meanders for a majority of the book until the very end when everything is rushed together and wrapped up VERY quickly. I also didn’t really feel much of an attachment to any of the characters. I enjoy seeing more F/F romance, especially in YA fantasy, but Cadence and Remi’s relationship didn’t feel like it had much substance and growth. Disappointed because I felt like this could’ve been really cool if the plot had been a bit more interesting! 2.5
3.5 stars. eARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I think my expectations were a bit too high for this one and I continue to go back and forth over whether to rate this 3 or 4 stars. I love love LOVE any and all things Greek myth, so this book quickly shot to the top of my anticipated books for next year, even after reading the short chapter sampler and realizing that this wouldn't be what I initially thought. Maybe I'm just too picky about my Greek myth stories now. But though I still managed to enjoy most of this book, it fell a little flat overall.
Most authors who write fictional stories involving Greek myths can please me by just GIVING ME MORE GODS. I WANT ALL THE OLYMPIAN CONTENT. When I read the chapter sampler, and *slight spoilers here* realized that most of the OG gods were already dead, I was disappointed, especially after Hermes (my FAVE god) is killed literally in the first five pages. And then most of the "new" gods weren't even heavily featured or fleshed out at all. I also felt that the background of the Agon and what Zeus and the other remaining gods do could've used more detailing. The gods that take center stage in this are Athena, Apollo and Artemis.
Which, lemme go on a slight tangent about: I am getting SO SICK of Athena and Apollo being the featured gods in every myth-inspired story I read. MY GOD AM I SICK OF THEM. They're two of my least favorites yet every author seems to loooove writing about them. Give me someone else, PLEASE. MORE HERMES! ARES! APHRODITE! ANYONEEEEE. Athena managed to be a bit more palatable to me in this one, surprisingly, but it didn't last.
OK, back on track. I did like Lore, though it was frustrating to see how many straight up DUMB decisions she makes. I also liked Castor a lot too, and their romance was one of the highlights of the book. Miles and Van were suuuch great side characters, too! Overall the premise of the Agon was really fun and exciting but the background info just made it a bit confusing, and there was too much information about all the different bloodlines. There were parts of the first half that felt a bit slow, but the second half really picks up and it's FULL of twists. *THAT* betrayal was a punch in the G U T, even for me. But the ending was also a bit flat and kind of random. I wish we got more closure about what happens afterwards, especially in terms of the gods.
This seems like a looot of nitpicking for a book I ended up rating 4 stars, but these are fairly small problems that seem bigger to me because of how much I love the subject matter. Overall, I did enjoy this despite my grievances and will probably look to try out another Bracken book in the future. Heads up that this book was a bit darker and more gory than I expected, and there's a lot of violent language and descriptions of murders/injuries!
TW: blood, death, murder, rape, terminal sickness, gore
I think my expectations were a bit too high for this one and I continue to go back and forth over whether to rate this 3 or 4 stars. I love love LOVE any and all things Greek myth, so this book quickly shot to the top of my anticipated books for next year, even after reading the short chapter sampler and realizing that this wouldn't be what I initially thought. Maybe I'm just too picky about my Greek myth stories now. But though I still managed to enjoy most of this book, it fell a little flat overall.
Most authors who write fictional stories involving Greek myths can please me by just GIVING ME MORE GODS. I WANT ALL THE OLYMPIAN CONTENT. When I read the chapter sampler, and *slight spoilers here* realized that most of the OG gods were already dead, I was disappointed, especially after Hermes (my FAVE god) is killed literally in the first five pages. And then most of the "new" gods weren't even heavily featured or fleshed out at all. I also felt that the background of the Agon and what Zeus and the other remaining gods do could've used more detailing. The gods that take center stage in this are Athena, Apollo and Artemis.
Which, lemme go on a slight tangent about: I am getting SO SICK of Athena and Apollo being the featured gods in every myth-inspired story I read. MY GOD AM I SICK OF THEM. They're two of my least favorites yet every author seems to loooove writing about them. Give me someone else, PLEASE. MORE HERMES! ARES! APHRODITE! ANYONEEEEE. Athena managed to be a bit more palatable to me in this one, surprisingly, but it didn't last.
OK, back on track. I did like Lore, though it was frustrating to see how many straight up DUMB decisions she makes. I also liked Castor a lot too, and their romance was one of the highlights of the book. Miles and Van were suuuch great side characters, too! Overall the premise of the Agon was really fun and exciting but the background info just made it a bit confusing, and there was too much information about all the different bloodlines. There were parts of the first half that felt a bit slow, but the second half really picks up and it's FULL of twists. *THAT* betrayal was a punch in the G U T, even for me. But the ending was also a bit flat and kind of random. I wish we got more closure about what happens afterwards, especially in terms of the gods.
This seems like a looot of nitpicking for a book I ended up rating 4 stars, but these are fairly small problems that seem bigger to me because of how much I love the subject matter. Overall, I did enjoy this despite my grievances and will probably look to try out another Bracken book in the future. Heads up that this book was a bit darker and more gory than I expected, and there's a lot of violent language and descriptions of murders/injuries!
TW: blood, death, murder, rape, terminal sickness, gore
OHHHHH BOY. I could NOT put this one down so I finished it in a day. THIS WAS SO GOOD!!
The plot had me hooked throughout its entirety, I loved the characters and it was a cool lesson in Shakespeare! I'm currently working in theater, though I'm still really new, so it was really enjoyable for me to read about this world that revolved completely around theater. I'm familiar with a couple of Shakespeare plays, but this book taught me a lot more than I knew before! At first I was a little wary with all the quotations of Shakespeare that the characters use, but later it worked out really well and it was interesting to see them almost talking in a second language.
THE ENDING. OH MY. I was sad and tearing up and then the letter came and I was like HOLY WHAT THE WHAT. Uhhhhhhh ya, *SPOILER******* but James is alive and you can't tell me otherwise. I usually don't really like open-ended books, and I would read a sequel, but I really don't think it needs one.
My fave was Filippa! I loved her and Oliver's friendship a lot and I kinda wish he had ended the book living with her rather than Meredith. But I still think they had the closest and best friendship of the group so I can live with it. Overall this was a really great book!!
The plot had me hooked throughout its entirety, I loved the characters and it was a cool lesson in Shakespeare! I'm currently working in theater, though I'm still really new, so it was really enjoyable for me to read about this world that revolved completely around theater. I'm familiar with a couple of Shakespeare plays, but this book taught me a lot more than I knew before! At first I was a little wary with all the quotations of Shakespeare that the characters use, but later it worked out really well and it was interesting to see them almost talking in a second language.
THE ENDING. OH MY. I was sad and tearing up and then the letter came and I was like HOLY WHAT THE WHAT. Uhhhhhhh ya, *SPOILER******* but James is alive and you can't tell me otherwise. I usually don't really like open-ended books, and I would read a sequel, but I really don't think it needs one.
My fave was Filippa! I loved her and Oliver's friendship a lot and I kinda wish he had ended the book living with her rather than Meredith. But I still think they had the closest and best friendship of the group so I can live with it. Overall this was a really great book!!
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12/20 sooooo much better on a reread!!!!
EEEEEEEEPPPPPP!!!! Given that the story didn't REALLY pick up and grab hold until 75% of the way in, I actually really adored this! This folklore stuff was so cool to read about and I love Vasya's relationship with all the creatures.
I LOVED Alyosha and Sasha and I'm excited to get more of Sasha in the next book. Also, HELL YA did I start shipping Vasya and Morozko from the SECOND they met. OH MY I was waiting SO LONG for them to finally TALK and then from the first convo I was like, oh man. WE OUT HERE. They're so frickin adorable and I love them with my whole heart and I'm very excited to start reading book 2. Yippppp!
EEEEEEEEPPPPPP!!!! Given that the story didn't REALLY pick up and grab hold until 75% of the way in, I actually really adored this! This folklore stuff was so cool to read about and I love Vasya's relationship with all the creatures.
I LOVED Alyosha and Sasha and I'm excited to get more of Sasha in the next book. Also, HELL YA did I start shipping Vasya and Morozko from the SECOND they met. OH MY I was waiting SO LONG for them to finally TALK and then from the first convo I was like, oh man. WE OUT HERE. They're so frickin adorable and I love them with my whole heart and I'm very excited to start reading book 2. Yippppp!
*SCREAMS INTO THE VOID* OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
I am SHOOK after reading this entire thing in a day because it was SO GOOD. OMG. The first book started super slow for me and it was a little difficult for me to adjust to the third person omniscient because apparently, I don't read a lot of books with that, but MAN this one got me hooked after the first few chapters.
I LOVE Sasha and I'm SO happy he was back and had a much bigger role than the first book. Vasya's relationship with him was so so good in this and I loved their development. I also really really love Marya and Solovey and the domovois!! I missed Alyosha a bit in this book but Sasha made up for it.
Vasya is so badass. I love her so much. She is such a great character and I have so much faith in her. She honestly doesn't do much wrong in my book, and I just really really love her. She continues to develop and grow into herself and it's so satisfying to read. And UGH. Her and Morozko are SOOO GOOD TOGETHER. JESUS. This book ripped my heart out like three separate times with them but damn if I still don't ship them super super hard and I'm SO ready for the last book! Woooooop!
I am SHOOK after reading this entire thing in a day because it was SO GOOD. OMG. The first book started super slow for me and it was a little difficult for me to adjust to the third person omniscient because apparently, I don't read a lot of books with that, but MAN this one got me hooked after the first few chapters.
I LOVE Sasha and I'm SO happy he was back and had a much bigger role than the first book. Vasya's relationship with him was so so good in this and I loved their development. I also really really love Marya and Solovey and the domovois!! I missed Alyosha a bit in this book but Sasha made up for it.
Vasya is so badass. I love her so much. She is such a great character and I have so much faith in her. She honestly doesn't do much wrong in my book, and I just really really love her. She continues to develop and grow into herself and it's so satisfying to read. And UGH. Her and Morozko are SOOO GOOD TOGETHER. JESUS. This book ripped my heart out like three separate times with them but damn if I still don't ship them super super hard and I'm SO ready for the last book! Woooooop!
