Ashley Shuttleworth

I loved the characters in this read. I found this to be a super slow paced read, that was very character focused. I really also loved the world, but it was very descibtion heavy and i sometimes got lost in the details. I really did enjoy all the main characters and loved the queer focused of all the characters. It was a book that reminded me a lot of the mortal instruments series. I also loved the canada setting and it was such a complex read. I am def excited to read more of this series in the future.… (meer)

I loved the characters in this read. I found this to be a super slow paced read, that was very character focused. I really also loved the world, but it was very descibtion heavy and i sometimes got lost in the details. I really did enjoy all the main characters and loved the queer focused of all the characters. It was a book that reminded me a lot of the mortal instruments series. I also loved the canada setting and it was such a complex read. I am def excited to read more of this series in the future.… (meer)

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. A fae world and queer characters? Sounded perfect. Not to mention how gorgeous the cover is. However, after about 25% in, I realized that this book just wasn't for me. The pacing felt so slow and I didn't really have any attachments to the four main characters. The plot itself felt like a drag, and perhaps I just don't enjoy murder mysteries? I took me forever to get through this book and it felt very early 2010s YA Fantasy in its character and world building, This was really a let down and I'm still on the fence whether I will read the sequel. Part of me wants to give the author another chance but the other part of me just found the entire book unenjoyable.… (meer)

Sighs.

An upsetting read that seems to be the norm with fae/YA books I have picked up lately.

Let’s start off with the positives, shall we? I thought the author handled the triggering content with care and sensitivity, I found the royal politics fascinating, and this YA thriller had great LGBTQ representation. That’s it.

Now obviously by the rating I had given this book, the bad outweighs the good in every single way. First things first, it was tough to keep track of the characters with the multiple POVs (I believe 4-5). 2-3 POVs would have suffice and the inner monologues were too dreadful and unnecessary. I wasn’t able to connect to the characters and the events that surround them due to that and because I also struggled with the pacing. It was overly drawn out and boring, preventing me from being invested in them and their story. Little to nothing of the magic system was properly explained (perhaps it will be in upcoming books?). Long drawn out introductions, info dumps, confusing plot lines/holes, lack of structure and messy world-building essentially ruined this all together for me.

Would I recommend this? No. Yet regardless of that, fans are going to gravitate towards this series due to the breathtaking cover, synopsis and this novel being the perfect mashup (apparently) of The Cruel Prince and City of Bones. My fingers are crossed that their reading experience was a lot better than me.

… (meer)