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solenekeleroux's reviews
112 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I loved the world-building, with the Grace system and how it explores capitalist exploitation of magical beings, that's something I wasn't expecting from this book and I was here for it.
The most lacking part was the romance, especially in the build-up part. It was all tell and no show, so not very believable when something did end up happening. The twists at the end are not bad, but too little too late. I was bored during all the middle part of the book (when the romance was supposed to build-up).
The character development is also a bit weak. It started well with Alyce's character, I loved the storyline of how she discovers herself and her power. But then there's no real growth or transformation, it stays very much on the surface of what she can do with her powers instead of the deep inner exploration of good and evil that I was expecting. Most other characters have little substance and are very black and white, except for the graces (again, I think I would have loved a novel just about the graces because that was the most interesting part), especially Laurel and her political reasoning.
Side-note, I am very pissed off whenever there is a shape-shifter character/storyline and it doesn't lead to a real exploration of gender and identity, especially in what is supposed to be a sapphic novel. Don't give me shape shifters and not make them queer!
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Genocide, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
- 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
4.0
The characters are really interesting, but the romantic relationships lacked some build-up so they weren't as believable as they could have been. The dip into the magic world was quite sudden so it was hard to get into the pace of it, but I really enjoyed the last part of the book, the twist and turns of the quest. I'm excited to read the rest of the series because I'm super interested in the characters of the other two sisters.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm not at all a team sports fan, so I didn't know if I would enjoy it, but it's about so much more than sports. It's really about a team turned coven using dark powers to become their true full liberated selves. The collective narration is so good, I loved the magic, the wild moments of dancing under the moon, the sexual liberation stories. I loved how it is funny but also lyrical at times, the writing is beautiful.
Graphic: Body horror and Stalking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Rape
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I loved the reality TV cooking show background and all the TV shenanigans, honestly I wanted even more of that.
Both characters are great, I loved London of course, it's rare to get good non-binary characters in romance, and the way the author gendered them correctly even when the transphobic woman on the show didn't was beautiful, I love that level of respect to their character. I also loved Dahlia's messy and spontaneous personnality.
The romance was delightful, very sweet, with hot sex scenes. It was a simple, efficient and joyful read.
Graphic: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Deadnaming and Homophobia
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Dysphoria, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Genocide, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Colonisation
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Dysphoria
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Racism and Slavery