K Smith

K SmithI loved the world and magic system. Well written and generally enjoyable! There were so many things that worked well for me. Think Harry Potter meets Divergent with a bit of Eragon thrown in. The main character was very interesting and dynamic. I loved how she approached her physical ailments and worked through them without magically curing them. She struggles with many things throughout the book that rang true with me. Her determination and tenacity were infectious. If you like, or are even just comfortable with sex scenes this book may be more up your alley than mine. I am fine with reading about making out or fade to black or the occasional brief sexual encounter in books, this was too graphic for me. For this reason and this reason alone I won’t reread it. I don’t feel there is anything inherently wrong with sex scenes in books or that people who read them are immoral. It isn’t something I am comfortable with, that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t read and enjoy it. In summary, great world building and well rounded and (magic powers aside) somewhat realistic and flawed characters, intriguing plot. It just isn’t for me.

K SmithFor teen horror, it was pretty good! I dont read much horror, so this was a great re-introduction to the genre. If you are already a big horror reader this is probably a little simple and lightweight for you. It was predictable, keeping in mind how many books I read it is hard to find a book in which I can't predict anything, but still surprised me a couple times. I don't know if I will read it again, but that is mostly because it isn't my genre of choice. I have recommended it to two people since finishing it three days ago, so it was clearly decent.

K SmithI loved this book more than I can ever express. It isn't a light book, it is full of symbolism, tragedy, and sacrifice. That being said, it also filled me with hope and excitement for my own life. The blend of Russian folklore and modern (or at least modern compared to the time period) ideals is done beautifully. If you liked "Uprooted" by Naomi Novik, this should be your next read. Similar writing style, similar retelling of Slavic folklore, similar engagement and pacing. 10/10 would recommend.