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xyln's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
This was different than Atwater's other Regency novels, which I loved. This one had less romance and upped the Gothic faerie vibes. It didn't have the cozy vibes I loved but I still really liked this one. It does deal with some heavier topics (see TW)
Of particular note: This book takes place in the early 1850s, which places it as much as 30-40 years after Half a Soul and 25-30 years after Longshadow
Of particular note: This book takes place in the early 1850s, which places it as much as 30-40 years after Half a Soul and 25-30 years after Longshadow
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Vomit, and Grief
thisdiwata_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, and Kidnapping
sophiehatters's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
⭐️ i received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review ⭐️
when i heard that olivia atwater’s releasing a new book, nobody was more excited than me. i discovered her regency faerie tales series last august and devoured her whole catalogue in less than a week. i loved her writing that much.
i will say though, while atwater’s writing is just as beautiful and her wittiness comes through in TWK, it is ultimately a different kind of book from her books in the RFT series. the tone, the overall atmosphere is just different. as it is a gothic romance, it was dark with themes that could be triggering (i have listed out some of them down there so beware for minor spoilers)
winnie was an admirable character and i loved how she carried herself throughout the book. she came off as cold and unperturbed by everything she has seen but it’s only because her eyes have seen too much. i loved her trusted companion oliver, i loved her relationship development with robert. i loved all the adventures they had. again, atwater’s such a good author that there were several scenes where i literally felt hairs on my arms standing up. they were so eerie.
mr. quincy was a peculiar one—it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that we have a male lead with red eyes, rat tail and the scent of blood following his wake. i shuddered just visualising him at first. but as the book progressed, i grew to love him and his cleverness. as individuals, i enjoyed both winnie and mr. quincy. as a romantic pair, they were sweet and had chemistry as they worked together.
however, the romance in book is extremely minor i would say, so if you’re looking for romance, you’re better off looking for it elsewhere—perhaps atwater’s RFT series. another thing i’d like to note is that this book makes several references to RFT series. while this book can be perfectly read a standalone, i feel like the RFT series read is a must to enjoy it in its full experience. even as a person who has read that series, i felt a little bit confused while trying to recollect old memories. if you have zero clue, you’d definitely feel like you’re missing out on a lot of things.
finally, while i enjoyed this book immensely, i’d say that there was only one thing that i didn’t like about the book: the overemphasis on winnie’s beauty. her beauty was mentioned several times throughout the book to the point of my annoyance. everyone who saw her couldn’t help but to comment on it. it’s like, yes we get it she’s extremely beautiful! a model! a beauty queen! can we move on? beautiful in the stereotypical sense—pretty blond hair, fair skin, blue eyes, pink lips. it’s not only that, the story posits that her beauty was the reason why she was preyed by the men in her life. and honestly that was kind of insulting, in my opinion? the idea that winnie was so beautiful that men couldn’t help but to do wicked things to her. women who aren’t beautiful get harassed too, you know?
maybe that was the point—that she was so beautiful that men coveted to keep her, but i simply hated the idea, i’m sorry.
maybe that was the point—that she was so beautiful that men coveted to keep her, but i simply hated the idea, i’m sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment
isabeltavares's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gore and Blood