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A review by tab_reads
A Study of Blood and Ichor by Katia Black
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: tense, emotional, funny
TROPES: enemies to lovers,
GENRES: fantasy, dark-ish romance
FAV QUOTE: "And yet you still hesitate," he said on a whisper. "Is that because perhaps you are beginning to realize that I'm not the villain you first took me for?"
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ava Helacourt, Rory Masters, and Vain
THE GOOD: This book made me cry. I enjoyed the world-building and the dynamics between the characters - particularly Rory and Vain. It is a slower burn which works given the setup characters. I also liked the cover - which just feels important to say cause I do pick books by cover and title.
THE NEUTRAL: Not sure how to explain this but it felt like the ending (last 20%) was written first and then the rest of the book was created to get to the ending. There is an organization that is never spelled out - D.A.R.C. - I thought I missed it at first, maybe I did, but it's introduced early on and I have not idea what those letters stand for. There were character facts introduced that didn't seem to matter, to the plot or other characters, so then I was confused as to why they were introduced. This feels a little spoiler-y, even though some of it is in the CWs so I'll place it further down in a spoiler section.
THE MEH: I didn't like Ava for a good 70% of the book. Maybe I'm too trusting, maybe I read too much monster romance but her hard stance on not trusting Demons got old fast. Even more true after Demons give her facts that were previously hidden from her and are true.
CW: (provided by the author, summarized) demonic possession, violence and gore, torture, death, sexual content, explicit language, abandonment, depression, suicide attempt, emotional abuse, mentions of infertility
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
*
*
*
*
POSSIBLE SPOILER: Ava's infertility is first presented as if it matters for her family and their line so I expected that to go somewhere. It doesn't - not because it's a red herring or anything but because her family sucks and would have abandoned her anyway so it's kind of irrelevant to the story. I can see where it can be refreshing for something like infertility to be in a story and not the main focus of the plot but the way it was presented here just felt off.
MOOD: tense, emotional, funny
TROPES: enemies to lovers,
GENRES: fantasy, dark-ish romance
FAV QUOTE: "And yet you still hesitate," he said on a whisper. "Is that because perhaps you are beginning to realize that I'm not the villain you first took me for?"
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ava Helacourt, Rory Masters, and Vain
THE GOOD: This book made me cry. I enjoyed the world-building and the dynamics between the characters - particularly Rory and Vain. It is a slower burn which works given the setup characters. I also liked the cover - which just feels important to say cause I do pick books by cover and title.
THE NEUTRAL: Not sure how to explain this but it felt like the ending (last 20%) was written first and then the rest of the book was created to get to the ending. There is an organization that is never spelled out - D.A.R.C. - I thought I missed it at first, maybe I did, but it's introduced early on and I have not idea what those letters stand for. There were character facts introduced that didn't seem to matter, to the plot or other characters, so then I was confused as to why they were introduced. This feels a little spoiler-y, even though some of it is in the CWs so I'll place it further down in a spoiler section.
THE MEH: I didn't like Ava for a good 70% of the book. Maybe I'm too trusting, maybe I read too much monster romance but her hard stance on not trusting Demons got old fast. Even more true after Demons give her facts that were previously hidden from her and are true.
CW: (provided by the author, summarized) demonic possession, violence and gore, torture, death, sexual content, explicit language, abandonment, depression, suicide attempt, emotional abuse, mentions of infertility
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
*
*
*
*
POSSIBLE SPOILER: Ava's infertility is first presented as if it matters for her family and their line so I expected that to go somewhere. It doesn't - not because it's a red herring or anything but because her family sucks and would have abandoned her anyway so it's kind of irrelevant to the story. I can see where it can be refreshing for something like infertility to be in a story and not the main focus of the plot but the way it was presented here just felt off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt