syd

beginning of the book was a rough read, mega worldbuilding lore & religion info dump. as a huge fantasy reader, it was still rough for me to get through. the narrative hit its stride at ~40% of the book! first half was meh, second half (especially the ending) I loved.

very very low fantasy, mostly political intrigue - the main character is essentially a (spicy - in the pain sense, that is) courtesan trained to be a spy. I wouldn't consider it romantasy, but it does have a lot of sex scenes (plot relevant, not gratuitous) woven through the narrative. it's a good book to pick up if you're looking for a uh....spicier? fantasy narrative that has flowery prose, and a mountain of lore.

The narrators are fantastic!

I would've DNFed if I was reading with my eyes and not my ears. first part of the book was so strong, I was loving it. The setting and storytelling was so good that I was actually getting a little creeped out listening to Jonathan's journals. 

once Mina and Lucy are brought into the narrative, Mina carries the story and everyone puts her on a pedestal and we can't go a page without a man gushing over her man brain. there's (I think, since I listened to it) pages of nothing in the story happening and just them yapping about how amazing Mina or Lucy is. and then all the action is at the end. I listen to audiobooks to stay awake sometimes, and I managed to fall asleep on the floor SEVERAL times listening to this snooze of a plot.

very shocked after seeing high reviews that this is the classic vampire book. vampires WHERE?! 

Loved how this one played out! I feel so incredibly bad for Caroline though (that's the sister, right?). Justice for my girl!!

This is a comfort story for me, a classic that I love and will watch/read time and time again.

The narrators are fantastic!

I would've DNFed if I was reading with my eyes and not my ears. first part of the book was so strong, I was loving it. The setting and storytelling was so good that I was actually getting a little creeped out listening to Jonathan's journals. 

once Mina and Lucy are brought into the narrative, Mina carries the story and everyone puts her on a pedestal and we can't go a page without a man gushing over her man brain. there's (I think, since I listened to it) pages of nothing in the story happening and just them yapping about how amazing Mina or Lucy is. and then all the action is at the end. I listen to audiobooks to stay awake sometimes, and I managed to fall asleep on the floor SEVERAL times listening to this snooze of a plot.

very shocked after seeing high reviews that this is the classic vampire book. vampires WHERE?!