I got here before Jade, that must be a record.

So damn. We got the cover and the release date today and it's coming out sooner than I thought. I think I'd be sold on the cover even if I hadn't read the short story, but since I did I'm even more ready lol. Now I really want to read about the main character's sister, her and her spiders, I know Isy will love that. I love the witchy atmosphere and the colors, this cover feels so different from everything else so far.

I want to get this in print so idk if I'll be able to start on the first day but I want to start asap. Don't you guys get so far ahead I can't look in this thread.

Is Jade camping? Thought she was supposed to do that this month sometime lol.

I don't know what I was expecting with the cover but this wasn't it, it feels a lot more genre specific compared to the other ones. Definitely not complaining, it's gorgeous. I'll read along with you though, I want the print one too. Maybe it's because there wasn't a release last year but I'm excited for this one.

I looked at the book page again to see if anything updated apart from the cover and I saw some "reviews" again lol. They'll probably disappear so I'm saving them before they do.

"It figures the arachnophobic author would have spiders playing such a central role in the book. I just wish there weren't so many of them. I read media to escape, and one of the things I want to escape is spiders. 2/5"

"The cool alliteration in the title only goes halfway, DNF."

"I kind of want a girlfriend who has snakes for hair now and I'm upset this can't happen irl, 3/5."

Not sure if the last one is hinting at something that happens in the book or if it's only supposed to be silly, if it's the former this would be pretty unique, and also something I want even more.

I just wish there weren't so many of them. I read media to escape, and one of the things I want to escape is spiders. 2/5

I feel this in my soul.

The cover is gorgeous honestly, even with the spiders I love it. Maybe it's because we almost never get to see actual characters on the covers but I'm in love with it.

A couple things I noticed though... first is it's available for preorder already? I might have missed that part but I noticed I could buy it. The other thing is I saw Becky has it listed as "currently reading" on goodreads, so either there was a misclick or there's SOMETHING she isn't telling us.

I'll try to read along with you guys again but work is busy so I don't know how well I can keep up. I also have no idea how long this book is, if this is anywhere near GW length you'll leave me in the dust lol.

Isabelle wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:17 pm

The other thing is I saw Becky has it listed as "currently reading" on goodreads, so either there was a misclick or there's SOMETHING she isn't telling us.

I have an ARC for reviewing it. I've done this before but I don't usually mention it anywhere Jade can see because I'll be in fear for my life. (Sorry Jade I love you. )

I'm not finished with it yet but I think it's something you'll like. It's going in a little different direction than I thought it would so I'm curious to see where it will end up. But I won't tease too much. I look forward to talking about it once it's out.

I was camping! Figures this would all come out when I'm away, that was probably done on purpose LOL. Becky I hate you so much, it's so not fair that you get picked for this, every time I ask I get told no, what's your secret!

The cover is sickkkkk. I'll try to read with you guys but I might zoom ahead. I want to see this spider witch, I'm betting she's my favorite. Maybe it's just the hype, like Anastasia and Laurent are cool but tell me more about HER. Then again the other characters sound cool too, like the kid of the fates or whatever? That sounds hilarious.

Isabelle wrote:The cover is gorgeous honestly, even with the spiders I love it. Maybe it's because we almost never get to see actual characters on the covers but I'm in love with it.

I think this is it, now you mention it only TE had a character on the cover. This one is just so damn cool. And now I'm mad at Becky again I want to read it already LOL.

I wondered why the banner changed suddenly, it looks awesome as hell Hey what the hell if it's not as long as GW I'll see if I can join you guys, would be nice to be talking about it when everyone else is

Jade wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:33 pm

I was camping! Figures this would all come out when I'm away, that was probably done on purpose LOL. Becky I hate you so much, it's so not fair that you get picked for this, every time I ask I get told no, what's your secret!

I think we all know why that is.

I finished and posted my review (keeping it spoiler-free). I think you guys are really going to enjoy this. It was a 5 star for me. I'll admit I'm not picky and it's "easy" to get a high rating on most books for me, but this is closer to something like TDS than it was to, say, HoaTN.

I GOT IT MY DUDES, I'M GOING IN

I don't know how far you guys are but I'm already in love with Vixel. She's simultaneously this cheerful bubbly kind of person but also dangerous and happy about it? And she's known for hurting people but is a med student. It's so great lol. Anastasia's whole family is great. Her dad loves to cook and is bffs with his wife's familiar, and is willing to help Vixel study her med school stuff by jumping off the roof to let her heal him?? Like what the fuck LOL. The grandma walking around the house with a knife trying to fight poltergeists and talking about how she kidnapped a human once. The mom seems more normal but idk at this rate. And the way Anastasia is just like "yup this is normal."

The school group seems cool too. Wilfred is weird but intriguing, I LOVE Corana, like how cool is that. Didrixe ofc, I feel like I'm seeing a hate to love thing happening, maybe? Hopefully? October, first of all what a neat name, October Solace. Just randomly raising relatives from the dead by accident, and her family is like "well while you're here might as well come to dinner" LOL. It's just so good.

Not much has happened yet where I am but the introduction to the characters has me hooked. I like that they're all so different and don't all get along, this should be interesting. I love Vixel and want to see her in action more. The principal seems cool too. Mournfall though, I'm feeling some anti-human sentiment here lol. But also it's cool that Anastasia doesn't seem to take shit. This woman glares at her for no reason and she's just like well I'll fucking glare right back let's go.

I'll get through more tomorrow but this is great so far. Knowing Hannah and Jade especially y'all are probably done already lol.

I'm behind you actually, I only got started this morning. I just had to pause because I did a double take, did you catch the EOM reference? I never thought I'd see that name pop up again lol, I'm pretty happy.

I love Anastasia's weird family, I need more of this. Where I left off was her mom and grandma were playing hex tag and grandma made the mom fall down the stairs because her legs stopped working and everyone's just fine with it. Also, not family related, but the thing about the student who went on vacation and accidentally pulled a sword from a stone and is king now, and the other students are just mad because he was their group leader and isn't coming back now, this is hilarious rofl.

YESSSSS EOM REFERENCE. I didn't expect it either but I love it, it totally fits here.

Dudes I'm having a great time so far. The kids are great. I like Wilfred, he seems like he's just aloof and doesn't care but I'm starting to think he's got some confidence or self-esteem issues. I love every time Vixel uses her powers, everything from clearing out a street full of people by making them sick to using spiders as security cameras LOL. Corana's gung ho about everything and it's great, while Anastasia and Laurent kinda hang out together goofing off. October might be my second favorite? It's hard to tell but I like them ALL. Laurent needs to be protected. The way he talks about his family, he needs a hug.

I want to say I'm calling it but Lindsay said it already. Hate to love, Didrixe and Anastasia. COME ON. You guys caught that scene in the train right, Anastasia helps Didrixe put her luggage up because Didrixe can't reach, then the train moves suddenly and Didrixe has to grab her arm.

Also, we should have seen this coming, for the subplot LOL. At least partly? I wasn't sure which way it was going at first but now I feel like I know.

Edit: I'm onto chapter 11, I fucking love Laurent, he's such a good friend to Anastasia. And he's talking about his family again, my HEART. Shit now I don't know what the subplot is! Is it this one?? Because I'm getting emotional here. PROTECT THIS DEMON BOY AT ALL COSTS.

I took this screenshot because... rofl. She did the meme. I was like halfway down the page and then I thought wait back up. And sure enough lol. There are so many little things in here I love it.

I'm getting close to the end and things have gotten intense. The thing about this mystery is like, I don't think Mournfall is the actual bad guy since it seems like the book really wants to push that, but I can't think of another explanation for her actions lol. And the person who I think is the bad guy is the one giving all the good advice. So I guess we'll see though.

But damn what a way to get things going. I'm seeing a lot more of the character development now and I love this. Wilfred learning sign to communicate with Corana, Laurent and October becoming buddies and cooking together, and Didrixe's apology. The last one especially, I loved seeing that both girls were kind of after the same thing but went completely opposite directions to get it, and Didrixe interpreted Ana's actions as something else instead, but then she realized what was up and her respect just grew a lot. It was a good apology too, I liked it. Also I really really hope these two end up a thing lol. Then there's Wilfred's insecurity and worrying about how he's actually responsible for getting the others hurt, and the way he feels like he can't talk to his family because they already know everything. Like, all their different powers and the way their issues affect them in different ways and their relationships with their families is great, I like the variety.

I do want to see more magic though lol, I hope we get to see more. I'm worried about Vixel I did not see that coming, but I feel like she's gonna get a chance to like, redeem herself? Not that she did anything wrong but she feels like she can't protect anyone now and her confidence is shot but I think she'll have a comeback somehow.

I have a lot of thoughts on this lol and there's so MUCH going on it's hard to keep track of it all, but in a good way. There's the main plot but my favorite part is the characters because as usual the character writing is just amazing.

Omg I didn't even notice it the first time I read it, fucking LOL.

I just want to talk about that one scene with the kids escaping being captured. I'm loving Anastasia. That whole scene took me by surprise and it just made me love her more. She decides to go rescue whoever is in trouble, even after she finds out it's not Didrixe she just has to go help. And then when she finds out the one being tortured is her sister, dude. I thought Laurent would jump in but no Anastasia just literally sprints straight at the dude and beats the shit out of him and Laurent is the one having to pull her AWAY from him. I just love her so much. What a badass. I like how she's protective of her sister too and kinda without realizing it. Everyone and even her sister kinda act like she's invulnerable because she's so powerful, that nothing can ever happen to her, and Anastasia is just like "ehh idk about that but ok". Then this happens and Anastasia's fear comes true and she just absolutely destroys the dude (who it turns out is an immortal vampire) without hesitating. I just didn't expect that at all but I love it, give me more. I hope Vixel gets her revenge too.

Dude I'm so mad lol. I finished the book. And Anastasia's arc, I'm so mad, because as soon as I caught a hint of what was going on I'm like, well duh ok I know how this is going to end, I know this one. And then as the book goes on it finally managed to convince me it was something else, like is she gonna stay in this world or go back to the other. But then That Scene happens and it's the thing I thought was gonna happen at the beginning! So here I am getting emotional and being taken by surprise somehow by the thing I fucking knew was going to happen from the start LOL. It successfully tricked me and I'm mad.

So there was that, and then her talking with her mom at the end was sweet. I love her whole family. BUT. Legit the part that got me most, was when Laurent pulls Ana aside at the end and tells her what his dad told him, and like, watching this demon tear up with joy because for the first time in his life his dad told him he was proud of him, SO GOOD. That hurt me good. I love Laurent so much, protect him at all costs.

Everything wrapped up so nice. All the kids are friends now and they've all developed their little relationships, Ana with her family, Wilfred and his family, Laurent and HIS family, good shit. Oh and, that scene with Vixel and Brightsable at the end, I loVE HER. She's such a good egg. I should have guessed because earlier when she made the humans sick in the street October asked her about it and she said she'd never gone farther than that, and now she just ends this man's LIFE and he's a whole ass demon. She killed a dude, and then in another part she's just so excited about finding Ana's family even though she's secretly afraid this means she'll lose her sister and jsut UGH.

So I want to know how many references I missed rofl. I caught the one Hannah posted, David was in there as always, it was awesome to see EOM, what else was there? If there was?

Jade wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:55 pm

Dude I'm so mad lol. I finished the book. And Anastasia's arc, I'm so mad, because as soon as I caught a hint of what was going on I'm like, well duh ok I know how this is going to end, I know this one. And then as the book goes on it finally managed to convince me it was something else, like is she gonna stay in this world or go back to the other. But then That Scene happens and it's the thing I thought was gonna happen at the beginning! So here I am getting emotional and being taken by surprise somehow by the thing I fucking knew was going to happen from the start LOL. It successfully tricked me and I'm mad.

It did a good job of that. I wasn't quite tricked by it but once the scene switched directions suddenly it took a moment for me to remember what was happening. I think the switch will hit harder for other people.

Jade wrote:So I want to know how many references I missed rofl. I caught the one Hannah posted, David was in there as always, it was awesome to see EOM, what else was there? If there was?

Off the top of my head I remember two I think. There might have been more. I saw them both pretty early. The first was that one of Anastasia's other neighbors is named Wellsmoore, who was someone mentioned in TE. The second is that above the front door to Anastasia's house is a carving (I think?) of a mermaid with two tails, which is the figurehead of Skarin's ship. I'm a little surprised you didn't get that one.

I'll post more thoughts later. The short version is this was another book where I think the character stories and development were excellent and I liked that we got to see it for most of the characters in the group even though it wasn't from their point of view. I also like the world and hope we get more building up of that in later books. I will say I agree with everything you said about Laurent and I was happy he got his special moment at the end.