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Gilded City #1
House of Ash and Shadow
“And what if I go dark?” I whimpered.
His face sobered. “Then I will jump into the shadows and pull you back to the Light.”
Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a devastating curse: a single touch from another person will always cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father.
But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father’s healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony… but it never comes.
For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is short-lived, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her.
Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, there she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon is dreaming of being touched by Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies…
His face sobered. “Then I will jump into the shadows and pull you back to the Light.”
Seventeen-year-old Fallon Bane was born with a devastating curse: a single touch from another person will always cause her excruciating pain. Thus, she has accepted that she will die without ever being kissed, without even hugging her own father.
But when her beloved father falls ill, she breaks into the magical Gilded City to find a healer fae that can save him. When handsome healer Ariyon Madden agrees to help, everything she knows about herself and her curse changes. Because during her father’s healing, Ariyon reaches out and touches her bare skin. She waits for the agony… but it never comes.
For the first time in her life, she imagines a new future for herself. However, that fantasy is short-lived, because not only does Ariyon flee from her in disgust when he learns of her curse; he also reveals her existence to powerful fae who want to hurt her.
Fallon is then swept away to a magical academy, there she learns the terrifying truth about her family history and her dark magic. Her life and the future of fae everywhere hang in the balance, and all the while Fallon is dreaming of being touched by Ariyon Madden one more time before she dies…
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
3141 people are currently reading
54291 people want to read
About the author
Leia Stone
112 books6,364 followersLeia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder and Wolf Girl. She's sold over two million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,230 reviews
October 3, 2023
I liked the idea of the book, but the writing was very juvenile. There was a lot of modern day slang and terminology that the main character knew of which really could not be explained by her reading books. Modern elements should not have been added because they really disconnected me from the story. Also the way everyone spoke was really stilted, either super formal and old timey or extremely modern in the span of a page.
November 13, 2023
WHY HAVE I BEEN SO UNLUCKY WITH MY BOOK CHOICES LATELY 😭😭
So I decided to read this book after receiving a sample at the YALC- which despite some pitfalls, was enjoyable.
But boy oh boy… this book was not a good read!
It is very childishly written, particularly for a fantasy. It feels like it has many modern elements that just don’t belong?
The main character is the embodiment of a Y/N. Everyone loves her for some reason tho?
The romance was boring. And so was the plot.
This was predictable and a waste of time sadly. I finished it quickly as I wanted to DNF so bad.
So I decided to read this book after receiving a sample at the YALC- which despite some pitfalls, was enjoyable.
But boy oh boy… this book was not a good read!
It is very childishly written, particularly for a fantasy. It feels like it has many modern elements that just don’t belong?
The main character is the embodiment of a Y/N. Everyone loves her for some reason tho?
The romance was boring. And so was the plot.
This was predictable and a waste of time sadly. I finished it quickly as I wanted to DNF so bad.
July 15, 2024
I don't know what God I pissed off to deserve this.
January 22, 2024
PSA; this is the most backhanded positive review you’ll ever read.
this is the most rushed book i’ve ever read (notice how my past few reviews have been about overwritten books? well it seems i’ve overcorrected). the writing is that of a 2nd grade level, its juvenile, it’s so (SO) cringe, but i LOVED it?????
like objectively, it’s bad. i will expect 1 star reviews from people and agree with what they say, but fuck it was entertaining. i’m legitimately embarrassed by how much I liked this book… i’m OBSESSED
would i recommend? no, because i don’t want to receive judgement when you read it and think “what kind of grown-ass adult reads this shit?” (i usually have great taste in books, i swear) but if you’re looking for a turn-your-brain-off, fluffy YA fantasy, this is for you.
this is the most rushed book i’ve ever read (notice how my past few reviews have been about overwritten books? well it seems i’ve overcorrected). the writing is that of a 2nd grade level, its juvenile, it’s so (SO) cringe, but i LOVED it?????
like objectively, it’s bad. i will expect 1 star reviews from people and agree with what they say, but fuck it was entertaining. i’m legitimately embarrassed by how much I liked this book… i’m OBSESSED
would i recommend? no, because i don’t want to receive judgement when you read it and think “what kind of grown-ass adult reads this shit?” (i usually have great taste in books, i swear) but if you’re looking for a turn-your-brain-off, fluffy YA fantasy, this is for you.
July 22, 2024
"My father shot it with his hunting bow, and the Nightling morphed into black shadows and disappeared. It had scared me so badly I didn’t sleep for three whole nights."
― I'm not even ashamed of dnf-ing this. this shouldn't even be a kid's book because even those books encourage children to describe things in ways beyond 'SOOOO PRETTY' or 'SOOOOOOOO SCARED' .... unlike leia stone over here, who thinks booktok's got her back even if she writes a book with her eyes closed, which I'm assuming is exactly what she did here.
to begin with, I just love how she keeps reusing the same adjectives on the same page for e.g. she starts off with "My neighbor and dear friend Sorrel took my father’s work bag full of tools...." only to say a few short paragraphs later, "Sorrel was a dear friend; she never made fun of me for my condition...."
god forbid we don't understand how much of a 'dear friend' sorrel is....
call me the queen of nitpicking or whatever, but this is the most juvenile shit I've ever read in my entire little life, and I don't think I like this little life anymore...
but seriously are y'all sure this is ya?! DID THIS BOOK EVEN HAVE AN EDITOR, FOR GOD'S SAKE?! istg I thought I was reading a 3rd grader's essay, no wait..even 3rd graders put more effort into the quality of their writing...
to vent just a little more, here are a few other examples:
⤷ "But it was beautiful. More beautiful than I’d imagined. First, it was so clean. The roads looked swept, there was no dirt on them…or trash."
omg guys IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CLEAN THERE WAS NO DIRT ON THE ROADS..............................................................................................................................................OR TRASHHHHHH AHHHHHH GOTTA LOVE LAZY WRITING- 😍
⤷"It made me happy just to look at it. There was nothing depressing about this place. "
because surely when something makes you happy, it's not gonna seem depressing to you....
⤷ "When I didn’t see anyone, I casually bent down and grabbed the large rock that lined the cute flower bed in front of the sizable entry window."
I'm sorry... CUTE flower bed?! was this not a fantasy book?! not to mention a YOUNG ADULT ONE...?!
*sigh*
from masterpieces like the folk of the air, caraval, the shadowhunter chronicles, the grishaverse, daughter of smoke & bone, this is what ya fantasy has come to???!! it's just shameful. for god's sake, read books, not amalgamations of tiktokers' dollar store, acotar/shatter me-infested fantasies.
and this was supposed to be for fans of holly black. DO NOT INSULT MY MOTHER THIS WAY.
― I'm not even ashamed of dnf-ing this. this shouldn't even be a kid's book because even those books encourage children to describe things in ways beyond 'SOOOO PRETTY' or 'SOOOOOOOO SCARED' .... unlike leia stone over here, who thinks booktok's got her back even if she writes a book with her eyes closed, which I'm assuming is exactly what she did here.
to begin with, I just love how she keeps reusing the same adjectives on the same page for e.g. she starts off with "My neighbor and dear friend Sorrel took my father’s work bag full of tools...." only to say a few short paragraphs later, "Sorrel was a dear friend; she never made fun of me for my condition...."
god forbid we don't understand how much of a 'dear friend' sorrel is....
call me the queen of nitpicking or whatever, but this is the most juvenile shit I've ever read in my entire little life, and I don't think I like this little life anymore...
but seriously are y'all sure this is ya?! DID THIS BOOK EVEN HAVE AN EDITOR, FOR GOD'S SAKE?! istg I thought I was reading a 3rd grader's essay, no wait..even 3rd graders put more effort into the quality of their writing...
to vent just a little more, here are a few other examples:
⤷ "But it was beautiful. More beautiful than I’d imagined. First, it was so clean. The roads looked swept, there was no dirt on them…or trash."
omg guys IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CLEAN THERE WAS NO DIRT ON THE ROADS..............................................................................................................................................OR TRASHHHHHH AHHHHHH GOTTA LOVE LAZY WRITING- 😍
⤷"It made me happy just to look at it. There was nothing depressing about this place. "
because surely when something makes you happy, it's not gonna seem depressing to you....
⤷ "When I didn’t see anyone, I casually bent down and grabbed the large rock that lined the cute flower bed in front of the sizable entry window."
I'm sorry... CUTE flower bed?! was this not a fantasy book?! not to mention a YOUNG ADULT ONE...?!
*sigh*
from masterpieces like the folk of the air, caraval, the shadowhunter chronicles, the grishaverse, daughter of smoke & bone, this is what ya fantasy has come to???!! it's just shameful. for god's sake, read books, not amalgamations of tiktokers' dollar store, acotar/shatter me-infested fantasies.
and this was supposed to be for fans of holly black. DO NOT INSULT MY MOTHER THIS WAY.
February 25, 2024
I'd recommend this book! It's probably one of my new favs. It's on kindle unlimited, has a bit of everything(love traingle, lots of action and good side characters) and was an easy read for me! :)
also I love Yanric <3
also I love Yanric <3
April 21, 2024
You know how 2010s YA fantasy had a specific vibe? How it wasn’t well-written but you ate it up like a five star meal anyway? Well, this is that bitch. A love triangle between two twin brothers, an OP power, the protagonist falling into plot points without any sort of trauma or emotional response… We’re so back!!
July 3, 2025
Yanric honestly was the only character I cared about. Fallon was always crying and I didn’t like the mmc either. Fallon seemed too child like. Hopefully she becomes stronger in the next book. I got tired of her always thinking she was going dark or evil and wouldn’t even stand up for herself.
June 30, 2024
The fact that this book was chosen to be published should give hope to all aspiring authors who lack the ability to write.
September 28, 2023
"Don't touch her. Cursed."
I'm obsessed with this new series!!
I love Fallon and Ariyon. Alright, I loved a few others but OMG, Ariyon had my teenage heart in his palms. I was puddy when he would say all the right words. This was definitely a page turner, and had me hooked till the very end. The title plays very nicely with the story and I LOVE the academic vibes! I must say that I absoluteley loved the addition of Yanric. He made me laugh so much while reading especially when I wanted to throat punch some characters. The world building is fantastic, and the revelations that were revealed were epic! I am now patiently waiting for the next book!
Light help me!
I'm obsessed with this new series!!
I love Fallon and Ariyon. Alright, I loved a few others but OMG, Ariyon had my teenage heart in his palms. I was puddy when he would say all the right words. This was definitely a page turner, and had me hooked till the very end. The title plays very nicely with the story and I LOVE the academic vibes! I must say that I absoluteley loved the addition of Yanric. He made me laugh so much while reading especially when I wanted to throat punch some characters. The world building is fantastic, and the revelations that were revealed were epic! I am now patiently waiting for the next book!
Light help me!
September 30, 2023
Oh my
If you have any heart, you will pick this book up so Fallon can have her story. I cried for so many reasons. This girl Fallon has been through so much in her short life. The pain she goes through never to think she will be normal. Of how people treat her when she has no clue what she is to become. What her pain is and if it is her destiny. She thinks she will never be loved. When in fact, she is loved by a whole lot of people. This book will rip your heart out. You are going to love every minute of it.
If you have any heart, you will pick this book up so Fallon can have her story. I cried for so many reasons. This girl Fallon has been through so much in her short life. The pain she goes through never to think she will be normal. Of how people treat her when she has no clue what she is to become. What her pain is and if it is her destiny. She thinks she will never be loved. When in fact, she is loved by a whole lot of people. This book will rip your heart out. You are going to love every minute of it.
July 28, 2024
How didn’t I read this sooner? I’m obsessed!!!!
January 15, 2024
I don’t normally write bad reviews. Usually, there are some things that I can take from a book that I enjoyed, but, in this book, the bad far outweighs the good that I feel like I should be required to warn people how Goodreads ratings absolutely do not reflect the integrity of a book. So here we go:
This book treats you as if you are the dumbest person on earth. Explains every single detail, leaving very little mystery to figure out for yourself. The lore is thrown at you as soon as it’s brought up through overheard conversations that Fallon eavesdropped on or just full-on explanations just because.
The main character, Fallon, has the personality of a wet sock and the epitome of a Y/N Mary Sue. And yet, every character was in love with her, both romantically and platonically. People were willing to lay their lives for her when she was getting arrested, these same people who bullied and isolated her for her curse, torturing her every second they got. It made no sense for them to suddenly rally together to protect her, especially when they could be killed for going against a royal decree.
Also, she keeps bringing up the fact that she’s never been kissed, and I get it, she’s touch-starved but girl you don’t have to bring it up every chance you get. There were more important things to focus on. But really your mother killed people, and all you have to say is “oh man, I’ll be a virgin forever”. There was also absolutely no chemistry between Fallon and Ayden and Ariyon, their reasons for liking each other felt so superficial. And of course, Ariyon is super talented (he can sing and writes his own songs and paints beautiful art!). And then at the end, suddenly Ayden and Eden apparently had feelings for each other the entire time??? Even though Eden was all over their other friend Hayes or whatever his name was the entire book??? Make it make sense bc it certainly doesn’t for me.
We did have a typical popular mean girl character—I forget her name—who dates Ariyon for like a chapter but she plays very little role in the story. She could have become a great foil/potential frenemy to Fallon, but she was shoved to the background and brought up here and there just to remind you that the school had a mean girl. A missed opportunity imo.
Fallon ain’t a loyal bestie either. She had a friend in the beginning named Sorrel—her one and only friend, mind you, back in Isariah. But as soon as she was accepted into the Gilded City, she never thinks about Sorrel again and that character is never seen again as Fallon’s best friend spot is replaced by Eden. Maybe she comes back in the other books, but I find it hard to believe that your supposed only friend, who you grew up together with and spent your father’s bday/kept your father alive while you got a healer at the beginning of the story, is completely forgotten just like that.
The only real, entertaining character in this book was a telepathic crow. You know, there was a second where I was low-key shipping him and Ayden. I would love to see if Yanric ever gets an actual human form, seeing as this book loved every fanfic trope under the sun. I would read more just to see that.
One key note: is it just me or did they not need to be Faeries? I almost forgot that they were faeries. In my opinion, they should have just been people with magical abilities. It wouldn’t change the story a bit if they weren’t Faeries bc they didn’t even follow the characteristics of the Fae. The characters in this book are just people with magic, meanwhile Faeries have certain iconic traits that make them Fae. There was none of the wings or the way they always tell the truth but in a deceptive way or the ice cold ethereal beauty. These were just people. With. Magic.
And don’t get me started on the writing—it very much reads like an adult using ChatGPT to pretend to be a teenager. The amount of times I had to put down the book just to roll my eyes or cringe…
It’s a shame bc the premise is pretty interesting, and I was somewhat invested in the world the author was trying to make. But I’d rather jump off a cliff into a pit of lava than suffer through Fallon’s “woe-is-me”narrative.
In my heart, this is a one star rating, but I give it two stars because I actually ended up finishing the book instead of DNF-ing it. This book will definitely go under “If books like these can get published, there’s still hope for my own shitty writing after all”.
This book treats you as if you are the dumbest person on earth. Explains every single detail, leaving very little mystery to figure out for yourself. The lore is thrown at you as soon as it’s brought up through overheard conversations that Fallon eavesdropped on or just full-on explanations just because.
The main character, Fallon, has the personality of a wet sock and the epitome of a Y/N Mary Sue. And yet, every character was in love with her, both romantically and platonically. People were willing to lay their lives for her when she was getting arrested, these same people who bullied and isolated her for her curse, torturing her every second they got. It made no sense for them to suddenly rally together to protect her, especially when they could be killed for going against a royal decree.
Also, she keeps bringing up the fact that she’s never been kissed, and I get it, she’s touch-starved but girl you don’t have to bring it up every chance you get. There were more important things to focus on. But really your mother killed people, and all you have to say is “oh man, I’ll be a virgin forever”. There was also absolutely no chemistry between Fallon and Ayden and Ariyon, their reasons for liking each other felt so superficial. And of course, Ariyon is super talented (he can sing and writes his own songs and paints beautiful art!). And then at the end, suddenly Ayden and Eden apparently had feelings for each other the entire time??? Even though Eden was all over their other friend Hayes or whatever his name was the entire book??? Make it make sense bc it certainly doesn’t for me.
We did have a typical popular mean girl character—I forget her name—who dates Ariyon for like a chapter but she plays very little role in the story. She could have become a great foil/potential frenemy to Fallon, but she was shoved to the background and brought up here and there just to remind you that the school had a mean girl. A missed opportunity imo.
Fallon ain’t a loyal bestie either. She had a friend in the beginning named Sorrel—her one and only friend, mind you, back in Isariah. But as soon as she was accepted into the Gilded City, she never thinks about Sorrel again and that character is never seen again as Fallon’s best friend spot is replaced by Eden. Maybe she comes back in the other books, but I find it hard to believe that your supposed only friend, who you grew up together with and spent your father’s bday/kept your father alive while you got a healer at the beginning of the story, is completely forgotten just like that.
The only real, entertaining character in this book was a telepathic crow. You know, there was a second where I was low-key shipping him and Ayden. I would love to see if Yanric ever gets an actual human form, seeing as this book loved every fanfic trope under the sun. I would read more just to see that.
One key note: is it just me or did they not need to be Faeries? I almost forgot that they were faeries. In my opinion, they should have just been people with magical abilities. It wouldn’t change the story a bit if they weren’t Faeries bc they didn’t even follow the characteristics of the Fae. The characters in this book are just people with magic, meanwhile Faeries have certain iconic traits that make them Fae. There was none of the wings or the way they always tell the truth but in a deceptive way or the ice cold ethereal beauty. These were just people. With. Magic.
And don’t get me started on the writing—it very much reads like an adult using ChatGPT to pretend to be a teenager. The amount of times I had to put down the book just to roll my eyes or cringe…
It’s a shame bc the premise is pretty interesting, and I was somewhat invested in the world the author was trying to make. But I’d rather jump off a cliff into a pit of lava than suffer through Fallon’s “woe-is-me”narrative.
In my heart, this is a one star rating, but I give it two stars because I actually ended up finishing the book instead of DNF-ing it. This book will definitely go under “If books like these can get published, there’s still hope for my own shitty writing after all”.
February 15, 2024
The Summer I Turned Pretty but make it ✨ fantasy ✨
September 10, 2024
This was…interesting. I love the story, but the writing was very amateur. Am I reading the next one…yes. Did it remind me of crave a little bit…also yes.
December 13, 2023
Okay It's a diet Fourth Wing where the worldbuilding feels fake as all hell and there is no conflict on the "fantasy" part of this, while the romance triangle is completely doomed from the start and has zero chances at being interesting (it would've been IF Ayden could touch her since it would force Fallon to actually make a choice, instead of only having one real option).
It's incredibly weird that this is the second fantasy romance I read this year where a Fallon girl with a pet raven lives with her adoptive family until something something her cursed heritage and new incredible and unique powers and not one, but TWO royals really like her for...reasons. That said House of Beating Wings and it's two sequels are absolute dogshit while this one...eh. It flows pretty well, you can clearly see the author is experienced and knows how to keep one reading, and yes, you can see almost everything that happens coming from a mile away and a lot of dialogue and descriptions are very cringe and either bland or way too overblown, while way too many characters are much too good to be real people, expecially because so few characters...well...exist in this world, it still manages to keep one's attention throgh the roughest bits by sheer camp, that's my hot take on this one: it's campy as all hell. Protagonist cant even interact with normal people EXCEPT FOR ONE, that special one is the crown prince, is incredibly beatiful (even thought he's barely described) is a painter, makes modern music, reads childern's stories, rides a horse around, bakes and is a healer tragically fated to die young, and that's why he drinks and paints and whatnot. At the same time the protagonist cannot be favored because her mother is a terrible person who litterally changed everything in the kingdom, from the academy setting to the royal bloodline and can just do random stuff like come in at parties and attack random people, or attempt at the queen's life. At the same time we have people we barely know being our best friends forever while at the same time knowing all the right people and only them, while the "right people" are all so perfect and holy.
I might do an actual analisys but i know this book will NOT hold up on a re-read at all so I really dont want to, main gripes are the very small cast of character and how their personality basically all resemble each other (like, tell me something Avis would do that Eden wouldn't, or Clarke, or Fallon, or Eden's mom, Ayden's only difference from them is that he's popular, but again, he's a golden retriever and little else) even negative ones (again, what are the main differences between Briar and Solana? Well one is a bit more childish and bigoted, but they act basically the same, Briar gets litterally thrown off the story halfway through it, she basically existed only to make Fallon jelous and touch her that one time), another main problem is the world feeling VERY small, like we attend roughly three lessons, we were supposed to have a third period "weapons" class and never saw it, almost all the lessons are skipped in favor of romance and the romance plot is crap. The episodic "outside" plot is more of a hindrance to Fallon than a genuine drive for her and everything always works out and in the most dramatic way possible so we're made to feel for her in a deries of shellshock revelations and overly dramatic events that mask the poorness of her (and most other's) character. I get it the author really wanted to create an underdog, but she went so overboard with it that she had to fix her status by having her meet with the four most selfless people in existence, which unfortunately means she bypasses most of her problems since one of them can always help so she doesn't really have to work for anything
I wouldn't really call this a power fantasy since poor Fallon has everything working against her, so maybe a victim fantasy? Like, you're always the person who should be pitied and cared for by others.
It's incredibly weird that this is the second fantasy romance I read this year where a Fallon girl with a pet raven lives with her adoptive family until something something her cursed heritage and new incredible and unique powers and not one, but TWO royals really like her for...reasons. That said House of Beating Wings and it's two sequels are absolute dogshit while this one...eh. It flows pretty well, you can clearly see the author is experienced and knows how to keep one reading, and yes, you can see almost everything that happens coming from a mile away and a lot of dialogue and descriptions are very cringe and either bland or way too overblown, while way too many characters are much too good to be real people, expecially because so few characters...well...exist in this world, it still manages to keep one's attention throgh the roughest bits by sheer camp, that's my hot take on this one: it's campy as all hell. Protagonist cant even interact with normal people EXCEPT FOR ONE, that special one is the crown prince, is incredibly beatiful (even thought he's barely described) is a painter, makes modern music, reads childern's stories, rides a horse around, bakes and is a healer tragically fated to die young, and that's why he drinks and paints and whatnot. At the same time the protagonist cannot be favored because her mother is a terrible person who litterally changed everything in the kingdom, from the academy setting to the royal bloodline and can just do random stuff like come in at parties and attack random people, or attempt at the queen's life. At the same time we have people we barely know being our best friends forever while at the same time knowing all the right people and only them, while the "right people" are all so perfect and holy.
I might do an actual analisys but i know this book will NOT hold up on a re-read at all so I really dont want to, main gripes are the very small cast of character and how their personality basically all resemble each other (like, tell me something Avis would do that Eden wouldn't, or Clarke, or Fallon, or Eden's mom, Ayden's only difference from them is that he's popular, but again, he's a golden retriever and little else) even negative ones (again, what are the main differences between Briar and Solana? Well one is a bit more childish and bigoted, but they act basically the same, Briar gets litterally thrown off the story halfway through it, she basically existed only to make Fallon jelous and touch her that one time), another main problem is the world feeling VERY small, like we attend roughly three lessons, we were supposed to have a third period "weapons" class and never saw it, almost all the lessons are skipped in favor of romance and the romance plot is crap. The episodic "outside" plot is more of a hindrance to Fallon than a genuine drive for her and everything always works out and in the most dramatic way possible so we're made to feel for her in a deries of shellshock revelations and overly dramatic events that mask the poorness of her (and most other's) character. I get it the author really wanted to create an underdog, but she went so overboard with it that she had to fix her status by having her meet with the four most selfless people in existence, which unfortunately means she bypasses most of her problems since one of them can always help so she doesn't really have to work for anything
I wouldn't really call this a power fantasy since poor Fallon has everything working against her, so maybe a victim fantasy? Like, you're always the person who should be pitied and cared for by others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2024
What the fart was this
(if u found that statement cringy, honey u haven't SEEN cringe)
This was quite book! And not in a good way.
(TW: me being as cringe as the book itself)
Ik u guys love me for being cringe. Or maybe it's just me, I may be my only fan in this world idk but ima do it.
Ima be cringe.
Stick with me and read THREE HUNDRED PAGES OF IM NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS
this should be a feat or smth bc like i did it. I thought I couldn't. But I did
And I hated it. Every second.
LiKe Everrrryyy SeC BRuH
ToTes not CooOl
Plot?
(spoilers bRuH)
eh girl cant be touched.
breaks into magical city bc daddy's got a boo boo
she breaks open a store but then has to go get a magical healer🙂↕️
i dont remember much and aparently she forgot to tell magical blonde man that she cant be touched🫢🤫
they ride on horse to dad 🐎🐎
doddododoododo
okay we here and um lets js say that magical blone man is twitching😒😏
why? he was fighting death 🤗
bc dad got a wittle tiny cut over his heart now hes dying.😚
womp womp.🤩
👱♂️so magical blone man gets angry at no-touchy incarnate✋🏻😀
🫨🫨then he stomps out and everyone TREMBLED.🤪😜🫨
so um, smth smth happens im-not-like-other-girls🤭 is in the middle of being kidnapped by royal guards💂♂️ or smth and the WHOLE town, i kid you not the WHOLE town is there to save her 😇😊
🙄🥱yadda yadda friends arm gets cut off 💪
moving to magical city montage:
🔥👧😡😡😡😡😤👨🍼 *evil mother*
SHES IN COOL KIDS SCHOOL.
whatever meet a red head and a twin of magical blonde boy.
school montage:
👧+👧🏻*red hair*
evil blonde chick👧🏼
hot boyfriend that no one likes (twin of magical blone boy)
OOP therez her evil mother at magical blonde boys rock concert!
yh yn stuff happens she breaks up with twin
blah blah she gets together w hot blonde boy but UH OH hes dead now she has his powers and he has hers um still cursed tho
idk why she still is but lol
dont worry, queen hates her w a burning pation and i cant blame her.
shes such a pity party.
end of spoilers!
characters:
everyone made me want to tear my hair out and bang my head against a wall.
at the same time.
over and over again.
welp! never again! i shall never read another of her novels.
i cant stand the way she writes, no character depth no plot that makes sense or has any depth.
if you truely like this, well. okay
(if u found that statement cringy, honey u haven't SEEN cringe)
This was quite book! And not in a good way.
(TW: me being as cringe as the book itself)
Ik u guys love me for being cringe. Or maybe it's just me, I may be my only fan in this world idk but ima do it.
Ima be cringe.
Stick with me and read THREE HUNDRED PAGES OF IM NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS
this should be a feat or smth bc like i did it. I thought I couldn't. But I did
And I hated it. Every second.
LiKe Everrrryyy SeC BRuH
ToTes not CooOl
Plot?
(spoilers bRuH)
eh girl cant be touched.
breaks into magical city bc daddy's got a boo boo
she breaks open a store but then has to go get a magical healer🙂↕️
i dont remember much and aparently she forgot to tell magical blonde man that she cant be touched🫢🤫
they ride on horse to dad 🐎🐎
doddododoododo
okay we here and um lets js say that magical blone man is twitching😒😏
why? he was fighting death 🤗
bc dad got a wittle tiny cut over his heart now hes dying.😚
womp womp.🤩
👱♂️so magical blone man gets angry at no-touchy incarnate✋🏻😀
🫨🫨then he stomps out and everyone TREMBLED.🤪😜🫨
so um, smth smth happens im-not-like-other-girls🤭 is in the middle of being kidnapped by royal guards💂♂️ or smth and the WHOLE town, i kid you not the WHOLE town is there to save her 😇😊
🙄🥱yadda yadda friends arm gets cut off 💪
moving to magical city montage:
🔥👧😡😡😡😡😤👨🍼 *evil mother*
SHES IN COOL KIDS SCHOOL.
whatever meet a red head and a twin of magical blonde boy.
school montage:
👧+👧🏻*red hair*
evil blonde chick👧🏼
hot boyfriend that no one likes (twin of magical blone boy)
OOP therez her evil mother at magical blonde boys rock concert!
yh yn stuff happens she breaks up with twin
blah blah she gets together w hot blonde boy but UH OH hes dead now she has his powers and he has hers um still cursed tho
idk why she still is but lol
dont worry, queen hates her w a burning pation and i cant blame her.
shes such a pity party.
end of spoilers!
characters:
everyone made me want to tear my hair out and bang my head against a wall.
at the same time.
over and over again.
welp! never again! i shall never read another of her novels.
i cant stand the way she writes, no character depth no plot that makes sense or has any depth.
if you truely like this, well. okay
January 30, 2024
Wattpad writing ahh book
September 12, 2024
well. i've been having some shit luck with some of my reading choices lately.
lemme be honest: the writing wasn't great, it was pretty juvenile and bland at best. everything felt like it was happening too easily and too fast, and at points i felt like this would've been better off marketed as a middle-grade. all of the characters are extremely emotionally immature, especially fallon. the story wasn't the most original either, it's basically like a reverse shatter me with fae, and the names for all the people and places were a bit convenient or ordinary. also, i couldn't tell if this was high fantasy or urban/dystopian fantasy? it seemed like high fantasy but the characters used a lot of modern colloquialisms and phrases that had me doubtful ('dude' 'pizza' 'bro' 'bestie' etc). however. i did have fun reading this. overall this was a pretty mediocre but entertaining book. still gonna read the next one for funsies probably.
tl;dr this gets to go into the category of books that were objectively horrid but i still had fun and somewhat enjoyed them, along with the selection, american royals, and house of marionne.
Edit: ok. so. after taking some time to Think, i’ve concluded that this book was not as enjoyable as i originally thought tbh. there are books where the writing is bad but you’re staying interested because of the plot, characters, pacing etc, and there are books where the writing is so bad that you’re finding any way to force yourself into finishing it. i had gotten to a point where i was deluding myself into thinking this had some kind of redeeming quality when it absolutely did not. sorry to anyone who enjoyed this, but the writing was extremely poorly done.
lemme be honest: the writing wasn't great, it was pretty juvenile and bland at best. everything felt like it was happening too easily and too fast, and at points i felt like this would've been better off marketed as a middle-grade. all of the characters are extremely emotionally immature, especially fallon. the story wasn't the most original either, it's basically like a reverse shatter me with fae, and the names for all the people and places were a bit convenient or ordinary. also, i couldn't tell if this was high fantasy or urban/dystopian fantasy? it seemed like high fantasy but the characters used a lot of modern colloquialisms and phrases that had me doubtful ('dude' 'pizza' 'bro' 'bestie' etc). however. i did have fun reading this. overall this was a pretty mediocre but entertaining book. still gonna read the next one for funsies probably.
tl;dr this gets to go into the category of books that were objectively horrid but i still had fun and somewhat enjoyed them, along with the selection, american royals, and house of marionne.
Edit: ok. so. after taking some time to Think, i’ve concluded that this book was not as enjoyable as i originally thought tbh. there are books where the writing is bad but you’re staying interested because of the plot, characters, pacing etc, and there are books where the writing is so bad that you’re finding any way to force yourself into finishing it. i had gotten to a point where i was deluding myself into thinking this had some kind of redeeming quality when it absolutely did not. sorry to anyone who enjoyed this, but the writing was extremely poorly done.
November 19, 2023
The idea was great but poorly executed. The only character that I cared about was Yanric.
Very juvenile writing. I'm not sure if this is the author's first book but I'm hoping the second one is better.
All the characters acted like they were 12 instead of 18. There was barely any character development. The way she made Eden and Ayden end up together was very choppy and rushed.
They keep saying Fallon is a very strong Fae but there is hardly any scenes with her powers, I wish the author would've spent more time writing about her challenges in class instead of the whole ' they brushed my hair so now I'm in horrible agony, but I'm used to this because I'm cursed and I hate my life".
I realize it's marketed as a young adult book, my IMO this is more of a middle school aged book.
I would not recommend it, even though it's a short read
Very juvenile writing. I'm not sure if this is the author's first book but I'm hoping the second one is better.
All the characters acted like they were 12 instead of 18. There was barely any character development. The way she made Eden and Ayden end up together was very choppy and rushed.
They keep saying Fallon is a very strong Fae but there is hardly any scenes with her powers, I wish the author would've spent more time writing about her challenges in class instead of the whole ' they brushed my hair so now I'm in horrible agony, but I'm used to this because I'm cursed and I hate my life".
I realize it's marketed as a young adult book, my IMO this is more of a middle school aged book.
I would not recommend it, even though it's a short read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2024
OMG THAT ENDING IS INSANE BC WHAT???
January 16, 2024
I didn’t know if I’d be able to fit this in, as it said it was a January release. But then I also saw that it came out last September? And another place it said not till April. But I picked it up to fit in and I am glad I did! It was good!
It hooked me from the start with the different classes of fae. Those with magic and those without. First of all Fallon’s curse is horrible. No one can touch her. And it’s not even just her skin, even if someone were to touch her hair it will cause her excruciating, debilitating pain. She was left as a baby in a basket with a note saying not to touch her, that she was cursed. And so at first no one would take her, until the man who became her father did. He soon learned the curse and not touching had to do with the pain it caused her, not that she hurt anyone else. But her life was hard because he soon realized he couldn’t touch her with bare skin. That means no hugging, nothing. The other kids at school didn’t believe it and would test it out, pulling her hair, touching her just to see what happened. So she had one friend really.
When her dad gets sick she decides to break into the Gilded City where the fae with magic live. She comes across a healer who comes back and heals her father. She also finds out he can touch her. But when she says that to him, he realizes who she is, and tells her to stay away. Turns out she comes from a dark fae family. One that had been completely sent away or was dead as far as everyone knew. They can’t kill her because the curse also says if anyone in the city kills her, then the heirs to the throne will die.
When they come to take her back to the city to put her in jail for her family’s sins, suddenly she finds powers she never knew she had as she fights to protect the few townspeople who are trying to protect her. So she is taken in to the city and charged with attending the school for all four years to learn to control her powers, in the hope that she will not turn dark like the rest of her family did. Her father is brought to live there with her and given a job. She is lucky enough that she met one girl the first night she snuck into the city named Eden that becomes a friend. And the healer who came to help her, Ariyon can’t seem to decide whether he likes her or hates her based on her family and how they affected his own family.
Other people on her side are the woman, Avis, whose apothecary shop she broke into the first night, as well as one of her instructors, who fought the queen to give her a chance at the school. She must live under her blood family’s name, even if she doesn’t want to claim the evil woman that was her mother. And soon there seems to be someone still there trying to cause issues and bring her mother back. Ariyon also has a brother named Ayden who becomes a friend, maybe boyfriend to Fallon. But to never be able to touch her, without bringing immediate pain comes between them in that aspect. And Fallon wants more, and Ariyon wants to be the one to give it to her. Even with knowing that his healing powers mean he will have a short life.
When things get really dangerous at the end, and Fallon has to choose to save him, things go wrong, and soon she must be the only one who can save him, even if she has no idea how she can do it.
I totally could see who might possibly be the one we should be keeping an eye on. There was even maybe a hint of a clue given right before the dance I think, that maybe solidified my inkling. Now, I just need the second book, and I think it is already available, since this one came out last year too? I don’t know, but I need to read more!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
It hooked me from the start with the different classes of fae. Those with magic and those without. First of all Fallon’s curse is horrible. No one can touch her. And it’s not even just her skin, even if someone were to touch her hair it will cause her excruciating, debilitating pain. She was left as a baby in a basket with a note saying not to touch her, that she was cursed. And so at first no one would take her, until the man who became her father did. He soon learned the curse and not touching had to do with the pain it caused her, not that she hurt anyone else. But her life was hard because he soon realized he couldn’t touch her with bare skin. That means no hugging, nothing. The other kids at school didn’t believe it and would test it out, pulling her hair, touching her just to see what happened. So she had one friend really.
When her dad gets sick she decides to break into the Gilded City where the fae with magic live. She comes across a healer who comes back and heals her father. She also finds out he can touch her. But when she says that to him, he realizes who she is, and tells her to stay away. Turns out she comes from a dark fae family. One that had been completely sent away or was dead as far as everyone knew. They can’t kill her because the curse also says if anyone in the city kills her, then the heirs to the throne will die.
When they come to take her back to the city to put her in jail for her family’s sins, suddenly she finds powers she never knew she had as she fights to protect the few townspeople who are trying to protect her. So she is taken in to the city and charged with attending the school for all four years to learn to control her powers, in the hope that she will not turn dark like the rest of her family did. Her father is brought to live there with her and given a job. She is lucky enough that she met one girl the first night she snuck into the city named Eden that becomes a friend. And the healer who came to help her, Ariyon can’t seem to decide whether he likes her or hates her based on her family and how they affected his own family.
Other people on her side are the woman, Avis, whose apothecary shop she broke into the first night, as well as one of her instructors, who fought the queen to give her a chance at the school. She must live under her blood family’s name, even if she doesn’t want to claim the evil woman that was her mother. And soon there seems to be someone still there trying to cause issues and bring her mother back. Ariyon also has a brother named Ayden who becomes a friend, maybe boyfriend to Fallon. But to never be able to touch her, without bringing immediate pain comes between them in that aspect. And Fallon wants more, and Ariyon wants to be the one to give it to her. Even with knowing that his healing powers mean he will have a short life.
When things get really dangerous at the end, and Fallon has to choose to save him, things go wrong, and soon she must be the only one who can save him, even if she has no idea how she can do it.
I totally could see who might possibly be the one we should be keeping an eye on. There was even maybe a hint of a clue given right before the dance I think, that maybe solidified my inkling. Now, I just need the second book, and I think it is already available, since this one came out last year too? I don’t know, but I need to read more!
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
January 5, 2024
✨ARC Review✨
📖: House of Ash and Shadow
🖋️: Leia Stone
⭐️: 5 of 5
🌶️: 5 of 5
💬: “I’m a powerful man. Powerful men can be forgiven for loose tongues.”
Tropes, Topics & Themes:
✨Dark Magic
✨Curse
✨Academic Fantasy
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Familiars
✨Twin brothers
From being placed in a basket after she was born with a sign that said “Don’t touch her. Cursed.” Fallon is taken in and loved by a man after he lost his wife.
Growing up she never experienced a hug, holding someone’s hand or even a simple touch from a boy because of the curse.
“Fallon, I was joking! You can’t go and nab a healer from The Gilded City.”
When Fallon’s father become sick and on the verge on death. She runs hours to The Gilded City to find someone that can heal him.
From an accidental touch from the healer Ariyon. Fallon’s whole world changes.
She finds herself mandatory attending a magical academy where she discovers there is more to her curse.
“I want to give you everything you want.”
Will Ariyon allow his feelings to grow for Fallon with her family’s past? Will Fallon ever be able to kiss a boy?
“Yanric Spade, Bane family familiar. At your service.”
“I am an extension of you and I’ve been searching for you for seventeen years. I will only leave you in death.”
Yanric is seriously one of my favorite characters! He had me laughing so much.
This book was so fast paced, the slow burn was intense and I loved every second of it. They way the book ended!😭 I need the second book now so I can find out what happens next!
Thank you, Leia Stone, Sourcebooks Bloom Books, and netgalley for this ARC. As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
📖: House of Ash and Shadow
🖋️: Leia Stone
⭐️: 5 of 5
🌶️: 5 of 5
💬: “I’m a powerful man. Powerful men can be forgiven for loose tongues.”
Tropes, Topics & Themes:
✨Dark Magic
✨Curse
✨Academic Fantasy
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Familiars
✨Twin brothers
From being placed in a basket after she was born with a sign that said “Don’t touch her. Cursed.” Fallon is taken in and loved by a man after he lost his wife.
Growing up she never experienced a hug, holding someone’s hand or even a simple touch from a boy because of the curse.
“Fallon, I was joking! You can’t go and nab a healer from The Gilded City.”
When Fallon’s father become sick and on the verge on death. She runs hours to The Gilded City to find someone that can heal him.
From an accidental touch from the healer Ariyon. Fallon’s whole world changes.
She finds herself mandatory attending a magical academy where she discovers there is more to her curse.
“I want to give you everything you want.”
Will Ariyon allow his feelings to grow for Fallon with her family’s past? Will Fallon ever be able to kiss a boy?
“Yanric Spade, Bane family familiar. At your service.”
“I am an extension of you and I’ve been searching for you for seventeen years. I will only leave you in death.”
Yanric is seriously one of my favorite characters! He had me laughing so much.
This book was so fast paced, the slow burn was intense and I loved every second of it. They way the book ended!😭 I need the second book now so I can find out what happens next!
Thank you, Leia Stone, Sourcebooks Bloom Books, and netgalley for this ARC. As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
June 4, 2024
An addictive story that captivates you from the very first page. A battle between light and the dark with characters pulling at your heart strings. An unputdownable book that encourages you to read just “one more chapter”, but realizing that you’ll just end up finishing the book in one sitting.
August 16, 2025
This book had me hooked immediately!!! The ENDING THOUGH!!! I need book 2 asap!! Read this!
May 28, 2024
I fucking DESPISED reading this book. Let me explain SOME of the reasons why it made me feel utterly miserable.
It doesn't make sense that Ariyon is the only person in the entire world who can touch Fallon?? Why can't his TWIN BROTHER do the same?? At least in the Shatter Me series, there was an explanation for why Warner and Adam could touch Juliette, but here there's no explanation whatsoever. It's deadass just super random.
I hated how the characters spoke; it sounded too much like a theater play. Like bro no one speaks like that in real life.. Also the way everything was so straightforward.. sigh.
I also didn't like how they switched the way they talked all the time. One second they're casual and speaking with each other like normal teenagers, using slang and everything, and the next second they're super formal, in a way that reminds you of a true fantasy book where all the characters have super elegant manners.
Also, the relationship between Avis and Queen Solana was baffling. Why are they half-sisters??? It felt super unnecessary since it never comes up again in the story.. like ok.. good to know ig?? what was the point again?? fucking delete ts book bro not everyone was meant to be a writer..
And that random ass accident during the mid terms where they had like cannons shooting stuff at them and they had to use their fire powers or whatever?? who was trying to kill the queen..?? again, super unnecessary and stupid
Not to mention how the whole thing about the Bane family having dark fae magic had so much potential, but instead, we get many unnecessary details about them that don't play a role in the future.
The vibes I got from this book were pure Wattpad vibes. Fallon OBVIOUSLY had to be part of some royal family with super dark magic and therefore have a house in the Gilded City??? ok.
The way all of a sudden Fallon knows how to control her powers almost perfectly after one lesson... DAWGGG
Ariyon is on the verge of dying at the end and ALL OF A FUCKING SUDDEN THIS FUCKING BITCH BORROWS HIS HEALING POWERS. BRO HOWW. DEADASS FUCKING HOW... I WAS AB TO COMMIT THE MOMENT I READ THAT AINT NO FUCKING WAY???
And the cherry on top is about to come. In the end, Fallon gets transported to the Realm of Eternity. Where theoretically, she should have a really big fight against The Grim, The Fae of Death, to save Ariyon's life. But guess fucking what?? She begs him (aka says TWO FUCKING sentences) and The Grim is like, 'oh ok yeah no problem i gotchu bro' .. what.
At the end, the queen RANDOMLY... I REPEAT... RANDOMLY smacks Fallon, and she loses consciousness, then wakes up in a cell.. ok...
Now, look what Queen Solana says to Fallon: “You expect me to believe you portaled? There hasn’t been a portal fae in over a century. It takes decades to master that skill.” LIKE, BRO, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. It's the way Fallon casually masters every single power out there
Basically, what happens in the end is that Ariyon and Fallon switch powers since Banes apparently have the power to switch magic with another... Honestly, no words.
also.. the fucking writing.. be so fucking fr oh my god he sings?? AND is a painter?? AND plays the guitar on top of that?? shut ur bitch ass up fucking kys
"But it was beautiful. More beautiful than l'd imagined. First, it was so clean. The roads looked swept, there was no dirt on them... or trash."
WHATT. OMG WHAG TRASH NO TRASH HUH OMG!!! IT WAS SO CLEAN OMG GUYS..... IT WAS WHAT.. C-CLE-CLEAN..???? NO WAY 😍😝😝😜😍😍🥰 deadass unalive urself go do that whale challenge on ur thighs bro what the fuck was the editor doing bro DO WE EVEN HAVE AN EDITOR??? well CLEARLY FUCKING NOT.
I have many more arguments written in my notes app, but I'm genuinely exhausted and have the worst headache ever, so I'll just leave it at this. I'll edit this review in a few months.
It doesn't make sense that Ariyon is the only person in the entire world who can touch Fallon?? Why can't his TWIN BROTHER do the same?? At least in the Shatter Me series, there was an explanation for why Warner and Adam could touch Juliette, but here there's no explanation whatsoever. It's deadass just super random.
I hated how the characters spoke; it sounded too much like a theater play. Like bro no one speaks like that in real life.. Also the way everything was so straightforward.. sigh.
I also didn't like how they switched the way they talked all the time. One second they're casual and speaking with each other like normal teenagers, using slang and everything, and the next second they're super formal, in a way that reminds you of a true fantasy book where all the characters have super elegant manners.
Also, the relationship between Avis and Queen Solana was baffling. Why are they half-sisters??? It felt super unnecessary since it never comes up again in the story.. like ok.. good to know ig?? what was the point again?? fucking delete ts book bro not everyone was meant to be a writer..
And that random ass accident during the mid terms where they had like cannons shooting stuff at them and they had to use their fire powers or whatever?? who was trying to kill the queen..?? again, super unnecessary and stupid
Not to mention how the whole thing about the Bane family having dark fae magic had so much potential, but instead, we get many unnecessary details about them that don't play a role in the future.
The vibes I got from this book were pure Wattpad vibes. Fallon OBVIOUSLY had to be part of some royal family with super dark magic and therefore have a house in the Gilded City??? ok.
The way all of a sudden Fallon knows how to control her powers almost perfectly after one lesson... DAWGGG
Ariyon is on the verge of dying at the end and ALL OF A FUCKING SUDDEN THIS FUCKING BITCH BORROWS HIS HEALING POWERS. BRO HOWW. DEADASS FUCKING HOW... I WAS AB TO COMMIT THE MOMENT I READ THAT AINT NO FUCKING WAY???
And the cherry on top is about to come. In the end, Fallon gets transported to the Realm of Eternity. Where theoretically, she should have a really big fight against The Grim, The Fae of Death, to save Ariyon's life. But guess fucking what?? She begs him (aka says TWO FUCKING sentences) and The Grim is like, 'oh ok yeah no problem i gotchu bro' .. what.
At the end, the queen RANDOMLY... I REPEAT... RANDOMLY smacks Fallon, and she loses consciousness, then wakes up in a cell.. ok...
Now, look what Queen Solana says to Fallon: “You expect me to believe you portaled? There hasn’t been a portal fae in over a century. It takes decades to master that skill.” LIKE, BRO, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. It's the way Fallon casually masters every single power out there
Basically, what happens in the end is that Ariyon and Fallon switch powers since Banes apparently have the power to switch magic with another... Honestly, no words.
also.. the fucking writing.. be so fucking fr oh my god he sings?? AND is a painter?? AND plays the guitar on top of that?? shut ur bitch ass up fucking kys
"But it was beautiful. More beautiful than l'd imagined. First, it was so clean. The roads looked swept, there was no dirt on them... or trash."
WHATT. OMG WHAG TRASH NO TRASH HUH OMG!!! IT WAS SO CLEAN OMG GUYS..... IT WAS WHAT.. C-CLE-CLEAN..???? NO WAY 😍😝😝😜😍😍🥰 deadass unalive urself go do that whale challenge on ur thighs bro what the fuck was the editor doing bro DO WE EVEN HAVE AN EDITOR??? well CLEARLY FUCKING NOT.
I have many more arguments written in my notes app, but I'm genuinely exhausted and have the worst headache ever, so I'll just leave it at this. I'll edit this review in a few months.
May 19, 2024
This was the most high school-iest book to ever high school interaction and I can’t say I hated it?? It was enjoyable yet some flaws can’t be overseen.
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SPOILERS
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It started as a solid 4.5 and by the end, I hate to say it but it got dropped to a 2.5. It’s rounded up cause I did finish this in one sitting EASILY.
I liked Fallon and her conviction to stay good. I loved her relationship with her dad (though he got dropped from the story later), and her friendship with Eden, and Yanric!
I liked her struggle to connect her two identities: a girl raised to be magicless but horribly cursed and a girl destined to go mad (per Bane lineage). I felt for her and understood her struggles and her desire to feel normal and this is probably the part of the story I loved most.
The interactions between the group of friends was pretty realistic for high schoolers and so I’ll give it props for that. I do wish that the language remained consistent as it switched between faux fantasy and modern slang too much.
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The second half of the book fell apart.
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In the last 100 pages, Fallon tried to break up with Ayden, started dating Ayden for real, told him he would be disappointed that she can’t ever touch him, dated for like idk four pages or something, then he broke up with her cause he can’t stomach touching/hurting her, told her to go for his brother, and then peaced out……? There was no tension or angst is what I’m trying to get at. There didn’t need to be a love triangle like at all.
And Ayrion - or whatever his name was- decided he’s always loved Fallon?? But we didn’t see why they liked each other, it felt like a classic case of “everyone is in love with FMC”. I liked Fallon but this story was far too short to understand HOW everyone loved her.
Also - MA J O R S P O I L E R-
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When Clarke said that Banes can switch powers with others?? But there was no foreshadowing of this??
It felt like the BIGGEST case of bulllllshhitttttt plot contrivances.
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I have yet to decide if I’m reading the next one
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SPOILERS
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It started as a solid 4.5 and by the end, I hate to say it but it got dropped to a 2.5. It’s rounded up cause I did finish this in one sitting EASILY.
I liked Fallon and her conviction to stay good. I loved her relationship with her dad (though he got dropped from the story later), and her friendship with Eden, and Yanric!
I liked her struggle to connect her two identities: a girl raised to be magicless but horribly cursed and a girl destined to go mad (per Bane lineage). I felt for her and understood her struggles and her desire to feel normal and this is probably the part of the story I loved most.
The interactions between the group of friends was pretty realistic for high schoolers and so I’ll give it props for that. I do wish that the language remained consistent as it switched between faux fantasy and modern slang too much.
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The second half of the book fell apart.
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In the last 100 pages, Fallon tried to break up with Ayden, started dating Ayden for real, told him he would be disappointed that she can’t ever touch him, dated for like idk four pages or something, then he broke up with her cause he can’t stomach touching/hurting her, told her to go for his brother, and then peaced out……? There was no tension or angst is what I’m trying to get at. There didn’t need to be a love triangle like at all.
And Ayrion - or whatever his name was- decided he’s always loved Fallon?? But we didn’t see why they liked each other, it felt like a classic case of “everyone is in love with FMC”. I liked Fallon but this story was far too short to understand HOW everyone loved her.
Also - MA J O R S P O I L E R-
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When Clarke said that Banes can switch powers with others?? But there was no foreshadowing of this??
It felt like the BIGGEST case of bulllllshhitttttt plot contrivances.
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I have yet to decide if I’m reading the next one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2023
Sometimes, we all need a little bit of YA fantasy to help us escape the day-to-day. When I picked up "House of Ash and Shadow," I was hopeful that this would be a classic dive into all my favorite tropes. Unfortunately, while Stone delivers on the tropes, this book lacks the depth to make it an enjoyable read or a series worth continuing.
The main character, Fallon, embodies all the stereotypical traits a YA heroine must have. She is oh so skinny and small, poor, and helps support her single father with her one friend while living in her "hut." However, just as her characterization is unoriginal, her story arc throughout the book is equally uninspired and problematic for my tastes. Fallon can't touch anyone because of a curse, except for the hottie prince, for no apparent reason, who she just can't hate, no matter how much he mistreats her. She is entirely focused on her romantic interests, her desire to have children, and her fixation on being kissed. The character is not only a blatant stereotype but also lacks the depth of character to motivate any of her heroic actions. Plot points in this book fall down from on high, laid out with very little explanation.
In addition to the poor characterization and weak female lead, the novel is riddled with modern slang that makes it read like fanfiction you might find on AO3. I'll note that I am not this author's target demographic, and her young readers, I'm sure, will enjoy the romantic and dramatic love triangle. However, there are plenty of other YA novels in this genre that I believe would better suit any reader.
The main character, Fallon, embodies all the stereotypical traits a YA heroine must have. She is oh so skinny and small, poor, and helps support her single father with her one friend while living in her "hut." However, just as her characterization is unoriginal, her story arc throughout the book is equally uninspired and problematic for my tastes. Fallon can't touch anyone because of a curse, except for the hottie prince, for no apparent reason, who she just can't hate, no matter how much he mistreats her. She is entirely focused on her romantic interests, her desire to have children, and her fixation on being kissed. The character is not only a blatant stereotype but also lacks the depth of character to motivate any of her heroic actions. Plot points in this book fall down from on high, laid out with very little explanation.
In addition to the poor characterization and weak female lead, the novel is riddled with modern slang that makes it read like fanfiction you might find on AO3. I'll note that I am not this author's target demographic, and her young readers, I'm sure, will enjoy the romantic and dramatic love triangle. However, there are plenty of other YA novels in this genre that I believe would better suit any reader.
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