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jenny_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Interesting world, boring-as-hell characters.
I had zero emotional attachment for the characters in this book. At most, I can say that Agnieska and Kasia's relationship had some potential, but the way it's tackled, Kasia's just a pawn to further Agnieska's development. As for the "love interest", well Sarkan has all the red flags of a horrible partner (calls her an idiot constantly, doesn't display any kind of warmth towards her except when they're sleeping together, etc.) without any chemistry with Agnieska whatsoever. I might call them f**k buddies at best, but there's no love there -- or a very unhealthy kind.
The Wood itself was a great concept and pretty much the only reason I kept reading, until the end when I got so bored I skimmed the last 50-or-so pages. Take all the sexism, patriarchy and shitty relationships and there might have been something worth 435 pages. As it stands, it was just okay.
Seriously, though, what is it with fantasy writers who can't ever let go of patriarchy and sexism? You create a whole-ass world with magic, but you can't be bothered to stop objectifying women and seeing them as currency? There was no need for the near-rape scene and the passive misogyny in every single chapter.
I had zero emotional attachment for the characters in this book. At most, I can say that Agnieska and Kasia's relationship had some potential, but the way it's tackled, Kasia's just a pawn to further Agnieska's development. As for the "love interest", well Sarkan has all the red flags of a horrible partner (calls her an idiot constantly, doesn't display any kind of warmth towards her except when they're sleeping together, etc.) without any chemistry with Agnieska whatsoever. I might call them f**k buddies at best, but there's no love there -- or a very unhealthy kind.
The Wood itself was a great concept and pretty much the only reason I kept reading, until the end when I got so bored I skimmed the last 50-or-so pages. Take all the sexism, patriarchy and shitty relationships and there might have been something worth 435 pages. As it stands, it was just okay.
Seriously, though, what is it with fantasy writers who can't ever let go of patriarchy and sexism? You create a whole-ass world with magic, but you can't be bothered to stop objectifying women and seeing them as currency? There was no need for the near-rape scene and the passive misogyny in every single chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
kthedestroyer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Warning! There might be spoilers!
Oh well... That was underwhelming.
Don't get me wrong. The book has it's charms and I like the whimsical vibe of it.
However, once those two idiots leave the tower, everything gets so much worse.
The book has a good premise - kinda reminds me of Beauty and the Beast - but the romance gets cast aside and this becomes "the mc has no influence on her life whatsoever and lets others make her decisions" kinda book.
And if we are already here... The romance was horrible, yet the best part of the book. They had no chemistry at all and it all happened too fast. It think this book shouild be a slow burn romance and it would be about the mc learning about her powers. But nope. Why not add the corrupted king and a bunch of other douchebags to destroy it.
I would even be willing to overlook the age gap if there would be a good enemies to lovers.
That kinky scene though... It got me completely off guard. It was not needed and there was no reason for the author to be that descriptive.
There was a few good scenes here and there but in the end the book was not well put together and the plot was a big mess.
Oh well... That was underwhelming.
Don't get me wrong. The book has it's charms and I like the whimsical vibe of it.
However, once those two idiots leave the tower, everything gets so much worse.
The book has a good premise - kinda reminds me of Beauty and the Beast - but the romance gets cast aside and this becomes "the mc has no influence on her life whatsoever and lets others make her decisions" kinda book.
And if we are already here... The romance was horrible, yet the best part of the book. They had no chemistry at all and it all happened too fast. It think this book shouild be a slow burn romance and it would be about the mc learning about her powers. But nope. Why not add the corrupted king and a bunch of other douchebags to destroy it.
I would even be willing to overlook the age gap if there would be a good enemies to lovers.
That kinky scene though... It got me completely off guard. It was not needed and there was no reason for the author to be that descriptive.
There was a few good scenes here and there but in the end the book was not well put together and the plot was a big mess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Kidnapping
rosanaa_bb's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 14%
Literally so boring, I didnt care for the characters one bit. The love interest literally tried to blame the girl for nearly getting raped so let me leave you with that.
Literally so boring, I didnt care for the characters one bit. The love interest literally tried to blame the girl for nearly getting raped so let me leave you with that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
katerodger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
tieflingkisser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Child death and Rape
lisaaloha3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
livinthebubble's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
I'm so sad right now. I thought for 90% of this book that it was going to be a new favourite book, then the ending happened, and now its not.
What I liked:
- original concept
- the wood is the villain
- the plot twists/ reveals
- I liked the characters
Why I gave it a 3☆:
- I really disliked the ending
- too many different subplots. It got confusing at times
- unexplained things. Why is she so powerful?
- THE ROMANCE. I was so excited reading, hoping for that fluffy hate to love trope. BUT THERE WAS LIKE 2 TIMES "romance" ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
- too many characters. Especially confusing because of their weird names
- wtf was the point of the rape scene?
What I liked:
- original concept
- the wood is the villain
- the plot twists/ reveals
- I liked the characters
Why I gave it a 3☆:
- I really disliked the ending
- too many different subplots. It got confusing at times
- unexplained things. Why is she so powerful?
- THE ROMANCE. I was so excited reading, hoping for that fluffy hate to love trope. BUT THERE WAS LIKE 2 TIMES "romance" ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
- too many characters. Especially confusing because of their weird names
- wtf was the point of the rape scene?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ohmygourd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Vomit, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage and Rape
starlightsong's review against another edition
the romance in this book--between the 17 year old main character and hundreds of years old Dragon--is super abusive and gross to the point where i just couldn't stand to finish it. the main character is constantly called ugly and stupid, horsefaced and slovenly, the dirtiest thing in the tower, useless, mentally defective and all manner of insults by the dragon, and when she's nearly raped by another man, he blames it on her because of the dress she was wearing. she somehow seems to forget all of this and goes on an adventure with the almost-rapist and falls in love with the dragon, who calls her a raving lunatic before suddenly kissing her. the prose is beautiful but i wish i had read the goodreads reviews, which are much more honest about the fact that this book is a beauty and the beast retelling in which the beast character does inexcusably awful things and this is never properly addressed, with agnieszka somehow falling for him because... why? i'm honestly not sure, it was so poorly developed. i can't understand why the reviews on this site are so positive. DNFed after chapter 11 in which it became clear that the Dragon is somehow our romantic lead rather than our villain. the plot involving the wood also feels super ableist to me in suggesting that physical and mental disabilities are caused by supernatural evil. i wish I'd never tried to read this tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism