astral.projection

never met a gothic novel i didn't love

4458 points

0% overlap

My Taste

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astral.projection commented on astral.projection's review of Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)

astral.projection

Nov 14, 2024

2.0

Enjoyment: 2.0Quality: 3.5Characters: 3.0Plot: 2.0

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Yo what the HELL was that 😭 first off, what a mistake not to read this right after finishing Ninth House - we get no foreplay just straight to the meat of the action, I had to watch multiple YouTube recaps to reorient myself. NORMALIZE CONTEXT ‼️

I kept waiting to care and I just… didn’t? So much happened and none of the magic is explained until the second a plot point needs to happen (one of the most egregious examples at the end: the demon held the hell gate open with Alex’s blood? They just.. assume this? What?)

The completionist in me will probably finish off the series but damn, I was saving book 2 for a rainy day and feel so let down. Hoping this is just second book syndrome at its finest

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astral.projection

Reading Update from 22% (page 91)

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Fantasy

Thoughts from 17%

THERE'S NO SMOKING LOUNGE ON THIS SHIP?! WHERE AM I GONNA USE MY E-CIGARETTE?! Fantasy does not use nor endorse the use of drugs, except if they're really cool

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Gods of Jade and Shadow

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore. The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld. Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780525620754

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Katabasis

R.F. Kuang

Two graduate students must set aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save their professor’s soul, perhaps at the cost of their own. Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality—her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world—that is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault. Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams. Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the same conclusion.

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Lileesa

THIS IS MY 5 STARS SERIES ♡

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Pagebound Royalty

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Dark Academia

Gold: Finished 15 Main Quest books.

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Dark Academia

Gold: Finished 15 Main Quest books.

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silkcaramel

Thoughts from 10%

I love Caz already! It being afraid of fish is hilarious! 🤣

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Fall 2025 Readalong

Read at least 1 book in the Fall 2025 Readalong.

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Katabasis

R.F. Kuang

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The Second Death of Locke

V.L. Bovalino

Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier.She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier's to use. Grey would do anything for Kier - be anything for him - if he would only ask.When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the dangerous heart of their nation's war, Grey and Kier will need to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret. For Grey is no ordinary magical well, but heir to the lost island of Locke - the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy and about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.

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astral.projection

Edited

What qualifies as Dark Academia?

I see this discourse a lot and have yet to find a satisfying definition (especially one that everyone can agree on!). As the genre gets more popular, publishers are smacking the "Dark Academia" label on a wider range of books and further diluting the definition. I'm reading the anthology In These Hallowed Halls right now and its a huge issue - many of the short stories are simply campus stories that (imho) are NOT Dark Academia.

To me, some element of the supernatural or the occult separates a campus novel from Dark Academia. Some argue secret societies qualify as occult, and while I typically agree, I wouldn't consider a frat/sorority a secret society. Even the Secret History has a slight element of the occult (attempted bacchanalia).

Curious what others deem Dark Academia, and specifically what makes it different from a campus novel?

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

astral.projection

Edited

Thoughts from 88% (the chess meme lied)

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astral.projection

Hidden Message

Grady mentions he hid a message within the first word of the first 14 chapters in his book. Although he tells us what the message is, I looked at the first 14 chapters of Beautiful Ugly and found a different hidden message. This was definitely my favorite easter egg! Also, if you haven't finished the book yet, I don't recommend doing this 😅

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