I just finished this and I've excited to read the next one. I'm sad I never knew about this series when I was a teenager, but it's clearly still a great book when you grow up too. I'm an adult now, and I loved it. The characters are captivating. Each of them provides a very different perspective and dynamic in the book, and it makes for a great ensemble. I couldn't even tell you my favourite (though I have a soft spot for Adam). I've seen from other reviews this is mostly setup, which I can definitely see, but it still managed to be exciting and it definitely makes you want to read the rest of the series. Despite being mostly exposition for the series, it's paced really well and is still very captivating. It takes a bit to get into, but once you get familiar with all the characters, it's a fast paced, character driven, unique adventure. The villain is sort of one note, but I didn't mind that because quite frankly, I didn't care too much about him as a character and was completely invested in the main ensemble, so he didn't stand out as great or bad to me. I cared about him solely for his relevance to the tragic twist for the main ensemble almost 2/3rds through the book. Blue's family are just so much fun to read about. Every character is written so well and even though every chapter flips between third person perspectives, which I usually find jolting and hard to get into, it worked so well in this book and I couldn't wait to read from everyone's point of view. And the amount of information we get from every perspective is SO satisfying. Great book, can't wait for the rest of the series.

It was okay. Not my thing. Interesting seeing how all the stories linked up and remembering previous pages and thinking ohhh so this happened because of this etc etc, but wasn't too invested in any of the stories, the format was strange, and it just wasn't too memorable for me. But it's a great book if you want a YA butterfly effect story, just not for me.

I am conflicted. The plot twist at the end really didn't hit for me. When it was explained, I was a little more on board, but honestly still a little frustrated, partly because I was enjoying the mystery but also because, even though I understood the point, it seemed a little odd of a decision. Saying that, I am obsessed with this world and have not stopped thinking about it since. Sel's character progression is one of my favourites ever. I am a SUCKER for an emotional half redemption arc and it is done beautifully. Nick is cool too, though better in the first half of the book. The villain twist was GREAT. Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention but I did NOT see it coming. Loved the process of discovery, and I appreciate (in a weird way) the discomfort this book made me feel. Loved the side characters and the non-binary representation. I'm not a huge fan of most love triangles, and it's the same here, even though I do love Sel. The plot is great, the magic system is interesting, the characters are compelling. However, some of the stuff about Rootcraft felt flat towards the end when it felt like the side-system that helped facilitate the Bloodcraft, which feels like it defeats the point. Also, I am a little tired of having queer side characters be mostly irrelevant for the entire book. Alice is very non-subtly mentioned to be gay and then hardly turns up for the rest of the book. Why do queer people always have to be side characters that feel like a bit of a diversity check? Why can't queer characters be the centre of the story? Still, this is some of the better attempts at representation I've seen, with a lot of the side characters being in casually queer relationships and a clear non-binary character, so I did appreciate it even though it's a little frustrating that they are side characters.

Flowed so well. Even though there aren't loads of significant plot points, the story progression is paced so well, the main characters are both great, the lack of communication isn't frustrating and feels realistic, the pandemic storyline makes for a really interesting apocalypse and the ending is beautiful. Almost cathartic of a read. A smooth and really enjoyable read.

Ouch. Wasn't sure about the format at the beginning but fell in love with it midway through when I realised how the format represented Emmy's grief. Emotional journey. No massive plot twists, but amazing because of the raw and painful portrayal of grief, the recognition that everyone experienced a different version of someone, and the ugliness of deep rooted grief. People hating Emmy in reviews makes me mad because that's the point. Loved it. Up there in my favourite books honestly, which I did not expect.

Loved this so much more than the first. Still heavy sensory descriptions, but more spread out and much easier to digest. From Malina's perspective primarily, which I was really excited about, and Iris's perspective was unexpectedly really entertaining. Fast paced, couldn't put it down for a while. The twists and reveals were amazing, even if they weren't massive plot twists. The build up to the ending was amazing, paced really well, exciting, the mystery kept building even when I thought I knew everything and watching the romance blossom and be so healthy and consistent and just present without any massive conflict was so refreshing and great to read. The added perspectives felt a little odd, even though I enjoyed the content and creativity involved. I really enjoyed this- except the ending. The ending felt rushed and was rather abrupt, and didn't make much sense after everything that happened. One of the romances developed in a way that made me feel a bit weird and confused, though I kind of understand how it ended up where it did. But the epilogue felt unnecessary and strange after everything, and the climax also felt like it was resolved too easily. I would read again, but I feel like it could have used more pages.

Great writing, parts of it felt paced really well, great side characters, but hated the main character and was frustrated by things that kept getting overlooked and by the sudden acceptance and rise to power for MC