This is so Evelyn Hugo coded, so it should be right up me alley in theory.

I flew through the book and even shed a tear near the end so I did like it overall! But unfortunately it has too many flaws to be truly great.

It feels like the book wants too much for the low page count. There are so many stories and family entanglements that on the surface seem interesting but don't get enough time to really shine. Especially Margarets and Alices parents seem so similar that I got them confused a few time when the book was hopping through the timelines. The romance feels rushed as well and Hayden was really pissing me ooooooff from time to time.

Another conflicting read.

I wanted to LOVE this so badly since I loved the Sheperd King Duology.

The writing was good, I really liked the dark mysterious atmosphere. The magic system was intruiging as well. I liked the characters. The plot was a little slow for my liking but that's not something that's keeping me from getting hyped up usually.

But what can I say. I just didn't feel it. My heart wasn't in it and I can't even exactly tell you why.

To be fair: The last quarter of the book finally picked up the pace and had a few nice twists and turns, so now I am hooked enough to want to read the second book when it comes out!

And of coures, I absolutely adored the gargoyle. Favorite part of the book. Odd sidekicks always have my heart.

A celebtration of youth, art and friendship. Cried through the whole book. 5/5 no notes.

I'll be honest: I went into this assuming I won't like it. I heard so many things about Backmans works and really thought I would probably fall on the side of not liking his books.

Boy, was I wrong. I was hooked from page 1. Sentence 1 even. This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I finished it in less than 24 hours.

I was instantly invested in all the characters. By chapter 5 I cried like three times already and after that the tears just kept flowing. Not always because it was sad, but also because it was so touching and heartwarming at times. The way the friendship of the protagonists is depicted is so unbelievably beautiful. One second I am ugly crying and the next I have to laugh because they are also all so adorable und funny.

I can't put into words further how much this resonated with my elder emo heart. I highlighted like half of the book. Even though the language and the writing style are so seemingly simple and so easy to read every word goes straight to the heart.