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A review by p_gonza2
These Wicked Stars by Catelyn Wilson
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for sending me this e-arc in exchange for a honest review! All opinions are my own.
I wanna start with that I find the cover to be so pretty and was one of the factors of me requesting this book. I also found the synopsis interesting almost reminding me of Caraval. Unfortunately I could not connect to the characters at all. In a hero’s journey it starts with character leaving home, often being foolish making horrible decisions and most often have a big flaw (that they get tested later and learn from their mistakes), for our main character, Hazel, her flawhappened to be too trusting and needing to be desired/. Hazel gets constantly tested throughout the book and she keeps failing, every person she meets she trusts, the only reason that she wasn’t betrayed was because the other person didn’t do it but Hazel herself never questions herself. I honestly think that if we would’ve seen some growth from this it would’ve improved but it just makes her character flat, and boring, I did not sympathise with her I did not care if she got hurt or what would happen to her.
The other thing that first seemed interesting was the idea of the bazaar to be open for 7 days but unfortunately there was some days (literally the first day) that felt sooo long there was just too many descriptions that it made me put the book down and take a break. I think if the introduction was shorten it would make the story flow better. I understand we need the information to understand but it was too much for just one scene.
This book also contains insta love which is why I say that Hazel didn’t learn of her mistakes because she just wanted to be loved and honestly just stayed with the first person who showed some interest in her which is literally the same problem she had with the other guy.
Overall this book had potential it just needs a shorter introduction and add growth to characters. Would I read a (the?) sequel? Probably not as I couldn’t connect to the characters to actually be invested to see what happens to them.
I wanna start with that I find the cover to be so pretty and was one of the factors of me requesting this book. I also found the synopsis interesting almost reminding me of Caraval. Unfortunately I could not connect to the characters at all. In a hero’s journey it starts with character leaving home, often being foolish making horrible decisions and most often have a big flaw (that they get tested later and learn from their mistakes), for our main character, Hazel, her flaw
The other thing that first seemed interesting was the idea of the bazaar to be open for 7 days but unfortunately there was some days (literally the first day) that felt sooo long there was just too many descriptions that it made me put the book down and take a break. I think if the introduction was shorten it would make the story flow better. I understand we need the information to understand but it was too much for just one scene.
This book also contains insta love which is why I say that Hazel didn’t learn of her mistakes because she just wanted to be loved and honestly just stayed with the first person who showed some interest in her which is literally the same problem she had with the other guy.
Overall this book had potential it just needs a shorter introduction and add growth to characters. Would I read a (the?) sequel? Probably not as I couldn’t connect to the characters to actually be invested to see what happens to them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Stalking, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol