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What We Devour
The story of a girl who must tether herself to a violent ruler to save her crumbling world.
Lorena Adler has a secret—she holds the power of the banished gods, the Noble and the Vile, inside her. She has spent her entire life hiding from the world and her past. She’s content to spend her days as an undertaker in a small town, marry her best friend, Julian, and live an unfulfilling life so long as no one uncovers her true nature.
But when the notoriously bloodthirsty and equally Vile crown prince comes to arrest Julian’s father, he immediately recognizes Lorena for what she is. So she makes a deal—a fair trial for her betrothed’s father in exchange for her service to the crown.
The prince is desperate for her help. He’s spent years trying to repair the weakening Door that holds back the Vile…and he’s losing the battle. As Lorena learns more about the Door and the horrifying price it takes to keep it closed, she’ll have to embrace both parts of herself to survive.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
137 people are currently reading
8390 people want to read
About the author
Linsey Miller
15 books1,090 followersOnce upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in fiction and is the author of Lambda-nominated What We Devour. Her other works include the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, the first three books in the Disney Princes series, and the upcoming YA fantasy That Devil, Ambition (spring 2025 from HarperCollins). She can be found in Texas writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
April 9, 2021
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
although the writing is beautiful, i would be lying if i said i had any idea what the hell was going on
although the writing is beautiful, i would be lying if i said i had any idea what the hell was going on
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January 15, 2021Hey friends,
It's that time again. As WHAT WE DEVOUR nears completion, I would like to describe the book and then outline my initial content warnings for it. They may change as final edits happen. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like page numbers, please ask and I'll answer as best as I can.
Thank you for giving this odd little book a chance. I hope you all enjoy it.
-Linsey <3
LINSEY! WHAT IS THIS BOOK EVEN ABOUT?
Thank you for asking! WHAT WE DEVOUR is a standalone dark YA fantasy about capitalism, doors that demand blood sacrifices, and the monstrous ordeal of being known. If you like shrewd girls who bite off more than they can chew, you might like this book. It also has:
🖤 an ace protag made of cunning, kindness, & questionable decisions
👑 a boy as apathetic & curious as he is dangerous
🩸 weird magic in a weird, apocalyptic world
💀 morality, mortality, & fantasy politics
📚 more! sarcastic! mentors!
ETA: I realize that the book is described as a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but that is how I pitched it before it was written and edited. To still define it as such would be extremely generous but not entirely inaccurate. To be blunt, it's a bit like I stole the bones of B&tB and created my own monster of a story. Hopefully the real synopsis will be posted soon.
That said, for as loving as I like to think the characters ultimately are, this book does involve several important topics.
WHAT WE DEVOUR COMMENTS & CONTENT WARNINGS
I won't - as Lorena, our main character, would say - make it toothsome. This book is as bleak and brutal as it is (I hope) encouraging. It's not as gory as my other books (I don't think), but it deals with some heavy concepts and actions. The magic system in this book is based off of sacrifice and heavily features self-harm (specifically cutting) and actions that mirror self-harm. The characters also discuss self-harm at different points in the book. Scenes describing it do occur in first person.
The book also features on-the-page murder and mass murder, references to child death, the deaths of parents, discussions and depictions of sacrifices/executions, references to factory-related accidents and deaths, references to child neglect and abuse, references to filicide, references to sibling deaths, and multiple scenes about death. ETA: There is also a reference to mass suicide.
For more general content, please be aware that this book contains cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
It's that time again. As WHAT WE DEVOUR nears completion, I would like to describe the book and then outline my initial content warnings for it. They may change as final edits happen. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like page numbers, please ask and I'll answer as best as I can.
Thank you for giving this odd little book a chance. I hope you all enjoy it.
-Linsey <3
LINSEY! WHAT IS THIS BOOK EVEN ABOUT?
Thank you for asking! WHAT WE DEVOUR is a standalone dark YA fantasy about capitalism, doors that demand blood sacrifices, and the monstrous ordeal of being known. If you like shrewd girls who bite off more than they can chew, you might like this book. It also has:
🖤 an ace protag made of cunning, kindness, & questionable decisions
👑 a boy as apathetic & curious as he is dangerous
🩸 weird magic in a weird, apocalyptic world
💀 morality, mortality, & fantasy politics
📚 more! sarcastic! mentors!
ETA: I realize that the book is described as a Beauty & the Beast retelling, but that is how I pitched it before it was written and edited. To still define it as such would be extremely generous but not entirely inaccurate. To be blunt, it's a bit like I stole the bones of B&tB and created my own monster of a story. Hopefully the real synopsis will be posted soon.
That said, for as loving as I like to think the characters ultimately are, this book does involve several important topics.
WHAT WE DEVOUR COMMENTS & CONTENT WARNINGS
I won't - as Lorena, our main character, would say - make it toothsome. This book is as bleak and brutal as it is (I hope) encouraging. It's not as gory as my other books (I don't think), but it deals with some heavy concepts and actions. The magic system in this book is based off of sacrifice and heavily features self-harm (specifically cutting) and actions that mirror self-harm. The characters also discuss self-harm at different points in the book. Scenes describing it do occur in first person.
The book also features on-the-page murder and mass murder, references to child death, the deaths of parents, discussions and depictions of sacrifices/executions, references to factory-related accidents and deaths, references to child neglect and abuse, references to filicide, references to sibling deaths, and multiple scenes about death. ETA: There is also a reference to mass suicide.
For more general content, please be aware that this book contains cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
April 11, 2021
↠ 3.5 stars
Author Linsey Miller blends Beauty and the Beast with Wicked Saints in this dark fantasy standalone that packs quite the punch. Lorena has always known what her life would hold and has never thought to expect anything different than what was given. Keeper of a rare power, one that combines the powers of both nobel and vilewrought, she has lived her life with a target on her back. When the elusive crown prince Alistair cuts her a deal in exchange for the freedom of her betrothed, Lore is taken away from the world she knows in service of a terrible plan that will have deadly repercussions if achieved. Sacrifice is something she knows all too well though, and as she is led deeper into the complicated maze of secrets, divided loyalties come to a head and Lorena must decide which power she will ultimately serve – a flawed authority or herself.
What We Devour is a book that was made to be just that, devoured. In the perfect blend of magic and darkness, Miller creates a world riddled with blood, it’s characters at the mercy of capitalism, and a clash of powers they find themselves subject to. Right off the bat, this doesn't shy away from its tribute to Beauty and the Beast and elements similar to Emily Duncan’s Wicked Saints trilogy. Having not enjoyed the latter, I was rather surprised by how attention-grabbing the material was. With hidden doors and an eclectic group of characters I was more than intrigued prior to starting this, but the fact that I enjoyed it far more than I initially thought is worth noting. This is a book that is bloody and empowering, or perhaps both of those two things combined; and the protagonists are all likable, even if they do tend to make some choice decisions from time to time. Where this fell short for me particularly though, was in the aftermath of its strong beginning. Past that, the plot became a bit too convoluted and heavy, feeling as if with each passing page I was wading through quicksand. This could partly be attributed to the content heavy world building that never seemed to reach a certain stopping point. You know the first hundred or so pages into a fantasy book where you never really grasp what’s going on, well that was essentially the last two thirds of the book for me. There was just far too much going on and it felt like the author had expected you to keep pace with everything, when in reality you had been left behind in the dust. While this has so many worthy aspects like ace protagonists, dark fantasy elements, and an interesting cast of characters, I think plot wise there was a lot left to be desired. That is not to say this won't be a hit for many readers, but it may not be everything it was let out to originally be.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, attempted murder, grief, human sacrifice, self-harm, abuse
Author Linsey Miller blends Beauty and the Beast with Wicked Saints in this dark fantasy standalone that packs quite the punch. Lorena has always known what her life would hold and has never thought to expect anything different than what was given. Keeper of a rare power, one that combines the powers of both nobel and vilewrought, she has lived her life with a target on her back. When the elusive crown prince Alistair cuts her a deal in exchange for the freedom of her betrothed, Lore is taken away from the world she knows in service of a terrible plan that will have deadly repercussions if achieved. Sacrifice is something she knows all too well though, and as she is led deeper into the complicated maze of secrets, divided loyalties come to a head and Lorena must decide which power she will ultimately serve – a flawed authority or herself.
What We Devour is a book that was made to be just that, devoured. In the perfect blend of magic and darkness, Miller creates a world riddled with blood, it’s characters at the mercy of capitalism, and a clash of powers they find themselves subject to. Right off the bat, this doesn't shy away from its tribute to Beauty and the Beast and elements similar to Emily Duncan’s Wicked Saints trilogy. Having not enjoyed the latter, I was rather surprised by how attention-grabbing the material was. With hidden doors and an eclectic group of characters I was more than intrigued prior to starting this, but the fact that I enjoyed it far more than I initially thought is worth noting. This is a book that is bloody and empowering, or perhaps both of those two things combined; and the protagonists are all likable, even if they do tend to make some choice decisions from time to time. Where this fell short for me particularly though, was in the aftermath of its strong beginning. Past that, the plot became a bit too convoluted and heavy, feeling as if with each passing page I was wading through quicksand. This could partly be attributed to the content heavy world building that never seemed to reach a certain stopping point. You know the first hundred or so pages into a fantasy book where you never really grasp what’s going on, well that was essentially the last two thirds of the book for me. There was just far too much going on and it felt like the author had expected you to keep pace with everything, when in reality you had been left behind in the dust. While this has so many worthy aspects like ace protagonists, dark fantasy elements, and an interesting cast of characters, I think plot wise there was a lot left to be desired. That is not to say this won't be a hit for many readers, but it may not be everything it was let out to originally be.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, death, murder, attempted murder, grief, human sacrifice, self-harm, abuse
June 14, 2021
I liked many things about this book. The magic concept, the sacrifices, the world-building, and the queer representation in the characters were great. But you are introduced to them so quickly that they constantly confuse you. I was uncertain about the plot-line until three quarters in. Overall great concept, I would pick up the sequel but the introduction to this universe is extremely confusing and diminishes the reading experience.
Thank you, NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Linsey Miller for the arc.
Thank you, NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Linsey Miller for the arc.
February 15, 2023
Semi rant-review coming up shortly, so be prepared.
Intended audience: YA
Pacing: slow
Content warnings: self harm, death of a parent, murder
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
Intended audience: YA
Pacing: slow
Content warnings: self harm, death of a parent, murder
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
July 7, 2021
I loved this SO MUCH!!!
Cunning & strategic ace protagonist, a horrifically fascinating magic system, and full of cannibalistic vibes, the excellent writing and layered worldbuilding made this a whole experience to read and so, so intriguing from the very first page onwards.
Read this review and more on the blog!
Content warnings include: violence, gore, death, magic system based on self-harm and harming others, mistreatment of workers, classism, aphobic microaggressions, mass murder; Mentions of: cannibalism, burning.
What We Devour was breathtaking from the very first page. I loved how the worldbuilding was done. Every page was a joy to read, every sentence a puzzle piece that added more nuance, more detail, and more meaning, thus slowly expanding the setting, painting a picture that grew bigger and more vivid as the book progressed. It made reading super engaging and a ton of fun, and I was thoroughly fascinated by pretty much everything it.
The cannibalism theme is present throughout the entire book, and I especially loved the lyrical taglines/poems/subtitles that headed the two parts of the book:
Speaking of characters, I adored Lorena, the protagonist. She’s cunning but also kind, quick-thinking and not afraid to make bold decisions, which had me, who is forever undecided, cheering on her all the time. I also loved that she was unapologetically asexual, and how that noticeably affected her behaviour – how she hid parts of herself because of the expectations an ever-sexual society ascribes to certain actions. I found that super relatable, and I just love seeing a visibly and noticably asexual character be front and center in a fantasy novel.
The side characters were great too. Alistair, the Vile crown prince, was an intriguing character in so many ways, and I especially liked reading about his relationship with Lorena. They grow so close and familiar, yet are so different and never manage to get rid of the last barriers between them, which ended up being a complex give-and-take, and a refreshing difference to the leading-male and leading-female character dynamics seen in most YA (fantasy, but also other) books.
I also enjoyed the colleagues Lorena ended up working with, especially Basil, who is nonbinary. Lorena’s friend Mack was great too. Julian, her betrothed and best friend, played a very different role than expected, but I found that a very interesting and intriguing choice.
The plot was great as well. There was an almost dystopian vibe, especially in combination with the magic system and history of the world. I don’t want to get into too much detail as part of the book’s charm for me was the layers of the story slowly unfolding itself within the atmosphere the excellent writing creates. Same goes for the magic.
What I can say, however, is that I loved that it didn’t shy away from gore-y stuff (none of Linsey Miller’s books do), and the cannibalistic influence that the title of the book already implies remains a common theme the entire time.
Overall, What We Devour is a stunning standalone fantasy novel. It scores through its characters, plot, atmosphere, worldbuilding and more, and I cannot wait to hold a physical copy of it in my hands. I adore this book, in particular that it adds great ace representation to YA genre fiction.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Cunning & strategic ace protagonist, a horrifically fascinating magic system, and full of cannibalistic vibes, the excellent writing and layered worldbuilding made this a whole experience to read and so, so intriguing from the very first page onwards.
Read this review and more on the blog!
Content warnings include: violence, gore, death, magic system based on self-harm and harming others, mistreatment of workers, classism, aphobic microaggressions, mass murder; Mentions of: cannibalism, burning.
What We Devour was breathtaking from the very first page. I loved how the worldbuilding was done. Every page was a joy to read, every sentence a puzzle piece that added more nuance, more detail, and more meaning, thus slowly expanding the setting, painting a picture that grew bigger and more vivid as the book progressed. It made reading super engaging and a ton of fun, and I was thoroughly fascinated by pretty much everything it.
The cannibalism theme is present throughout the entire book, and I especially loved the lyrical taglines/poems/subtitles that headed the two parts of the book:
If you can’t tame your demons, set them free / If they love you, they’ll come back.and
Mouth like night / Teeth like stars.Both are beautiful in their own right, in how they roll off the tongue, but they are also relevant to plot and characters.
Speaking of characters, I adored Lorena, the protagonist. She’s cunning but also kind, quick-thinking and not afraid to make bold decisions, which had me, who is forever undecided, cheering on her all the time. I also loved that she was unapologetically asexual, and how that noticeably affected her behaviour – how she hid parts of herself because of the expectations an ever-sexual society ascribes to certain actions. I found that super relatable, and I just love seeing a visibly and noticably asexual character be front and center in a fantasy novel.
The side characters were great too. Alistair, the Vile crown prince, was an intriguing character in so many ways, and I especially liked reading about his relationship with Lorena. They grow so close and familiar, yet are so different and never manage to get rid of the last barriers between them, which ended up being a complex give-and-take, and a refreshing difference to the leading-male and leading-female character dynamics seen in most YA (fantasy, but also other) books.
I also enjoyed the colleagues Lorena ended up working with, especially Basil, who is nonbinary. Lorena’s friend Mack was great too. Julian, her betrothed and best friend, played a very different role than expected, but I found that a very interesting and intriguing choice.
The plot was great as well. There was an almost dystopian vibe, especially in combination with the magic system and history of the world. I don’t want to get into too much detail as part of the book’s charm for me was the layers of the story slowly unfolding itself within the atmosphere the excellent writing creates. Same goes for the magic.
What I can say, however, is that I loved that it didn’t shy away from gore-y stuff (none of Linsey Miller’s books do), and the cannibalistic influence that the title of the book already implies remains a common theme the entire time.
Overall, What We Devour is a stunning standalone fantasy novel. It scores through its characters, plot, atmosphere, worldbuilding and more, and I cannot wait to hold a physical copy of it in my hands. I adore this book, in particular that it adds great ace representation to YA genre fiction.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 1, 2022
I’ve should have a lot to say on this one and I wanted to love it, but I just didn’t. The plot was (maybe) too complex, politics were hard to understand, magic system was poorly explained, and characters were flat.
However, overall it's an an amazing idea and concept!! What We Devour just didn’t execute the way I needed it to. Maybe another round of editing, some beta readers to give feedback on confusing plot, and some time spent really giving life and personality to the characters.
I know Linsey Miller can make great characters as I’ve read another book of hers I really enjoyed. This one just felt a bit too rushed to publication and less complete. So sad because the moral crisis here is fascinating. So many great political, social and moral comments to examine; if you can get through all the pitfalls.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
However, overall it's an an amazing idea and concept!! What We Devour just didn’t execute the way I needed it to. Maybe another round of editing, some beta readers to give feedback on confusing plot, and some time spent really giving life and personality to the characters.
I know Linsey Miller can make great characters as I’ve read another book of hers I really enjoyed. This one just felt a bit too rushed to publication and less complete. So sad because the moral crisis here is fascinating. So many great political, social and moral comments to examine; if you can get through all the pitfalls.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
September 5, 2021
there's like some cool stuff happening in the center of this but it's buried under layers of the following
1. 2009 hot topic mall goth begging to be taken seriously aesthetic
2. worldbuilding that never connected. i do not need the world handed to me, i do not need to understand it quickly or even ever, but i need to believe that the WRITER understands every aspect of the world they have created and at no point did this book convince me of that.
3. that weird annoying shit in YA books where the narration talks about how the protagonist is So Fucked Up and Dark but then whenever the protagonist actually opens her fucking mouth is just very basic leftism that comes out lmao
1. 2009 hot topic mall goth begging to be taken seriously aesthetic
2. worldbuilding that never connected. i do not need the world handed to me, i do not need to understand it quickly or even ever, but i need to believe that the WRITER understands every aspect of the world they have created and at no point did this book convince me of that.
3. that weird annoying shit in YA books where the narration talks about how the protagonist is So Fucked Up and Dark but then whenever the protagonist actually opens her fucking mouth is just very basic leftism that comes out lmao
dnf
June 29, 2021DNF @ 25%
Totally bummed because I wanted so badly to love this. I tried and tried and tried to give this book a fair shot because of how excited I was for it but it's SO HARD to keep up with this world. The world building is suuuuper complex and throws you right in. The problem then was that at no point did this get easier to understand, I was completely confused the whole way through and no amount of powering through could help. I also didn't really care for any of the characters but I found it so hard to spend the time trying to like them when I was more busy trying to figure out what was going on.
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Totally bummed because I wanted so badly to love this. I tried and tried and tried to give this book a fair shot because of how excited I was for it but it's SO HARD to keep up with this world. The world building is suuuuper complex and throws you right in. The problem then was that at no point did this get easier to understand, I was completely confused the whole way through and no amount of powering through could help. I also didn't really care for any of the characters but I found it so hard to spend the time trying to like them when I was more busy trying to figure out what was going on.
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
July 14, 2021
I mean... that was something. Honestly, this has to be one of the most confusing books I've ever read and had me tempted to DNF multiple times despite being a seasoned fantasy reader. I constantly had to go back and re-read sections to try and make sense of it all. So many aspects of What We Devour were somehow convoluted yet vague which had me feeling confused right from the beginning and that sentiment never left me throughout.
The worst offender was by far the worldbuilding and magic system. It felt as though something was lost in translation from concept to finished book because it was so convoluted for no reason. The Vile, the Noble, wrights, wroughts, prayers, sigils, contracts, Noble cursed, vilewrought, vilewright, noblewrought, noblewright, dualwright, dualwrought, and a whole other pantheon of Gods. It was a never-ending whirlwind and just kept being added to throughout the book despite it being a standalone coming in at around 330 pages. I swear I spent 95% of my brainpower during this reading experience trying to get all of those terms sorted out in my head along with additional new information being tacked on which made it impossible to focus on the plot or characters.
I don't have much else to say about this book because the narrative and characters/character motivations were so muddled amongst the lore and repetitive magic system explanations. For example, I could've sworn in Chapter 6 Carlow was described as having the red eyes of someone cursed by a Vile (since red is their symbolic colour), making them immortal. Then it's mentioned later that she's a noblewrought? Wouldn't she be a vilewrought if she were cursed by a Vile and has red eyes? I don't get it. This kind of thing is why it almost feels like What We Devour was a rough draft that was turned in. There were so many gaps in the plot and character work that seem like they should've been fleshed out more but just weren't. The only character that really stood out was Lorena because she was the main character but it's mainly because she couldn't go one chapter without going off on a "eat the rich" rant. Like girl! We get it, we know! No need to beat people over the head with this theme constantly.
Also,
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy What We Devour and I'm not even entirely sure I understood what I read. While I do think this book will find the right audience, it's not one I'd ever find myself recommending to other readers because of how convoluted it is for a standalone.
The worst offender was by far the worldbuilding and magic system. It felt as though something was lost in translation from concept to finished book because it was so convoluted for no reason. The Vile, the Noble, wrights, wroughts, prayers, sigils, contracts, Noble cursed, vilewrought, vilewright, noblewrought, noblewright, dualwright, dualwrought, and a whole other pantheon of Gods. It was a never-ending whirlwind and just kept being added to throughout the book despite it being a standalone coming in at around 330 pages. I swear I spent 95% of my brainpower during this reading experience trying to get all of those terms sorted out in my head along with additional new information being tacked on which made it impossible to focus on the plot or characters.
I don't have much else to say about this book because the narrative and characters/character motivations were so muddled amongst the lore and repetitive magic system explanations. For example, I could've sworn in Chapter 6 Carlow was described as having the red eyes of someone cursed by a Vile (since red is their symbolic colour), making them immortal. Then it's mentioned later that she's a noblewrought? Wouldn't she be a vilewrought if she were cursed by a Vile and has red eyes? I don't get it. This kind of thing is why it almost feels like What We Devour was a rough draft that was turned in. There were so many gaps in the plot and character work that seem like they should've been fleshed out more but just weren't. The only character that really stood out was Lorena because she was the main character but it's mainly because she couldn't go one chapter without going off on a "eat the rich" rant. Like girl! We get it, we know! No need to beat people over the head with this theme constantly.
Also,
Needless to say, I didn't enjoy What We Devour and I'm not even entirely sure I understood what I read. While I do think this book will find the right audience, it's not one I'd ever find myself recommending to other readers because of how convoluted it is for a standalone.
July 9, 2021
You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 4 Stars
`What We Devour is a really dark fantasy that explores themes of sacrifice and morality. When I first saw this book I knew I wanted a copy. I love fantasy books with darker themes and the blurb just sounded really intriguing. I definitely got some Beauty and the Beast vibes, and I read that the author originally intended this book as a retelling, but it wound up changing a lot throughout the writing process. So while it’s not technically a retelling, you can see the Beauty and the Beast influences.
I was a little nervous starting this book because I had read that the pacing was slow, but I felt like the book took off pretty quickly and that the pacing was pretty consistent. I wouldn’t say that this is an action packed story, but it was easy to sink into and the writing was compelling. The writing itself was pretty incredible at times. There were some really raw moments and it was filled with brutal and vivid imagery. I wound up reading this a lot faster than I expected to.
This is a pretty dark book and I highly recommend that you check the trigger warnings, especially if you struggle with self harm. What We Devour has a really fascinating magic system based on sacrifice. There are Noblewrought, people who can create when they sacrifice something, and Vilewrought, people who can destroy when they make a sacrifice. Since the magic system is based on sacrifice the book really explores the theme. Lorena is a dualwrought, meaning she can both create and destroy and she is a really great main character to follow. She is incredibly loyal and she was willing to sacrifice everything for those that she loved. The sacrifices can be physical, like a blood sacrifice, or mental, like memories. What We Devour explored self sacrifice and what lengths people are willing to go to for those that they love and the greater good.
This book was filled to the brim with morally grey characters and also explored themes of morality. Many characters, including Lorena, do horrible things, and while they were all morally grey, I could agree with Lorena’s choices because she did horrible things for good reasons. It really got me thinking if the difference between good and evil was the motives behind people’s choices. I’m a sucker for morally grey characters so I really loved the darker sides to the characters. Carlow could be really brutal and at times I felt like the Heir, Allister, was a psychopath. It felt like everyone was manipulating each other and they all had their own reasons and motives. I couldn’t trust any of the characters because they were all out for themselves and were willing to betray each other or stab each other in the back.
While I really loved all of the characters, my biggest problem with this book was the character development. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and felt like the characters and the story itself lacked emotion. There was a character who died and I felt like no one actually grieved for him. While the writing was great and there were some really powerful moments, I feel like this book could have been so much better if I was emotionally invested in the characters. It was really a shame because I loved the rest of the book and the poor character development made this otherwise really great book really struggle at times.
While I do have some mixed feelings about this book I would still recommend it. The plot, pacing and writing were all really great and made for a quick dark read. I absolutely loved the magic system, but do wish we got a bit more world building. By the way the book ended I’m not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be a sequel. It feels like it could continue, but also felt wrapped up pretty well. I will definitely be reading more from Linsey Miller. If there winds up being a sequel I will pick it up, but I’m really interested in her Mask of Shadows series.
Review: 4 Stars
`What We Devour is a really dark fantasy that explores themes of sacrifice and morality. When I first saw this book I knew I wanted a copy. I love fantasy books with darker themes and the blurb just sounded really intriguing. I definitely got some Beauty and the Beast vibes, and I read that the author originally intended this book as a retelling, but it wound up changing a lot throughout the writing process. So while it’s not technically a retelling, you can see the Beauty and the Beast influences.
I was a little nervous starting this book because I had read that the pacing was slow, but I felt like the book took off pretty quickly and that the pacing was pretty consistent. I wouldn’t say that this is an action packed story, but it was easy to sink into and the writing was compelling. The writing itself was pretty incredible at times. There were some really raw moments and it was filled with brutal and vivid imagery. I wound up reading this a lot faster than I expected to.
This is a pretty dark book and I highly recommend that you check the trigger warnings, especially if you struggle with self harm. What We Devour has a really fascinating magic system based on sacrifice. There are Noblewrought, people who can create when they sacrifice something, and Vilewrought, people who can destroy when they make a sacrifice. Since the magic system is based on sacrifice the book really explores the theme. Lorena is a dualwrought, meaning she can both create and destroy and she is a really great main character to follow. She is incredibly loyal and she was willing to sacrifice everything for those that she loved. The sacrifices can be physical, like a blood sacrifice, or mental, like memories. What We Devour explored self sacrifice and what lengths people are willing to go to for those that they love and the greater good.
This book was filled to the brim with morally grey characters and also explored themes of morality. Many characters, including Lorena, do horrible things, and while they were all morally grey, I could agree with Lorena’s choices because she did horrible things for good reasons. It really got me thinking if the difference between good and evil was the motives behind people’s choices. I’m a sucker for morally grey characters so I really loved the darker sides to the characters. Carlow could be really brutal and at times I felt like the Heir, Allister, was a psychopath. It felt like everyone was manipulating each other and they all had their own reasons and motives. I couldn’t trust any of the characters because they were all out for themselves and were willing to betray each other or stab each other in the back.
While I really loved all of the characters, my biggest problem with this book was the character development. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and felt like the characters and the story itself lacked emotion. There was a character who died and I felt like no one actually grieved for him. While the writing was great and there were some really powerful moments, I feel like this book could have been so much better if I was emotionally invested in the characters. It was really a shame because I loved the rest of the book and the poor character development made this otherwise really great book really struggle at times.
While I do have some mixed feelings about this book I would still recommend it. The plot, pacing and writing were all really great and made for a quick dark read. I absolutely loved the magic system, but do wish we got a bit more world building. By the way the book ended I’m not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be a sequel. It feels like it could continue, but also felt wrapped up pretty well. I will definitely be reading more from Linsey Miller. If there winds up being a sequel I will pick it up, but I’m really interested in her Mask of Shadows series.
June 25, 2021
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Linsey Miller weaves a dark and intricate stand-alone fantasy about a girl that must tether herself to a violent ruler in order to save her world that is on the brink of collapse. The atmosphere of this book is very dark and haunting, and Miller's prose transported you to this eerie world. Lorena, our main character, is ace and there are some great discussions about her sexuality woven throughout the narrative. The magic system, drawing from the "wrights" of the two species of Gods, the Noble and the Vile, was intricate and interesting, but I sometimes found myself getting lost in the details of the exact ways in which the magic worked. Not fully understanding why the magic worked the way it did pulled me out of the story a bit. This book came to a heart pounding conclusion and was definitely a dark and gothic fantasy.
Linsey Miller weaves a dark and intricate stand-alone fantasy about a girl that must tether herself to a violent ruler in order to save her world that is on the brink of collapse. The atmosphere of this book is very dark and haunting, and Miller's prose transported you to this eerie world. Lorena, our main character, is ace and there are some great discussions about her sexuality woven throughout the narrative. The magic system, drawing from the "wrights" of the two species of Gods, the Noble and the Vile, was intricate and interesting, but I sometimes found myself getting lost in the details of the exact ways in which the magic worked. Not fully understanding why the magic worked the way it did pulled me out of the story a bit. This book came to a heart pounding conclusion and was definitely a dark and gothic fantasy.
August 30, 2021
Идея и мироустройство хороши. Атмосфера хороша.
Но немного сложно, плюс под конец автор сюжетно свалила все в кучу и наворотила столько всего, что я аж устала. Начало и середина были очень очень хороши, а конец очень очень плох.
Но немного сложно, плюс под конец автор сюжетно свалила все в кучу и наворотила столько всего, что я аж устала. Начало и середина были очень очень хороши, а конец очень очень плох.
May 13, 2021
Filled with raw moments, bloody moments and rare and forbidden powers, WHAT WE DEVOUR by Linsey Miller is a dark young adult fantasy that is both spellbinding and cringe-worthy, but most definitely a powerful read.
Lorena must decide to ally herself with a dark prince in order to save the people she loves and the only world she has ever known. Dark, raw and often heavy with atmosphere, this tale has strong characters who will see themselves betrayed, vilified and often misunderstood. Intense from start to finish, high with an emotional charge and graphically told, this is one of those keepers for most age groups.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Sourcebooks Fire! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire (July 6, 2021)
Publication date : July 6, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print length : 331 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Lorena must decide to ally herself with a dark prince in order to save the people she loves and the only world she has ever known. Dark, raw and often heavy with atmosphere, this tale has strong characters who will see themselves betrayed, vilified and often misunderstood. Intense from start to finish, high with an emotional charge and graphically told, this is one of those keepers for most age groups.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Sourcebooks Fire! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire (July 6, 2021)
Publication date : July 6, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print length : 331 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
dnf
June 23, 2021DNF @ 28% (through ch 11)
It pains me to say that this book just wasn't for me. Miller created an intricate and interesting world, but it fell short of its potential. I found the worldbuilding overly complicated and the exposition convoluted, and I struggled to understand what was going on at any given time. Somehow the narrative was both vague and repetitive, which was frustrating for me to sift through. I'm a reader who's big on worldbuilding and it's a shame that it didn't work for me. While I was intrigued to figure out what the heck was going on, unfortunately all of the characters fell flat to me and I just didn't care.
At the end of the day, this book just didn't suit my reading preferences and I decided to DNF and move on to other books. Just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean that you won't.
It pains me to say that this book just wasn't for me. Miller created an intricate and interesting world, but it fell short of its potential. I found the worldbuilding overly complicated and the exposition convoluted, and I struggled to understand what was going on at any given time. Somehow the narrative was both vague and repetitive, which was frustrating for me to sift through. I'm a reader who's big on worldbuilding and it's a shame that it didn't work for me. While I was intrigued to figure out what the heck was going on, unfortunately all of the characters fell flat to me and I just didn't care.
At the end of the day, this book just didn't suit my reading preferences and I decided to DNF and move on to other books. Just because I didn't enjoy this book doesn't mean that you won't.
cunning ace girls, terrible nerds, eating the rich, moral dilemmas, & magical apocalypseseARC provided by Sourcebooks Fire via Edelweiss for my honest review. This has not impacted my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an uncorrected proof and are subjected to change upon final publication.
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July 11, 2021
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day... isn't ruined. I was glad I got to know the world - such an interesting premise this book introduces, such a promising world!!
Still, I am incredibly let down by this book. 😔 The writing style wasn't... it wasn't... it just wasn't.
Perhaps one day I will actually like a Linsey Miller book (all due respect to her tbh - writing is hard work), but today is not that day.
The ace rep was cool, though.
Content Warnings: cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
Still, I am incredibly let down by this book. 😔 The writing style wasn't... it wasn't... it just wasn't.
Perhaps one day I will actually like a Linsey Miller book (all due respect to her tbh - writing is hard work), but today is not that day.
The ace rep was cool, though.
Content Warnings: cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
June 3, 2024
I only made it to page 17 before quitting this is my first time reading anything by Linsey Miller. Who the hell writers a first chapter where a conflict already took place where someone dies and doesn't explain what led up to the conflict. The description on the back of the book sounded interesting but boy was I wrong!!
Want to read
August 7, 2020August 06, 2020: The title is just announced and I'm so excited because this book is going to have an ace protagonist, fantasy politics, and dark & weird magic!!!
August 8, 2021
Deliciously dark and a wild ride!
What We Devour is a dark fantasy that very much embodies the "eat the rich" mentality. Lorena Alder has a secret, she possesses both Noble and Vile abilities from the gods. Lorena can both destroy or mend depending on her will and what she sacrifices. When the Vile Prince comes for her best friend and betrothed's father, she exchanges herself in their place. But buried deep in the Crown's residence is a Door. A Door that holds back the Vile and the Prince is fighting a losing battle keeping it from overtaking everything. Lorena must help him before everything she loves is taken from her.
Wow. This was a dark feast. If you are looking for darker YA books, definitely pick this one up. I loved the magic system so much. I love when magic has an exchange or sacrifice to it, because everything comes with a price. I loved seeing Lorena explore the limits of her powers and how they work. I also loved seeing her having agency and getting the chance to explore who she was and what she was willing to do for her country.
There are two somewhat romantic subplots going on in this book, but the romance is never a focal point of Lorena's story. She's also asexual, which will the word is not used, the feeling is on the page. Lorena seems to be either sex-repulsed or sex-indifferent, and this does bring up some conflict for her romantic partners. I really liked that Lorena never does anything she doesn't want to. She knows what she wants and she goes for it.
The plot was so wild. While the main conflict is always how to deal with the Door. There's also political intrigue and lots of deception and manipulations. I loved the way Lorena learns to play with her words and what she does or doesn't say. The middle 20% was definitely some of my favorite of this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this and I loved the darker tones explored in this book. Excited to read more from Miller in the future!
Rep: Alloromantic Asexual female MC, bisexual male love interest, nonbinary side character.
CWs from the author: The magic system in this book is based off of sacrifice and heavily features self-harm (specifically cutting) and actions that mirror self-harm. The characters also discuss self-harm at different points in the book. Scenes describing it do occur in first person. The book also features on-the-page murder and mass murder, references to child death, the deaths of parents, discussions and depictions of sacrifices/executions, references to factory-related accidents and deaths, references to child neglect and abuse, references to filicide, references to sibling deaths, and multiple scenes about death. There is also a reference to mass suicide.
For more general content, please be aware that this book contains cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
What We Devour is a dark fantasy that very much embodies the "eat the rich" mentality. Lorena Alder has a secret, she possesses both Noble and Vile abilities from the gods. Lorena can both destroy or mend depending on her will and what she sacrifices. When the Vile Prince comes for her best friend and betrothed's father, she exchanges herself in their place. But buried deep in the Crown's residence is a Door. A Door that holds back the Vile and the Prince is fighting a losing battle keeping it from overtaking everything. Lorena must help him before everything she loves is taken from her.
Wow. This was a dark feast. If you are looking for darker YA books, definitely pick this one up. I loved the magic system so much. I love when magic has an exchange or sacrifice to it, because everything comes with a price. I loved seeing Lorena explore the limits of her powers and how they work. I also loved seeing her having agency and getting the chance to explore who she was and what she was willing to do for her country.
There are two somewhat romantic subplots going on in this book, but the romance is never a focal point of Lorena's story. She's also asexual, which will the word is not used, the feeling is on the page. Lorena seems to be either sex-repulsed or sex-indifferent, and this does bring up some conflict for her romantic partners. I really liked that Lorena never does anything she doesn't want to. She knows what she wants and she goes for it.
The plot was so wild. While the main conflict is always how to deal with the Door. There's also political intrigue and lots of deception and manipulations. I loved the way Lorena learns to play with her words and what she does or doesn't say. The middle 20% was definitely some of my favorite of this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this and I loved the darker tones explored in this book. Excited to read more from Miller in the future!
Rep: Alloromantic Asexual female MC, bisexual male love interest, nonbinary side character.
CWs from the author: The magic system in this book is based off of sacrifice and heavily features self-harm (specifically cutting) and actions that mirror self-harm. The characters also discuss self-harm at different points in the book. Scenes describing it do occur in first person. The book also features on-the-page murder and mass murder, references to child death, the deaths of parents, discussions and depictions of sacrifices/executions, references to factory-related accidents and deaths, references to child neglect and abuse, references to filicide, references to sibling deaths, and multiple scenes about death. There is also a reference to mass suicide.
For more general content, please be aware that this book contains cutting, violence, blood, murder, abuse, and death.
Want to read
November 1, 2020Even if Belle Revolte hadn't been one of my favorite reads of 2020 I would still be beyond hyped for this.
Since it was, I'm even more excited, if possible!
Since it was, I'm even more excited, if possible!
August 18, 2021
I'm so sad that I didn't like this more. And the worst part is, it's not an "I'm on the fence read," it's a "yeah, definitely didn't enjoy this despite the smattering of redeeming elements." I hate delving out 2-star ratings, but it feels wrong to rank it 3-stars when I actually tend to enjoy 3-star reads, even if I find them lacking.
What We Devour is a dark fantasy where the wrought are people who have either destructive (vile) or constructive (noble) magic. Lore, a working class girl who has both, is tied to the prince of the land who hopes to prevent the Vile (the source of the vilewrought) from returning to the land and killing everyone. But Lore has her own vision for the future, and she's willing to do anything to save as many innocent lives as possible.
Great premise, by the way. And the magic system is this really cool give-and-take sort of thing where you have to offer something of "equal" value in order to do what you want to do. And a cunning aspec main character? Themes of working class struggles? Yes please, yes please! Unfortunately, it just... didn't live up.
I'm not sure how to describe the focus of What We Devour. I've seen some people call it "character-heavy," but it's hard to consider it such when the characters just don't... feel like much. We're told what traits they exhibit, but very little individuality is observable, especially in the supporting cast. And Lore's thought processes alternate between jumpy and her explicitly explaining narrative devices that the author is using, which really takes you out of what there is of the story.
Because the story? Yeah, it's... A lot of the first half is just a repeat of three types of scenes - Lore in the labs, Lore with the Heir, and Lore with Julian. And they have a lot of the same conversations over and over and over again. The second half switches it up a little bit, but many of the plot points don't feel like they were led up to or, consequently, fully developed and explored. I really think it would have benefited What We Devour to spend more time with the second half plot points - it would have gone a long way toward reducing tediously repetitive scenes and fleshing out those moments that were superficially interesting.
Unfortunately, this one really just fell flat for me. I wanted to love or even like it so badly, but in the end, I have to admit that I really didn't enjoy myself.
What We Devour is a dark fantasy where the wrought are people who have either destructive (vile) or constructive (noble) magic. Lore, a working class girl who has both, is tied to the prince of the land who hopes to prevent the Vile (the source of the vilewrought) from returning to the land and killing everyone. But Lore has her own vision for the future, and she's willing to do anything to save as many innocent lives as possible.
Great premise, by the way. And the magic system is this really cool give-and-take sort of thing where you have to offer something of "equal" value in order to do what you want to do. And a cunning aspec main character? Themes of working class struggles? Yes please, yes please! Unfortunately, it just... didn't live up.
I'm not sure how to describe the focus of What We Devour. I've seen some people call it "character-heavy," but it's hard to consider it such when the characters just don't... feel like much. We're told what traits they exhibit, but very little individuality is observable, especially in the supporting cast. And Lore's thought processes alternate between jumpy and her explicitly explaining narrative devices that the author is using, which really takes you out of what there is of the story.
Because the story? Yeah, it's... A lot of the first half is just a repeat of three types of scenes - Lore in the labs, Lore with the Heir, and Lore with Julian. And they have a lot of the same conversations over and over and over again. The second half switches it up a little bit, but many of the plot points don't feel like they were led up to or, consequently, fully developed and explored. I really think it would have benefited What We Devour to spend more time with the second half plot points - it would have gone a long way toward reducing tediously repetitive scenes and fleshing out those moments that were superficially interesting.
Unfortunately, this one really just fell flat for me. I wanted to love or even like it so badly, but in the end, I have to admit that I really didn't enjoy myself.
July 28, 2021
"What number of survivors makes the number of dead worth it?"
TW: self-harm, magic, murder, pain, violence, classism & betrayal.
Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire & NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this book! All opinions are my own!!
I don't know if I wasn't in the mood/ didn't vibe with this much, but I expected to love this a lot more. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
What we devour has a vibe similar to the beginning of shadow and bone; the heroine holds great power, and a dark, powerful man comes and offers/forces her to help him reach a goal. However, this world is still reeling from being ruled by two god-like beings that they overthrew at a price that is becoming increasingly difficult to pay. This story really plays at the idea of what monsters we need to make ourselves into for the greater good and how some monsters will still see themselves as good people.
Pros: We had some lgbtq+ representation; nonbinary/genderfluid, the main character I suspect is ace, and a bisexual/pansexual main love interest. The idea of the story has a lot of potentials, and I liked how the magic system worked in this world -magic balance is always a good trope in my eyes.
Cons: The story's pacing felt slow, and honestly, I saw a lot of telling and not showing. The urgency of the plot failed to hold me, and the allure of the characters failed too. I didn't feel for any of the characters, so I didn't really feel upset when any of them died, or it seemed like they were going to, any exploration of feelings and love I didn't really care too much about either.
TW: self-harm, magic, murder, pain, violence, classism & betrayal.
Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire & NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this book! All opinions are my own!!
I don't know if I wasn't in the mood/ didn't vibe with this much, but I expected to love this a lot more. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
What we devour has a vibe similar to the beginning of shadow and bone; the heroine holds great power, and a dark, powerful man comes and offers/forces her to help him reach a goal. However, this world is still reeling from being ruled by two god-like beings that they overthrew at a price that is becoming increasingly difficult to pay. This story really plays at the idea of what monsters we need to make ourselves into for the greater good and how some monsters will still see themselves as good people.
Pros: We had some lgbtq+ representation; nonbinary/genderfluid, the main character I suspect is ace, and a bisexual/pansexual main love interest. The idea of the story has a lot of potentials, and I liked how the magic system worked in this world -magic balance is always a good trope in my eyes.
Cons: The story's pacing felt slow, and honestly, I saw a lot of telling and not showing. The urgency of the plot failed to hold me, and the allure of the characters failed too. I didn't feel for any of the characters, so I didn't really feel upset when any of them died, or it seemed like they were going to, any exploration of feelings and love I didn't really care too much about either.
July 5, 2021
*Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The worldbuilding and complex magic system was difficult to follow at first, as we enter the story in the middle of Lorena's standard work day gone wrong and pick up the pieces of information about the environment as the story progresses and I loved it. I prefer this method to pages of info-dumping in a book's introduction even if it was hard to follow at first.
Lorena is such a strong-willed and clever protagonist.
She's surrounded by men actively trying to manipulate her and she sees right through them all. She's a quiet kind of dangerous that was incredibly interesting to watch progress.
Content warnings: Death, violence, abuse, murder + mass murder, human/blood sacrifices
Her relationship with the magical beings that live inside her, the remnants of the old gods of her world, was unique even in her book's universe. Her choice to build relationships based on equality, empathy and mutual understandings is what made her the main character surrounded by the chaos.
I'm left wanting even more of her even though the story's over, but not because I felt she was lacking in anything throughout the story.
Lorena is complex with a strict moral code and watching her get thrown into a world of morally grey was something I couldn't stop reading from start to finish.
The worldbuilding and complex magic system was difficult to follow at first, as we enter the story in the middle of Lorena's standard work day gone wrong and pick up the pieces of information about the environment as the story progresses and I loved it. I prefer this method to pages of info-dumping in a book's introduction even if it was hard to follow at first.
Lorena is such a strong-willed and clever protagonist.
She's surrounded by men actively trying to manipulate her and she sees right through them all. She's a quiet kind of dangerous that was incredibly interesting to watch progress.
Content warnings: Death, violence, abuse, murder + mass murder, human/blood sacrifices
Her relationship with the magical beings that live inside her, the remnants of the old gods of her world, was unique even in her book's universe. Her choice to build relationships based on equality, empathy and mutual understandings is what made her the main character surrounded by the chaos.
I'm left wanting even more of her even though the story's over, but not because I felt she was lacking in anything throughout the story.
Lorena is complex with a strict moral code and watching her get thrown into a world of morally grey was something I couldn't stop reading from start to finish.
March 31, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of What We Devour in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this so, so, badly. The story is fantastic. If someone described it to me, I'm sure I would have fallen in love. But this is a big character heavy piece and the establishment of our MC, her relationships, and the progressions of those relationships happen so, so quickly that I was left bored and uninvested.
I think it's important to mention that while I went into this hoping to enjoy it, I'm similarly not a Belle Revolte fan because of the narration and characterizations which I know a lot of people actually really enjoyed so if you were a fan of that one, maybe take this review with a grain of salt.
I wanted to like this so, so, badly. The story is fantastic. If someone described it to me, I'm sure I would have fallen in love. But this is a big character heavy piece and the establishment of our MC, her relationships, and the progressions of those relationships happen so, so quickly that I was left bored and uninvested.
I think it's important to mention that while I went into this hoping to enjoy it, I'm similarly not a Belle Revolte fan because of the narration and characterizations which I know a lot of people actually really enjoyed so if you were a fan of that one, maybe take this review with a grain of salt.
July 25, 2021
Wow, that was dark! This was a YA version of Game of Thrones with incredibly intricate politics, bloody violence, a lot of characters, and several absolutely shocking deaths. There were some disturbing elements that I think deserve copious trigger warnings, including self-harm, abuse, mass death, and a lack of body autonomy. If you can handle darkness and despair then this is a compelling, suspenseful, and exciting read. I could not put it down and I was constantly surprised by just how far into darkness the characters would venture.
The answer to that question is all the way down into the darkness. Most of the characters were monstrous, each in their own manner. There really wasn’t anyone who wasn’t a sort of monster, so it left me cheering not really for good over evil but for the least terrible. They were all shades of grey. Okay, maybe there were a few characters who were purely evil and one or two that were too good for their brutal world. The most surprising was our heroine Lore. It was hard to get a read on her because although she seemed to do things for the right and noble reasons the things that she was doing were sinister and murderous. Do the ends justify the means? Do you sacrifice a few to save the many? What about a few hundred? Or a few thousand? Where does the line get drawn before the heroes become monsters worse than those they fight? It is all complex grey morality in this story.
The magic system was unique and rather appalling. There were several aspects that were just plain uncomfortable to read about. Magic requires a price, and it can be paid with blood, a feeling, a memory, or anything that has value to the person losing it. Some of the magic is done with the magic users own self while others are done with a sacrifice from another person, not always with their consent. It was truly horrific that a memory can be taken from someone’s mind, or blood or body parts taken without warning or consent. So basically, you’re hanging out drinking tea then poof! All your fingernails are gone! If that doesn’t give you nightmares nothing will! The prince has a servant whose role is to serve as a sacrifice for his magic. She is perpetually covered in cuts and wounds. The whole thing is a bit stomach churning. I was not expecting cutting to be something that many of the characters engage in, as the price to use magic. Bloody wounds abound and it was quite vile.
The end was shocking and totally horrific. I wasn’t expecting a fully happy ending by any means and what occurred fit with the rest of the story, and I guess it was its own sort of happy ending but holy crow, this was Game of Thrones style death and surprise murder. No one is safe! It does seem that the door was left open (pun completely intended) for a sequel. I would willingly enter this treacherous world again just to see what dastardly deeds Lore gets up to in her quest to make the world a better place. Will she succeed or descend into tyranny? It could go either way so hopefully there will be a book two and we can find out!
Thank you to Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
The answer to that question is all the way down into the darkness. Most of the characters were monstrous, each in their own manner. There really wasn’t anyone who wasn’t a sort of monster, so it left me cheering not really for good over evil but for the least terrible. They were all shades of grey. Okay, maybe there were a few characters who were purely evil and one or two that were too good for their brutal world. The most surprising was our heroine Lore. It was hard to get a read on her because although she seemed to do things for the right and noble reasons the things that she was doing were sinister and murderous. Do the ends justify the means? Do you sacrifice a few to save the many? What about a few hundred? Or a few thousand? Where does the line get drawn before the heroes become monsters worse than those they fight? It is all complex grey morality in this story.
The magic system was unique and rather appalling. There were several aspects that were just plain uncomfortable to read about. Magic requires a price, and it can be paid with blood, a feeling, a memory, or anything that has value to the person losing it. Some of the magic is done with the magic users own self while others are done with a sacrifice from another person, not always with their consent. It was truly horrific that a memory can be taken from someone’s mind, or blood or body parts taken without warning or consent. So basically, you’re hanging out drinking tea then poof! All your fingernails are gone! If that doesn’t give you nightmares nothing will! The prince has a servant whose role is to serve as a sacrifice for his magic. She is perpetually covered in cuts and wounds. The whole thing is a bit stomach churning. I was not expecting cutting to be something that many of the characters engage in, as the price to use magic. Bloody wounds abound and it was quite vile.
The end was shocking and totally horrific. I wasn’t expecting a fully happy ending by any means and what occurred fit with the rest of the story, and I guess it was its own sort of happy ending but holy crow, this was Game of Thrones style death and surprise murder. No one is safe! It does seem that the door was left open (pun completely intended) for a sequel. I would willingly enter this treacherous world again just to see what dastardly deeds Lore gets up to in her quest to make the world a better place. Will she succeed or descend into tyranny? It could go either way so hopefully there will be a book two and we can find out!
Thank you to Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
August 17, 2021
Thank you to Jackie Douglass from Sourcebooks Fire for the book in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
Trigger/Content Warnings: Depictions and discussion of self-harm | Mass Murder | Murder | Reference to Mass Suicide | References to Child Death | Child Neglect | Child Abuse
What We Devour is yet another standalone fantasy by the hand of Lynsey Miller. Another dark tale with intricate world building and interesting twists and turns.
We meet Lorena Adler as she takes care of the death in a small town. Still considered an outsider despite having lived there for a few years now. She hides a secret. She is a noble and a vile. Normally those that hold the power of the banished gods either hold noble or the vile. Holding both is extremely rare and it is why she catches the eye of the Vile Crown Prince. It throws her into court politics, experimentations and sacrifices.
The world and its magic is an interesting take. One has to sacrifice something to be able to use their powers. A memory, blood or anything that the noble or the vile you carry wants. The prince for instance creates intricate contracts for his vile so it cannot step out of its boundaries and interpret the demand in its own way. It is an interesting way how to deal with magic and powers. I guess one can see the noble and vile as some kind of demons, the way that Lorena refers to them. But even with all the information I still feel a bit out of the loop when it actually comes to the vile and noble. The differences between the two and the long history before that.
There is also a door that is keeping a type of demons out of their world. But that door is breaking down and our vile prince and lorena want to find a way to keep it closed so the sacrificed to the door of the people can stop. At one point one runs out of criminals. There are twists and turns throughout the book. Curses, ghosts, murdering queens, talking doors etc. There is a lot here and yet the story moves painstakingly slow at points.
The story explores the themes of sacrifice and morality. Is it okay to sacrifice a few for the good of the many? And who gets to decide that? The constant tension between the various characters also plays with that. One can sacrifice someone else's memory to heal a wound or change someone's memory as the end goal. What is okay to take? What is okay to use your powers for?
Lorena gets a strong relationship with our prince and there seem to be some romantic feelings there. However there is also room for Lorena to be herself in this. She seems to not be interested in sex. She is interested in physical interactions by cuddling or holding someone. But she doesn't seem to have a sexual interest, making her asexual. The word isn't used in the book but the author has confirmed it. It was interesting and pleasing to see how the prince seemed to give her this room. There was never any push for more than she was willing to give.
All in all I do think that What We Devour is a very interesting dark fantasy standalone to give a try!
Trigger/Content Warnings: Depictions and discussion of self-harm | Mass Murder | Murder | Reference to Mass Suicide | References to Child Death | Child Neglect | Child Abuse
What We Devour is yet another standalone fantasy by the hand of Lynsey Miller. Another dark tale with intricate world building and interesting twists and turns.
We meet Lorena Adler as she takes care of the death in a small town. Still considered an outsider despite having lived there for a few years now. She hides a secret. She is a noble and a vile. Normally those that hold the power of the banished gods either hold noble or the vile. Holding both is extremely rare and it is why she catches the eye of the Vile Crown Prince. It throws her into court politics, experimentations and sacrifices.
The world and its magic is an interesting take. One has to sacrifice something to be able to use their powers. A memory, blood or anything that the noble or the vile you carry wants. The prince for instance creates intricate contracts for his vile so it cannot step out of its boundaries and interpret the demand in its own way. It is an interesting way how to deal with magic and powers. I guess one can see the noble and vile as some kind of demons, the way that Lorena refers to them. But even with all the information I still feel a bit out of the loop when it actually comes to the vile and noble. The differences between the two and the long history before that.
There is also a door that is keeping a type of demons out of their world. But that door is breaking down and our vile prince and lorena want to find a way to keep it closed so the sacrificed to the door of the people can stop. At one point one runs out of criminals. There are twists and turns throughout the book. Curses, ghosts, murdering queens, talking doors etc. There is a lot here and yet the story moves painstakingly slow at points.
The story explores the themes of sacrifice and morality. Is it okay to sacrifice a few for the good of the many? And who gets to decide that? The constant tension between the various characters also plays with that. One can sacrifice someone else's memory to heal a wound or change someone's memory as the end goal. What is okay to take? What is okay to use your powers for?
Lorena gets a strong relationship with our prince and there seem to be some romantic feelings there. However there is also room for Lorena to be herself in this. She seems to not be interested in sex. She is interested in physical interactions by cuddling or holding someone. But she doesn't seem to have a sexual interest, making her asexual. The word isn't used in the book but the author has confirmed it. It was interesting and pleasing to see how the prince seemed to give her this room. There was never any push for more than she was willing to give.
All in all I do think that What We Devour is a very interesting dark fantasy standalone to give a try!
July 8, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
This started out strong but lost me near the midway part. It had SO much potential, and was a VERY obvious critique of capitalism... but the plot was SO convoluted. There was SO much going on and it was just too much.
I liked the representation in the book, and honestly, the Heir was my favorite character.
Also, for this being standalone, i think the ending fell flat. This would have been a great ending for a book 1 in a series but it left SO much open that I wasn't really feeling it.
This started out strong but lost me near the midway part. It had SO much potential, and was a VERY obvious critique of capitalism... but the plot was SO convoluted. There was SO much going on and it was just too much.
I liked the representation in the book, and honestly, the Heir was my favorite character.
Also, for this being standalone, i think the ending fell flat. This would have been a great ending for a book 1 in a series but it left SO much open that I wasn't really feeling it.
May 4, 2022
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
Linsey Miller is a very special author who produces books that can never be described as generic YA fantasy.
This book had so much going for it: incredible worldbuilding, unforced yet passionate diversity, a ruthless yet moral lead character, disability rep, a gender-fluid character whose pronouns kept changing with no explanation (which I found really cool, not annoying), discussion of a character's asexuality and what it meant in this world, casual bi or pan rep, enemies to lovers and lovers to enemies, and a wicked and brutal magic system based on sacrifice and self-harm.
However, I don't give free passes on concept alone. I could have loved this book more if for some reason the author didn't write it in such an odd way.
And I don't mean poor word choices or that the plot or characters and their motivations didn't make sense, because they did. All of that was perfectly clear. Lorena Adler has a rare magic that can help the Heir (Crown Prince) prevent a magical door from opening, and keep demons from devouring the populace. So he kidnaps her to force her to assist with his experiments.
On a technical level, the sentences were beautiful. I just couldn't help but feel that the author was omitting stuff. And not on purpose. Well, not really. More in the spirit of Show, Don't Tell, that timeless adage that is drilled into writers and not many actually get the memo.
Well. Linsey Miller understood the fucking assignment.
Almost everything in this book was shown (not told), to the point where sometimes I had no idea what was going on, why characters acted in certain ways, or why certain things had to happen. It was like every so often a vital piece of information was just not there. That vital information is what would normally be 'told'.
And I was so confused at this writing style because I remember enjoying Mask of Shadows and to a lesser extent Ruin of Stars, and I don't remember this issue.
NOTE: No, that's not true. I had this same problem in Ruin of Stars:
"Dialogue sometimes seemed a bit weird, jumping from topic to topic with no segue or context."
I don't have many examples because I listened to the audiobook and didn't take notes to refer to, but there were two scenarios that stood out to me: in one, Lorena and the Heir are having a perfectly civil conversation and suddenly out of nowhere they start talking about sex, with no lead up to it or anything. The conversation wasn't even flirty, it was positively G rated.
The other scenario included several immortal characters, and for no discernible reason Lorena decided the one immortal character who had suddenly gained the ability to die for real had to be the one sacrificed in this particular scene, even though there was no reason the other immortal couldn't be.
There was plenty of dialogue and introspection, but there was just not any help to me as the reader by occasionally telling me shit that's going down. It's fine to Show me almost everything but I need to occasionally be Told: it summarises what's been shown, reinforces, and acts as an anchor for the reader. With so much showing and not enough telling, I'm just confused as to why certain things had to happen. Just tell me!
The other issue I had was the audiobook narrator. They had a very strange delivery. They paused in odd places, took long, deep breaths in the middle of sentences, and seemed thoroughly uninterested, at least in the first half, of the performance of narrating this book. They did use other accents and voices for other character though, so I appreciated that.
I can end this review by quoting the exact same thing I wrote in Ruin of Stars:
"I didn't want to give up on this novel because I could see underneath everything it was really cool, with a really cool message on acceptance and bigotry, and a character who wanted to do bad things for noble reasons: but overall I was disappointed, you don't get bonus points for intention if you can't execute it, and that's why this is getting an agonised-over 3 stars."
I still want to read Linsey's other books because I love everything else about them.
Linsey Miller is a very special author who produces books that can never be described as generic YA fantasy.
This book had so much going for it: incredible worldbuilding, unforced yet passionate diversity, a ruthless yet moral lead character, disability rep, a gender-fluid character whose pronouns kept changing with no explanation (which I found really cool, not annoying), discussion of a character's asexuality and what it meant in this world, casual bi or pan rep, enemies to lovers and lovers to enemies, and a wicked and brutal magic system based on sacrifice and self-harm.
However, I don't give free passes on concept alone. I could have loved this book more if for some reason the author didn't write it in such an odd way.
And I don't mean poor word choices or that the plot or characters and their motivations didn't make sense, because they did. All of that was perfectly clear. Lorena Adler has a rare magic that can help the Heir (Crown Prince) prevent a magical door from opening, and keep demons from devouring the populace. So he kidnaps her to force her to assist with his experiments.
On a technical level, the sentences were beautiful. I just couldn't help but feel that the author was omitting stuff. And not on purpose. Well, not really. More in the spirit of Show, Don't Tell, that timeless adage that is drilled into writers and not many actually get the memo.
Well. Linsey Miller understood the fucking assignment.
Almost everything in this book was shown (not told), to the point where sometimes I had no idea what was going on, why characters acted in certain ways, or why certain things had to happen. It was like every so often a vital piece of information was just not there. That vital information is what would normally be 'told'.
And I was so confused at this writing style because I remember enjoying Mask of Shadows and to a lesser extent Ruin of Stars, and I don't remember this issue.
NOTE: No, that's not true. I had this same problem in Ruin of Stars:
"Dialogue sometimes seemed a bit weird, jumping from topic to topic with no segue or context."
I don't have many examples because I listened to the audiobook and didn't take notes to refer to, but there were two scenarios that stood out to me: in one, Lorena and the Heir are having a perfectly civil conversation and suddenly out of nowhere they start talking about sex, with no lead up to it or anything. The conversation wasn't even flirty, it was positively G rated.
The other scenario included several immortal characters, and for no discernible reason Lorena decided the one immortal character who had suddenly gained the ability to die for real had to be the one sacrificed in this particular scene, even though there was no reason the other immortal couldn't be.
There was plenty of dialogue and introspection, but there was just not any help to me as the reader by occasionally telling me shit that's going down. It's fine to Show me almost everything but I need to occasionally be Told: it summarises what's been shown, reinforces, and acts as an anchor for the reader. With so much showing and not enough telling, I'm just confused as to why certain things had to happen. Just tell me!
The other issue I had was the audiobook narrator. They had a very strange delivery. They paused in odd places, took long, deep breaths in the middle of sentences, and seemed thoroughly uninterested, at least in the first half, of the performance of narrating this book. They did use other accents and voices for other character though, so I appreciated that.
I can end this review by quoting the exact same thing I wrote in Ruin of Stars:
"I didn't want to give up on this novel because I could see underneath everything it was really cool, with a really cool message on acceptance and bigotry, and a character who wanted to do bad things for noble reasons: but overall I was disappointed, you don't get bonus points for intention if you can't execute it, and that's why this is getting an agonised-over 3 stars."
I still want to read Linsey's other books because I love everything else about them.
June 30, 2021
This was a real struggle for me to get through.
Before I go into that though, I want to say the cover is awesome! That is what grabbed my attention right away. So whoever was in charge of that, great job! But for me, the cover does not at all match what goes on in the book...it is very disjointed. The description of the book was interesting, and the how unique the story was made me want to read this. I love how the book did not have a long exposition. It got right into the action which I loved...but sadly things went down for me from there.
For me, the story became very disjointed. I often had to go back and read things because actions just didn't make sense. I got sick of rereading to the point where I just kept reading and if something didn't make sense, I just kept going. The protagonist also goes though major character changes to the point that by the end it isn't the same person at all. While usually I am more than okay with this, in this story it just looked like a new protagonist all together and there was no real connection made.
I did find interesting that what I thought was going to be the climax of the story ended up happening in the middle of it. It really made me question where in the world things could go from there and I think the author did a great job with the actual climax. There were definitely things you didn't see coming, and that was great to read.
The story could stay where it is at or continue and I think reader will be happy either way. If there is a sequel to this novel, I am not sure if I would read it. I am a reader that always has to read the sequel no matter what, but I don't know if it is something I really want to do. Do I want to know where things go from here, yes, but do I feel like I could be wasting my time...that has yet to be determined.
Thank you Netgalley for the early access to this book!
Before I go into that though, I want to say the cover is awesome! That is what grabbed my attention right away. So whoever was in charge of that, great job! But for me, the cover does not at all match what goes on in the book...it is very disjointed. The description of the book was interesting, and the how unique the story was made me want to read this. I love how the book did not have a long exposition. It got right into the action which I loved...but sadly things went down for me from there.
For me, the story became very disjointed. I often had to go back and read things because actions just didn't make sense. I got sick of rereading to the point where I just kept reading and if something didn't make sense, I just kept going. The protagonist also goes though major character changes to the point that by the end it isn't the same person at all. While usually I am more than okay with this, in this story it just looked like a new protagonist all together and there was no real connection made.
I did find interesting that what I thought was going to be the climax of the story ended up happening in the middle of it. It really made me question where in the world things could go from there and I think the author did a great job with the actual climax. There were definitely things you didn't see coming, and that was great to read.
The story could stay where it is at or continue and I think reader will be happy either way. If there is a sequel to this novel, I am not sure if I would read it. I am a reader that always has to read the sequel no matter what, but I don't know if it is something I really want to do. Do I want to know where things go from here, yes, but do I feel like I could be wasting my time...that has yet to be determined.
Thank you Netgalley for the early access to this book!
July 11, 2021
Huge thanks to Edelweiss for the e-arc!
As an author myself, I understand the grueling hell you put yourself through to write a book. That being said, this won't be a review that trashes a book; it will be a critical review to why this book did not work for me.
The opening chapter promises a fierce heroine with a secret (my favorite of all the heroines) and a unique world where magic users possess one or two of the ancient gods. Lorena possesses both and is something she wants hidden. But her gift is discovered when a cruel prince arrives to arrest the father of her best friend, so she makes a deal for the man's safety. But this deal includes Lorena working with the crown.
The story falls into the plot of a popular YA fantasy book and the similarities-be it purposeful or not- are what quickly took away my attention. The complex world began to confuse me to the point where I had to read way back to see if I missed something. The prose slipped into something repetitive. Pair that with the convoluted plot, I really had a tough time. By the time the book ended, I truly didn't recognize the main character at all with the extreme changes she went through. I know there's a time for your character to get her arc, but it felt jarring.
I think the author just had a lot to work with and did not know how to wrangle it all in. I get it, I really do.
Points for the asexual character and other queer reps. Plus, I liked Lorena a lot because she recognized the toxicity of her relationships which is something we don't get in YA romances.
Overall, I know a lot of people will enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.
As an author myself, I understand the grueling hell you put yourself through to write a book. That being said, this won't be a review that trashes a book; it will be a critical review to why this book did not work for me.
The opening chapter promises a fierce heroine with a secret (my favorite of all the heroines) and a unique world where magic users possess one or two of the ancient gods. Lorena possesses both and is something she wants hidden. But her gift is discovered when a cruel prince arrives to arrest the father of her best friend, so she makes a deal for the man's safety. But this deal includes Lorena working with the crown.
The story falls into the plot of a popular YA fantasy book and the similarities-be it purposeful or not- are what quickly took away my attention. The complex world began to confuse me to the point where I had to read way back to see if I missed something. The prose slipped into something repetitive. Pair that with the convoluted plot, I really had a tough time. By the time the book ended, I truly didn't recognize the main character at all with the extreme changes she went through. I know there's a time for your character to get her arc, but it felt jarring.
I think the author just had a lot to work with and did not know how to wrangle it all in. I get it, I really do.
Points for the asexual character and other queer reps. Plus, I liked Lorena a lot because she recognized the toxicity of her relationships which is something we don't get in YA romances.
Overall, I know a lot of people will enjoy this, but it wasn't for me.
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