miya

I have no words but reading this book felt so, so right.
To watch the story get untangled one step at a time and asking yourself how a place so rich in bliss, beauty and magic and in many ways deeply captivating originated in the years-long disagreement of two by now very old and uninspired men.

There's no consideration for any of the people who forcibly get involved in their feud and might not even know it.
And yet, every involved party contributes to the circus with their unique skills, smarts and sometimes even timing alone, making it alive and stepping out of their ascribed pawn-role, unlike intended.
It's no surprise that the events around the competition and the circus get out of control, in control, out of control....

I'm just glad that reading this book feels very much like being a part of the story, so I don't long for a place that doesn't exist.

There's so much lost potential when it comes to this book.
I really, really wanted to love it but the second half of it just ruined the experience for me, personally.

The book was by far much smuttier than I expected and almost every single time it was completely misplaced and unreasonable.
Hades' and Persephone's relationship had no room for development at all and there seemed to be no connection or even chemistry. So they went from hating each other to fucking to “sooo... what are your interests?”. It wasn't exactly erotic even but very repetitive to the point it felt ridiculous.

Every other plot point had to be cut short and weren't exactly believable. Like how Demeter and Persephone met up every Monday which was mentioned halfway through the book and never picked up again even though several weeks passed with them not interacting?

I haven't decided yet if I'm giving the second book of the series a try because I also need to say that I did enjoy a lot of the actual plot and a part of me hopes there's just more of it in the next book.

The story was amazing. However, it took at least 100 pages for it to start and maybe another 100 pages to understand how these seperate stories might be connected.

From then on it was, almost to the end, pretty strong content-wise but reading it felt like a nightmare and like 500 years or so passed.

I'm giving it three stars because I don't regret reading it but I'm not sure if I would recommend!!

Do yourself a favour and just watch a few “that girl” tiktoks by some fifteen-year-old instead of reading this whole book.
No shade to teens but what I mean is this book doesn't get any deeper than that. It will save you time.

Also adding, the author is privileged as fuck.
“I have come to understand that travel is not a fancy luxury beyond my means. Travel is an important part of appreciating my life.”
But she also adds that it does not necessarily have to be a two week Tokyo trip like the one she spontaneously took! Just any kind of traveling you can take to escape daily life!
This book might have worsened my depression but.... it's not the worst.