I had to DNF Chrysalis and Requiem by Quinton Li — I just couldn’t get into it, even though I really wanted to love it.

Argh I had such high hopes for this book, but it’s one of the flattest reads I’ve had in a long time. I can’t even pinpoint where it all started to go horribly wrong: so disappointing

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this title as I just couldn't get into it. The world building was super confusing and I felt like I was missing something - like coming into a story halfway through. I kept waiting for something to happen that hooked me but it just wasn't happening.

I hate leaving bad reviews, especially for indie authors, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me.

The concepts sounded so interesting, but I struggled to feel engaged with the story. Perhaps with further editing the characters would feel more fleshed out and the story would flow better.

I wanted to be blown away by this one. The cover? Stunning. But that’s where the excitement fizzles out. The worldbuilding is a bit of a mess, and I spent more time confused than invested. The characters felt flat, and the plot was all over the place. It’s like the potential was there, but the execution just couldn’t keep up. Honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. A gorgeous cover that hides a lot of missed opportunities.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

I got to 30% of this book and am struggling to pick it back up. The world/species of this book is very confusing and I feel like I've just been thrown into the middle of it with little to no explanation.

The book was very confusing and I had to DNf it at the 50% mark because I truly didn’t understand what was happening anymore. I loved the premise and the idea and concepts but I didn’t like the execution.

This was excruciatingly bad, I highly recommend you check out "Tell Me How It Ends" by this same author instead of wasting your time with this one. It was not as well crafted as their debut in the least.

This book felt as complex as the beautiful cover. There were layers to the story and the characters. The setting was imaginative and engaging and I ate it up. I wish the ending had started a hit earlier to round out the plot better, but I would definitely read more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

This was really fun to read. 4/5

dnf @ 29%, not sure whether it’s just that my brain fog and the flowery lyrical prose aren’t going together, or whether this just isn’t worth pushing through the vague plot and overwritten descriptions

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

"Chrysalis and Requiem" by Quinton Li is a stunning exploration of transformation and identity, skillfully blending elements of fantasy with deep emotional resonance. The narrative follows a protagonist grappling with personal loss and the journey toward self-acceptance. Li's writing is lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The themes of rebirth and resilience are beautifully articulated, making for a thought-provoking read. The characters are richly developed, each facing their own struggles, which adds depth to the story. Overall, "Chrysalis and Requiem" is a poignant and imaginative tale that lingers long after the final page. A must-read for fans of introspective fantasy!

We’re going to have some honest book review time today, and let me tell you, I was ready for this one. The cover? Oh, it’s a showstopper. Like, I’d frame that bad boy and put it on my wall kind of gorgeous. But… that’s where the excitement ends. Yep, it’s one of those.

So, imagine my heartbreak when I cracked open this beautiful thing only to find… chaos. The ideas? Incredible. The potential? Sky-high. The execution? Ouch. It felt like reading the rough draft of something that could’ve been epic, but instead was kind of like watching someone try to juggle flaming swords—and dropping every single one.

The characters? Flat. I mean, I’ve had more interesting conversations with my houseplants. The plot? All over the place, like it couldn’t decide where it wanted to go or how fast it wanted to get there. And don’t even get me started on the timeline. I was lost in the timey-wimey-ness of it all. It was like the writing just… gave up halfway through. No spark, no magic. Just words on a page that weren’t too keen on making friends.

Look, I wanted to love this. I tried to love this. But at the end of the day, it felt like a missed opportunity. So much potential, so little payoff. With a bit more thought and, dare I say, effort, this could’ve been something spectacular. Instead? Well, it’s just a pretty cover.

DNF @ 18%. This was not for me and I hate that I had to DNF an arc. The plot was okay, world building needed more work and the characters were just so.....annoying. The writing also needed some improvement.

[Thanks to NetGalley & the author for providing me with this ARC]

I struggled to write this review almost as much as I struggled to read through the book, which is quite sad because I was looking forward to this one. The cover is absolutely magnificent, but that’s about it. So many great ideas with such poor execution, that it almost hurt to read through what felt like an unfinished project. The characters were not fleshed out nor really interesting, the plot was all over the place, the timeline very confusing and the writing almost felt forced, all of which made it quite the struggle to get through.
The ideas were so interesting and with a little more thought and planning, this really could have been great.

Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Sadly I did not enjoy Chrysalis and Requiem.
It had such an interesting premise but to be honest it wasn't what I ended up expecting at all.
The characters were extremely unlikable and while I liked the writing style, I wasn't a big fan of the pacing and in the end I really struggled to finish the book.
The one thing I liked about this book is that the cover is absolutely stunning!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Going into Chrysalis and Requiem, I was intrigued by the premise—an elite academy, a murder mystery, and the promise of gothic undertones. On paper, it seemed like the perfect mix of elements I typically enjoy in a novel. However, as I delved into the story, I found myself struggling to stay engaged and make sense of the narrative.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was connecting with the storyline. The plot is dense, layered with complex emotions, and steeped in mystery, but for some reason, it just didn’t click for me. While I appreciated the atmospheric setting of Adraredon Academy and the intricate web of relationships, I often found the narrative hard to follow. The story seemed to drift in and out of focus, and I frequently felt lost in the details rather than being drawn into the unfolding drama.

Veaer Rosell, the protagonist, is a character who seems rich with potential—her love for beauty, knowledge, and art is well-articulated. Yet, despite her being at the center of the story, I couldn’t quite get a grasp on her motivations or emotional journey. The moral dilemma she faces is compelling, but the way it's presented felt murky at times, leaving me more confused than intrigued.

The pacing also played a role in my difficulty with the book. It fluctuates between slow, introspective moments and sudden bursts of action or revelation. While this could work in building suspense, I often found it disorienting. The transitions weren’t always smooth, which made it hard to stay invested in the story’s progression.

That said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers who enjoy a more abstract and atmospheric style of storytelling, where not everything is spelled out and much is left to interpretation. Quinton Li's writing has a lyrical quality, and the world he creates is vividly detailed. Unfortunately, for me, those strengths weren’t enough to overcome the sense of confusion and detachment I felt throughout my reading experience.

In the end, Chrysalis and Requiem is a novel that I wanted to love, but it ultimately left me feeling more puzzled than satisfied. If you’re a reader who enjoys unraveling complex, enigmatic plots with a heavy dose of gothic atmosphere, this might be a book worth exploring. But if, like me, you prefer a clearer storyline and more accessible character motivations, you might find it difficult to fully immerse yourself in this tale.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc

For right now, this book is not high on my list. However, I will return to it soon. Congratulations to the author for releasing this book and I appreciate their journey.

I’m not sure what’s going on but until we figure it out it’s time we take dark academia out back and put a bullet in it. Many sapphic work attempt to grapple with love and obsession, but this year so far, I’ve seen none handle it well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.