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infjkiki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Cursing, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Self harm, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Classism, Drug use, Grief, Blood, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: War, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
jennipea382's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Cursing, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Classism, and Sexual content
ladylaelae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As many others have likely stated, this book does start off slow. There is a mountain of worldbuilding to be done, especially since the setting of this book (urban fantasy) is markedly different from SJM's two other major series (which are a combination of high fantasy and mid-range fantasy settings, since ACOTAR's level of high fantasy and urban fantasy identification is ambiguous).
Outside of the initial pains of worldbuilding, this book took me by surprise. I'm not normally an urban fantasy kind of gal, and yet the characters pulled me right in. There was a devastating twist in the beginning of the book (iykyk) that shocked me and pulled me right in. There was flirtatious banter and charm between the characters that had me rolling my eyes in amusement, occasionally blushing, and giggling like a madwoman. And then there was one particular set of scenes toward the end that had me sobbing my heart out
No, her writing is not the top-tier writing you may expect from the upper echelons of fantasy authors. This book is meant for adults coming off of young adult fantasy and moving into something more mature. Yes, she does her usual thing where she uses certain phrases and themes over and over again. NO, you should NOT read this before you read her other series, if you can help it.
Manage your expectations, and I think you'll fall in love. Not every book, series, or author has to be the next Tolkien, Greenwood, or Sanderson. This book - as with all of SJM's fantasy books - is fun, romantic, emotional, and packed with action and adventure. The writing is mid-tier fantasy writing, but the world can be captivating and imaginative. Just immerse yourself in it and enjoy it for what it is.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Cursing
hminors's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
pauli_alarcon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, War, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
annalee623's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, War, Murder, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
natashian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, and Drug use
Moderate: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
ali1004's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Blood, and Drug use
Minor: Torture
kyahs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Violence, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, War, Gore, Addiction, Blood, Death, Animal cruelty, Torture, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Slavery
merwhale2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Violence, Slavery, Vomit, War, Drug abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Torture