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meghb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- 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
A very intense ride from beginning to end. I loved the changing narrators (even if it made me more anxious!) and I love that the characters are all flawed in some way. Loved the magic, and the way various concepts were explained across the different narrations. And Kudos to Brent Weeks for not only mentioning menstruation, but depicting it fairly accurately also.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Rape
essie85's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I would have given this a 5 for a lighthearted fantasy romp with good worldbuilding and entertaining characters. I mostly got annoyed with literally everyone but the main character being "gorgeous" (author's word). The "oops, looked at her boobs" moments got old really quickly too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Slavery, Vomit, and Animal death
Minor: Rape
brooketreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I keep bouncing between a three and a four star. It was good, could have been great - it just wasn’t for me.
So many spoilers ahead, I’d turn back if I were you.
Positives:
- the magic system is quite interesting, but I will say I don’t 100% get it.
- Fake Gavin/ current prism. And since I am a sucker for romantasy, I am and will always be rooting for him and Karris.
- Karris - beware she will be on both lists. I thought straight off I was destined to hate her in this series and then immediately was proven wrong. I thought she was such a badass!
- Side characters: Corvan, Ironfist, and Gavin’s mom Felia.
- The scene of them in the scull boat.
- Karris fighting Corvan in the basement of the church.
Negatives:
- Too much references to the female body and boobs (especially Kip) but dang it was everyone like Karris have statues because she is so beautiful that two brothers went to war for her (but also it was really just about which brother was better *cough cough*)
- Then, there is a fat/ “chubby” teen that we get tons of internalized (and sometimes externalized) fat phobia from constantly. I was rooting for Kip early on and this really made me come indifferent about him.
- Gavin Dazen - Dazen Gavin. I’m sorry but at times this was so annoying to follow. Trying to decipher who was like what before and who was like what now. I could follow it but it made my head hurt. I just find the whole thing hard to believe that no one besides the mom knew… especially Karris. So that only added to the annoyance on this topic. Also why did real Gavin need to switch to thinking he is Dazen - like they didn’t switch places. This isn’t Lindsay Lohan in the Parent Trap. Like yes Dazen assumed Gavin’s life but the real Gavin assumed nothing. Anyway…
- Karris - I told you both lists. She didn’t stay consistent for me. Specifically through the middle after her capture/ while she is imprisoned. Maybe that’s more a result of her circumstances rather her - but I don’t feel like how she had been set up that she would be/ allow herself to be captured. That’s just my opinion. She made a come back later, but still would have like a more consistent feel to her all the way through.
- Kip’s mom. I hate her. She was a horrible mom, even horrible to Kip on her death bed, now that note - which I’m still not convinced is from her but anywho. No.
- The pacing. It was fast and then slow and it just kept switching back and forth all the way through.
- I felt like it was too long, definitely could have been cut down in a few places. Like Liv’s whole character in my opinion could have been cut out.
So many spoilers ahead, I’d turn back if I were you.
Positives:
- the magic system is quite interesting, but I will say I don’t 100% get it.
- Fake Gavin/ current prism. And since I am a sucker for romantasy, I am and will always be rooting for him and Karris.
- Karris - beware she will be on both lists. I thought straight off I was destined to hate her in this series and then immediately was proven wrong. I thought she was such a badass!
- Side characters: Corvan, Ironfist, and Gavin’s mom Felia.
- The scene of them in the scull boat.
- Karris fighting Corvan in the basement of the church.
Negatives:
- Too much references to the female body and boobs (especially Kip) but dang it was everyone like Karris have statues because she is so beautiful that two brothers went to war for her (but also it was really just about which brother was better *cough cough*)
- Then, there is a fat/ “chubby” teen that we get tons of internalized (and sometimes externalized) fat phobia from constantly. I was rooting for Kip early on and this really made me come indifferent about him.
- Gavin Dazen - Dazen Gavin. I’m sorry but at times this was so annoying to follow. Trying to decipher who was like what before and who was like what now. I could follow it but it made my head hurt. I just find the whole thing hard to believe that no one besides the mom knew… especially Karris. So that only added to the annoyance on this topic. Also why did real Gavin need to switch to thinking he is Dazen - like they didn’t switch places. This isn’t Lindsay Lohan in the Parent Trap. Like yes Dazen assumed Gavin’s life but the real Gavin assumed nothing. Anyway…
- Karris - I told you both lists. She didn’t stay consistent for me. Specifically through the middle after her capture/ while she is imprisoned. Maybe that’s more a result of her circumstances rather her - but I don’t feel like how she had been set up that she would be/ allow herself to be captured. That’s just my opinion. She made a come back later, but still would have like a more consistent feel to her all the way through.
- Kip’s mom. I hate her. She was a horrible mom, even horrible to Kip on her death bed, now that note - which I’m still not convinced is from her but anywho. No.
- The pacing. It was fast and then slow and it just kept switching back and forth all the way through.
- I felt like it was too long, definitely could have been cut down in a few places. Like Liv’s whole character in my opinion could have been cut out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Death of parent, Murder, Fatphobia, and Sexism
Minor: Vomit
swimfish2005's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Violence, War, Slavery, Fatphobia, Murder, and Cursing
franceselsie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and War
Moderate: Rape and Vomit
huldasif's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A really exciting fantasy with an interest magic system, although I found it a bit confusing sometimes because the rules were a little inconsistent. If you are higly sensitive to misoginy (and I don't mean that in a negative way), there's a dash of it here. It bothered me a tiny little bit, but not enough to stop enjoying the book, although I have known of women who have either quit reading or stopped after finishing the first book because of it. What liked most about this book was the surprises and how things aren't always the way that they seem and how well Brent Weeks holds off information you are dying to get until at the very moment it pays the most to get it. The multiple POV was very well executed, although the men were better written than the women. Somehow the women are so much more flawed than the men and it's rather irritating, but they don't have nearly as many chapters, so it didn't have to spend the whole book raging about it. Let's hope that improves in the coming books. The story is captivating and I don't know what will happen next or where it's going, but I want to know. I lost sleep over this book. It's a page turner and yet it's 735 pages! I didn't feel that long at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, War, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexism, Death of parent, Body horror, Addiction, Drug use, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Fatphobia, Slavery, Torture, Misogyny, Death, and Blood
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, and Vomit
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Violence, War, Death, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Rape
lvl52_grant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
An excellent beginning, with wonderful characters and one of the most fascinating setting in fantasy literature. Brent Weeks continues to be a powerhouse, and I'm excited to be back in the Chromeria
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, War, Racism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Violence, Gore, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gun violence, and Vomit
axolotlhappy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Main character who just witnessed his whole town being murdered and burned to the ground: 😢
Everyone in this book: Don’t be such a girl! 🙄
Everyone in this book: Don’t be such a girl! 🙄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
andrewtes's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, and War