Scan barcode
abby_can_read'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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Racism, Addiction, and Eating disorder
Minor: Gun violence, Transphobia, and Police brutality
pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Voya is a compelling protagonist with crippling indecision and immense care for her family. She's faced with an inpossible task and readers greatly sympathise with her conflict between saving her family and destroying her first love.
There are plenty of shocking twists that lead to a pretty satisfying ending, despite this being only book 1 of 2 there's no frustrating cliffhanger and it feels like it could be a standalone.
The famy dynamics are messy and strained but with loce and trust serving as the main conflict points. I really like how all the characters felt fully developed no matter how much page time they were given. Keis and Alex are standouts.
Part of the premise of learning to trust in yourself, what determines your worth, and what you're willing to do to protect your family remind me a bit of Encanto especially with the aspects of a large family, a Matriarch, fading magic/threat of loss of magic for the entire family, and magic being tied to a family house.
I definitely look forward to reading the sequel and highly recommend this as a teen/YA sci-fi/fantasy read.
Graphic: Racism, Death, Grief, Hate crime, and Slavery
Minor: Addiction, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Drug abuse
jennireadsmaybe's review
- 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
Speaking of Voya, I love her so much! Liselle Sambury takes the chosen one trope and throws it on its head with Voya. From the start, she doesn't want to do what's asked of her. So much of this story is a love letter to proving people wrong. Voya comes into herself so beautifully in this first book, so I can't wait to see what the consequences are!
The romance between Voya and Luc is the perfect addition to the already high stakes. Was nobody going to tell me Luc is a trans boy love interest!! Safe to say, I was very pleasantly surprised when I found out. Their romance is sickeningly sweet in the best way!
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Minor: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Transphobia
mostlykenny'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
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, Murder, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Blood
emzhay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The characters were the highlight of the book for me from the beginning. I cared about literally everyone and wanted to know more about them. I liked how messy their relationships
were too. The plot, however, was way too drawn out. It could have been edited down. There was too much telling and not enough showing. There was so much repetition that could have been excluded, and so many details that were over explained at least 3 times sometimes in the same chapter. It made listening to the book such a chore especially toward the end.
I know this is a duology, but the ending is incredibly unsatisfying.
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism and Grief
Minor: Addiction and Eating disorder
mallotar'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
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Murder, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Addiction, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Cursing
cosmicwillow'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Racism, Slavery, and Death
Minor: Transphobia and Addiction
melodyseestrees'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: Blood, Murder, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Racism, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Minor: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Gun violence, and Police brutality
therainbowshelf's review
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Slavery, Racism, Transphobia, Murder, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Blood, Violence, Grief, and Torture
Moderate: Eating disorder
sashahc'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: Racism and Murder