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jayisreading's review against another edition
4.0
All-in-all, I enjoyed this YA novel more than I thought I would. I think I was especially taken to the emphasis on storytelling, and I really appreciated how Oh seamlessly wove in other Korean folktales into the novel through Mina.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: War
e_riahh'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and War
emisbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Blood and Violence
cami_chai'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
4.5
Moderate: Violence
Minor: War
staceyinthesticks'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, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: War, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood
Minor: War and Death of parent
morininung'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? No
4.0
though the pacing left a lot to be desired, TGWFBTS made up for it with its rich worldbuilding and awe-inspiring characters. more than once, i found myself in tears and on the edge of my seat. through the journey mina took, she found love in all its forms, each more true and beautiful than the last, shown and reciprocated through compassion and laughter and truth.
dialogue lines that tore my heart out of my chest, shattered it against the ground, and then laughed at me
"Really, I don't need this torch, but you do, so I'll hold it for you."
"There is no place you can go so far away from forgiveness. Not from someone who loves you."
"I apologize for many things, but mostly I apologize for making the weight you carry a little heavier."
"When I look at Kirin, I see only him, a bright light in the darkness. When he looks at me, he sees only the darkness."
"Sometimes, you don't find family in your own blood, but elsewhere."
"This room was empty before," Namgi says. "And then you filled it with all these things. Is that a good metaphor for how you've filled all our lives?"
"I wanted to be wise and good. I wanted to be whole."
Kirin's grip tightens. "You are, Namgi."
"I will miss you, Mina, my favorite sister."
I scoff. "You only have one sister."
"Yes, and she is the bravest person I know."
"With everyone and everything pushing you toward the Sea God and a fate not of your choosing, you looked back to what you wanted. And because of that, to me, you are the Sea God's bride. The girl who, by saving herself, saves the world."
"She is my bride."
"As for the Red String of Fate we share, he said—"
"You're wrong," Shin interrupts. "I think I have a fever."
"I don't need a Red String of Fate to tell me that if you should die, so will I."
I take in the dark circles beneath his eyes, his lips red against the pallor of his skin. "You look awful—when was the last time you slept?" At the same time, he says, "You look beautiful."
"I would tie my life to yours, if you'll have me."
He releases me, placing his body between the dragon and me. "I won't let you hurt her."
"I may be soulless and haven't a Red String of Fate, but I don't need either to tell me that I love you."
"Will you wait here? Do you trust me?"
He doesn't answer me at first, watching me with his sea-dark eyes. Then he smiles, a small quirk of the lips. "With my soul."
I love you. Wait for me, where the land meets the sea.
His arms tighten around me. "Wherever you are, I'll find you."
"I'll make it easy for you. Because I'll be right here. With you."
Moderate: Blood, Death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Murder, Bullying, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
vif'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
4.5
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: War
bellebookcorner'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
3.5
“Nothing extraordinary is ever done out of reason or logic, but because it’s the only way for your soul to breathe.”
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and War
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Child death
Minor: War and Violence