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stormeno'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
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Mental illness, Gore, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
chronicacademia's review against another edition
Moderate: Sexual content, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Death, Hate crime, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Classism, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Blood, and Murder
savvyrosereads'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? No
5.0
Luzia is a scullion in the home of Valentina and Marius Ordoño when her “small miracles” get her drawn into a dangerous tournament to become the king’s champion.
Leigh Bardugo is one of my favorite authors, and this book absolutely reminded me why. I’ll start with the writing: it is STUNNINGLY good, with so many witty and beautiful quotes throughout. If I was annotating this, I could use up entire highlighter collections noting my favorite passages and moments.
Secondly, the characters. Leigh Bardugo writes a morally grey man (and just morally grey people in general) better than almost anyone in the game, and I am OBSESSED with how well she did that here. Santángel is easily one of my new favorite all-time characters, and I also loved Luzia, and (maybe controversially?) Valentina. Even the characters I disliked were so delicately rendered and fascinating to read about, which is the mark of a truly great book in my opinion.
Finally, the level of detail and historical research here is INCREDIBLE and makes for a wonderfully immersive read. Highly HIGHLY recommend!
CW: Death/grief; sexual violence; physical violence/injury; torture
Graphic: Classism, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Torture, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility
theespressoedition's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Murder, Religious bigotry, Blood, Infidelity, Antisemitism, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content, Gore, Excrement, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
jenvogel80's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Death, and Confinement
aseel_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Torture
Moderate: Antisemitism, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
aileron'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: Religious bigotry, Death, Antisemitism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Blood, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, and Mental illness
moonlightmadness's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Minor: Antisemitism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Emotional abuse
jazhandz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Confinement, Torture, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Infertility
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Vomit, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
persephonefoxx'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
But let it be my ambition and not my fear that seals my fate
Graphic: Antisemitism, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual assault, Infertility, and War