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gaky_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
Finding an enjoyable and satisfying standalone novel nowadays is a rarity for me (I tend to accidentally start new series/trilogies all the time thinking they are standalones haha) and this one was a breath of fresh air in that regard!
Graphic: Antisemitism and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Classism and Death of parent
public_nuisance's review against another edition
2.75
- I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. None of them particularly won me over or gave me reason to root for them. This was disappointing because you can tell the cast was carefully crafted, but I couldn't quite pin Luiza's personality down except for what's directly told to the reader.
- This story reeks of a YA author dipping their toe into the world of adult fiction. The sex scenes were fine, but sometimes crass language was used at points where it weakened the scenes.
- Spoilers:
im personally just not the biggest fan of immortal x mortal, especially with how young Luiza was portrayed.
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Antisemitism, and Classism
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
nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
3.0
https://www.youtube.com/live/WKd1j44ZaOo?si=3mwF2fbQ3fKNwT6w
This book started off soooooooo boring and slow. I couldn’t tell who any of the characters names. It started getting interesting probably in the last 50 pages.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Classism, Genocide, Hate crime, and Death
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
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
madelinemartin'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
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Classism, Confinement, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent and War
edamamebean'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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Torture, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Murder, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, and Xenophobia
torturedreadersdept'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: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Gaslighting, Violence, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Antisemitism, Body horror, Hate crime, Torture, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Abandonment, and Bullying