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that_awkwardpart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book is about a young girl, that has been in prison for the last 10 years. She is the prison healer, but keeps mostly to herself and stays out of trouble.
A must read. In my opinion.
Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Slavery, Self harm, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Torture, Blood, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Murder, Medical content, Police brutality, Self harm, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, War, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Rape, and Sexual assault
yournextread's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Torture and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, and Child death
margauxhdz's review against another edition
3.0
I liked Kiva as a main character, I thought that she had a nuanced internal dialogue.
I think that this book tries to be political and it fails at that. We should really know more about the workings of the outside world in order to understand the rebellion. It feels like it's only existing because it's a battle between two families for the throne, but why would commoners join? Does the current system oppress them? I feel like the rebellion should be really popular in prison given that a lot of prisonners are innocent or in prison for being rebels. I wish we would have been told about the structure of the outside world more.
I think my main problem with this book is that I have grown out of ya and have expectations for books that cannot be met by ya.
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
prashiie'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? It's complicated
5.0
This might be my favourite read so far this year! The twists, especially those at the end of the book, are amazing. Serious vibes of Hunger Games and Avatar: the last airbender. It is a dark fantasy and whilst some parts were challenging to read and weighed heavily on my mind, there were also other parts that brought a sense of hope.
But please be sure to review the trigger warnings before diving into this book. This might not be suitable for everyone.
Okay, now let’s get to the plot. The story is set in Zalindov, a prison where nobody ever leaves once they’ve entered. The grimm conditions of this prison and the injustice is mind boggling. As if being condemned to die in this prison isn't horrible enough, there are also guards who don’t shy away from violence and use and misuse the prisoners to their liking.
Our main character, Kiva, is the prison healer and has been in Zalindov for 10 years. Her prison job forces her to brand the new prisoners which goes directly against being a healer. But hey, sometimes you’ve got to do things to survive, can't really judge here. Kiva wants to fight for herself, let loose the rebellious fire in her, but she is also smart enough to know how to survive in this prison. She is secretly in communication with her family on the outside and hopes that they will make true of their promise to come for her.
But with the Rebel Queen’s arrival to Zalindov, sick and in no condition to carry out her sentence, Kiva volunteers to take the Rebel Queen’s place and claim the sentence as her own. What in the Hunger Games…!
"My name is Kiva Meridan, and I claim her sentence as my own."
If Kiva manages to survive the Trials of the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth), see and the Rebel Queen are both free to leave the prison! Freedom is waiting.
I really liked to read more about Kiva’s scientific side and the dynamic between her and the other prisoners. She warms up to Naari and Jaren, both of them being new to the prison. She cares a lot about Tipp, I mean it’s impossible to not love this character!!
“The world needs people like him out there in it, shining light into the dark places.”
THE TWISTS IN THIS BOOK ARE BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.
!! Spoilers incoming !!
Jaren is such a sweet person and he has proven on multiple occasions that his heart is in the right place. He’s always there for Kiva, a loyal companion. Yet, I am worried that he will have his heart broken in the next book. I dread to see another version of Cal Calore and Mare Barrow (Red Queen). At least in their case they both knew they were both on opposite sides!
I actually think (and hope) that Kiva wants to be the rebel princess but having to betray Jaren will contradict her feelings for him. While I don’t believe she’s deliberately using Jaren, I guess she will be torn between her destiny and her affection for him. AAAARGH… the politics in this book, secretly brewing in the background and ready to wreak havoc, adds an interesting layer to this story.
Either way, she better not hurt him!
I had a lot of questions and doubts whilst reading this book and for sure I won’t be the only one! Just trust me when I say that the story will make sense in the end.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Death of parent, Confinement, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Rape and Addiction
Minor: Self harm and War
ashlyncherie'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Torture, Vomit, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Medical content, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
Minor: Grief, Rape, Addiction, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
yananhai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Moderate: Medical content, Addiction, Blood, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
livcashmere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Addiction, Police brutality, Confinement, Sexual assault, War, Rape, Drug use, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
rinku'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
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Drug abuse, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Rape, Animal death, and Pregnancy
mirthesportel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Confinement
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Child death, Child abuse, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Rape
the_jesus_fandom'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
There was a bit of discrepancy in Kiva saying she helped everyone cause that was her job, regardless of what they did, but then she refuses to help a guard and actively makes his sickness worse.
My only major grievances: eyes don't have to have stone colours. Just say her eyes are yellow (amber).
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Medical content, War, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Abandonment, Cursing, Vomit, and Death of parent