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kaiiyo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, Slavery, Misogyny, and Rape
gummifrog'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
5.0
The plot felt like the author had SUCH a good idea, and then structured all of her mystery reveals around the world building, which is such a great way to organically introduce your otherworldly fantasy. I loved the characters and their diverse identity expression and exploration of self.
And -- I picked up this book really hoping it would turn out this way -- the romance is poly with ZERO toxicity or jealous involved!! There's even an ace/aro character involved in the polycule! I never gets to see such a thing explicitly represented in romance, SO this was very exciting for me.
This was a really unique NA fantasy and I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for something a bit darker and off the beaten path!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and War
anniereads221's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Murder, Grief, Violence, Misogyny, Gore, and Death of parent
maggiegirouard's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Torture, Alcoholism, Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Murder, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Suicide, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Grief
jjjreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Slavery, Stalking, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, Confinement, Suicide, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Cursing, Sexual content, Vomit, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
thewildmageslibrary's review
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Sexism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body horror, and Torture
Minor: Rape
marareading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Rovan is our MC. Her father died when she was young to protect her magic from being discovered. she and her mother lived a quiet life trying to avoid the people that might find her, and take her to the palace to be warded. One day she slips and is discovered and warded. That means she is bound to a spirit/dead man named Ivrilos who is her guardian. She now has to survive this new place, discover who are her friends, enemies, and figure out a way to end this torturous system. Either save herself and escape, or save everyone and find out why this system exists based on clues left by her father.
I did love all the queer rep in the book. There is found family, and definitely some intrigue when trying to decide who she can and can't trust. In the end though I don't strongly recommend.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, and Sexism
oliverreeds's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, Rape, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Misogyny, and Sexism
natcat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought the book really missed a trick in not actually engaging with the exploitative scenario it had set up, where Bloodmages are forced to bond to spirits and (as it turns out)
I did love the queerness of it all, and I adored Japha, and loved that all of the main characters were queer
Definitely a curate’s egg of a book!
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault
radiosilent8'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
4.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Transphobia, and Sexism