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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
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
switchywitchsitch'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
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, War, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
abbyschalupa's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Suicide
melaniereadsbooks'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? Yes
4.5
Rovan has been hiding the fact that she is a bloodmage her whole life--ever since she watched her father die for being one. Bloodmages are surrounded by death and forced to work for Theopolis, and Rovan will do anything she can to avoid that life...except letting her friend die. When she reveals she is a bloodmage, she is forced to the palace to except a bloodline and a life she wants no part of, and is beset with a Guardian--a spirit that seems to be more there to guard others from her than her from them. But there is something else going on in the city, causing the world-wide blight, and it stinks of death. Rovan will risk her own life to find out what it is.
I was all in on the premise of this book: the bloodmage, reluctant hero, secret plots and royal intrigue! The setting is also really interesting and I was so curious to find out what was causing the blight. There are a lot of twists and reveals that I didn't see coming, and I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire time! I really love the plot.
The queer rep in this book is also amazing! Rovan is pansexual and polyamorous. There is a main character who is nonbinary panromantic-asexual, and lots of other queer characters. I thought it was all well-done and was glad that it wasn't looked down on in this world (as long as characters still reproduced, that is).
The only real complaint I had with this book (and not much of one) is that I didn't really feel the connection between Rovan and her love interests until...very far into the book. I didn't think the chemistry between them was that great and it seemed like much more of a visual-only attraction for a long time. It did get better though!
The found family element made me want to cry. So precious. Definitely get this book!
Pub Date: May 18, 2021
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit