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errie's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Slavery
bethfern04'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Child death, Grief, Emotional abuse, Blood, Confinement, Sexual violence, and Murder
kathrynleereads'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
4.75
Other than the gods themselves, there were no characters that I didn’t like.
The only two who came close were Minya and Thyon, but even the two of them weren’t evil, they just lacked compassion.
And the dreams.
Laini Taylor’s writing truly encompasses and deserves the word “art.”
I have long wished that I could dive into the worlds I read about, and then there I was, reading about a world I wanted to dive into, and within that world they were doing the same thing.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Child death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Child abuse
Minor: Homophobia
aksmith92'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
4.5
In these first 10 pages, I was the most confused I've ever been about a book, but thankfully, that passed, and I was swept away in this novel.
We follow a couple of different characters throughout this book - Lazlo Strange, Sarai, Feral, Sparrow, Eril-Fane, Azareen, and Thyon. However, primarily, it's told from a third POV of Lazlo and Sarai. The book is broken up into parts, and the first part is exclusively for Lazlo, a timid and shy librarian who is fascinated with a distant land called Weep. Weep was called something else years ago, but no one can seem to remember the name. So Lazlo buries his mind into other aspects of the land besides the name - its history, the language, and the culture. Suddenly, he finds himself in an opportunity where he can go to Weep and immerse himself even further.
Sarai is a godling(like) who has a power where she can immerse herself in peoples' dreams. She lives in Weep but at the Citadel, which is high up in the sky. Without spoiling anything, the only thing you know about Sarai and four other godlings is that they are kept a secret from Weep citizens due to a slaughter of the gods fifteen years prior. Sarai and the others must keep their identities secret, but they stumble upon an obstacle when Weep citizens and others brainstorm ways to remove the Citadel from the sky.
The only way I can describe the writing is gorgeous, and I absolutely loved the plot and premise. This is a fantastical world that just had me dreaming like those in this novel. The adjectives were vivid, and the characters were beautiful and never perfect in the best way possible. As typical in YA novels, the main characters were a little angsty. I wished Taylor portrayed them as a little bit older (my common qualm, per usual), and I think the love story was a tad bit rushed, but overall, I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series/duology!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
Minor: Sexual content
Rape is regularly talked about, but it's most inferred, and the recuperation of it, as opposed to it being on page and in detail. That is why it is in Moderate as opposed to the Graphic. Sexual content is minor (PG-13-like) and also semi-inferred (but well-done!)stripedstone's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Rape, Child death, Sexual violence, Grief, Confinement, Violence, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping
takarakei'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
4.5
Just really beautiful writing, very descriptive imagery that built a very lush and intriguing world. I am very excited to read the sequel.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Rape, and Slavery
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
rape/SA:lifeonasofa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
I adored this book 😭 I was so worried at the start as I went in blind. The descriptive writing, whilst beautiful, had me doubting if I could make it through this chonk of a book. But I needn’t have worried 🥰
Laini creates such a clear picture of the world. The premise of the book, the plot itself - so original. Books opening with the promise of adventure, aren’t usually my thing but I was absorbed completely once we met Sarai and her fellow blues 👀
The characters are the reason this book won my heart. They were really well developed, I felt I knew each and every one of them. The whole romance thing was done in such a delicate way, I didn’t mind it. 💕
And that ending! How dare you!! I’ll never recover 🤯
Graphic: Rape, War, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
vanesst's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Blood, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Kidnapping
carolined314's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Slavery and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Bullying, Rape, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
barefootbeauty99'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: Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, Child death, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death
Minor: Classism