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joshoonet's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
- I had a bit if a hard time getting into this book, mostly because the feeling of having to read another ~1200 pages to finish the series was kind of daunting
- But then I ended up finishing the majority of the book in one day, so it was absolutely captivating!
- Almost as good as the first one, but of course higher stakes and more complicated politics
- Lost focus a bit during the big fighting bits
- Love how nothing is ever quite how it seems, everyone is scheming all the time
- Starting the third book immediately!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gun violence, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, Torture, and Excrement
War and pretty much all the violent and gory stuff:blueberry0531's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
bibliorama's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Enjoyment - 5
Ah the part where shit hits the fan. My favorite!
Also I'd like to preface this by saying the terror that these Golds cause, while entertaining to me in book form, does not mean I want real life politics to emulate it in the slightest (even though I think sometimes it does to our detriment).
Start - 4.5
Once the book gets going, it doesn't stop. It's full steam ahead.
Characters - 5
Faves are still my faves (Sevro and Virginia looking straight at you). Though some new dynamics were introduced that by the end caused some major heartbreak and backstabbyness.
These are some of the most chaotic characters I have ever read, like every intrusive thought wins out. The theatrics of this book are also top tier and its politics are such a show. This book has one of my all-time favorite scenes being where Darrow challenges Cassius to a duel in the most dramatic fashion. It serves a political purpose while also being satisfying to see a character not half ass anything, he just takes it there.
Best quote: “My honour has been pissed upon. And I demand satisfaction.”
Atmosphere - 5
We get a lot more of the world in this book and more of the Sci Fi elements which were fun.
Plot - 4
Again, is it plot or is it vibes? It's very much just characters doing the absolute most and then having to deal with the consequences of their own actions. This creates a fascinating journey to watch go down, and man that ending was . . . the worst in the best way.
Ending - 5
Everything culminates to that ending and I'm not entirely sure how Darrow gets himself out of this one. There are betrayals where some I could see coming, but they still hurt. The characters are the stars of the show being complex, messy, and endearing.
and dammit I second guessed Virginia again. She's my literal fave and yet there's the feeling that her and Darrow are going to have a tragic end.
Style - 3
Writing is good, it has to be for me to connect as much as I did to the characters.
Overall - 4.5
After finishing this review, I want to go pick up the third one now. I've waited long enough.
Ah the part where shit hits the fan. My favorite!
Also I'd like to preface this by saying the terror that these Golds cause, while entertaining to me in book form, does not mean I want real life politics to emulate it in the slightest (even though I think sometimes it does to our detriment).
Start - 4.5
Once the book gets going, it doesn't stop. It's full steam ahead.
Characters - 5
Faves are still my faves (Sevro and Virginia looking straight at you). Though some new dynamics were introduced that by the end caused some major heartbreak and backstabbyness.
These are some of the most chaotic characters I have ever read, like every intrusive thought wins out. The theatrics of this book are also top tier and its politics are such a show. This book has one of my all-time favorite scenes being where Darrow challenges Cassius to a duel in the most dramatic fashion. It serves a political purpose while also being satisfying to see a character not half ass anything, he just takes it there.
Best quote: “My honour has been pissed upon. And I demand satisfaction.”
Atmosphere - 5
We get a lot more of the world in this book and more of the Sci Fi elements which were fun.
Plot - 4
Again, is it plot or is it vibes? It's very much just characters doing the absolute most and then having to deal with the consequences of their own actions. This creates a fascinating journey to watch go down, and man that ending was . . . the worst in the best way.
Ending - 5
Everything culminates to that ending and I'm not entirely sure how Darrow gets himself out of this one. There are betrayals where some I could see coming, but they still hurt. The characters are the stars of the show being complex, messy, and endearing.
Style - 3
Writing is good, it has to be for me to connect as much as I did to the characters.
Overall - 4.5
After finishing this review, I want to go pick up the third one now. I've waited long enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Classism
chris_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Murder, and War
Minor: Vomit, Blood, and Trafficking
cami_stokes3859's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Warfare, increased violence, character development, science fiction
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, and War
Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
berglindsh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Death, Gore, Blood, Classism, Slavery, and Torture
st_ender's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am amazed that so many things were put into this book. Like so many. Just rapid fire events. I mean I did have to go back to plot section of wiki to understand some parts and there being multiple settings across the solar system AND multiple new characters AND plot twists and betrayals AND the main character changing his goals like 10 times? It's like the author tried to avoid the sequel slump so much he just put his entire brain into making every sentence engaging and if you miss that one sentence you are done.
I did have fun tho, it was tense and it made me gasp and go wait whaaat out loud so I guess the aim was achieved. It was also very different than the first one in about everything but also less ender-y (don't worry the space school takes like a chapter) so I'm excited for the next one
I did have fun tho, it was tense and it made me gasp and go wait whaaat out loud so I guess the aim was achieved. It was also very different than the first one in about everything but also less ender-y (don't worry the space school takes like a chapter) so I'm excited for the next one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Murder, War, Classism, Death of parent, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Trafficking
grets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Police brutality, Classism, Genocide, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Grief
Minor: Torture, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, and Alcohol
laguerrelewis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
All your favorite (surviving) characters from the last book + a few new faces move to battle in space with this installment. The political intricacies, violence, and undercurrent of revolution are all still present in mostly the same ways, but now instead of the Institute, Darrow and his allies have entered the actual society. While there was a lot that I liked that carried over, there was also a lot that I didn’t like. The writing style of these books makes it hard for me to truly get into them. Pretentiousness with little substance, undercutting the few moments where it’s actually fitting. I especially don’t like how women are discussed—this book is incredibly horny, which is distracting, off-putting, and hurts the female characters. If you can get past all that the action is great, the build is pretty engaging, and this book at least meets the level of its predecessor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Slavery, and War
powkaye's review against another edition
The book was just too violent they bashed babies heads in
Also I was told that the writing and overall story would improve from book one but over 100 pages in and wasn’t getting better it was getting worse.
Also I was told that the writing and overall story would improve from book one but over 100 pages in and wasn’t getting better it was getting worse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
I know now that this is grim dark series. I’ve read them before but this was the absolute worst I’ve ever read and it’s directed at young adults. Reviewers don’t mention the barbarism when they review the book and thus aren’t being honest with their audience. I wish I’d known. Waste of time and money although I sent mine back for a refund.