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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
6/2
I am absolutely OBSESSED with how gay people in books have Gay Thoughts that keep popping up even (especially) when they’re unwanted and contradictory to everything else. Screaming and sobbing over Ranka’s Thoughts about Aramis since literally the very beginning. *and they keep getting stronger literally every page omfg*
I’m sorry who fucking let there be gay people being utterly and completely useless in the middle of my book about witches and magic and war (thank you so much actually I am deceased)
6/4
Oh my god there was So Much Happening it was fucking crazy. Literally everything was everywhere all at once and I was on the edge of my seat for like the whole second half of the book lol, but it was absolutely incredible. Ranka and Amaris and Galen and Percy are simply
I am absolutely OBSESSED with how gay people in books have Gay Thoughts that keep popping up even (especially) when they’re unwanted and contradictory to everything else. Screaming and sobbing over Ranka’s Thoughts about Aramis since literally the very beginning. *and they keep getting stronger literally every page omfg*
I’m sorry who fucking let there be gay people being utterly and completely useless in the middle of my book about witches and magic and war (thank you so much actually I am deceased)
6/4
Oh my god there was So Much Happening it was fucking crazy. Literally everything was everywhere all at once and I was on the edge of my seat for like the whole second half of the book lol, but it was absolutely incredible. Ranka and Amaris and Galen and Percy are simply
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-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:
Yes
The first half of this book almost put me entirely off it, but pushing through was worth it! The ending felt satisfying in a way i really wasn’t expecting from this book, and it made the characters all the more liable as well. I do think the magic system was a little unexplained, as i’m still not entirely sure what exactly non-blood witches can do, and i had a hard time keeping track of all the names, but other than that the world building was solid
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
to be fair with the book I don’t read YA that often
but the story was entertaining, loved he magic and witchy part as much as the sapphic love story! I think the author has a lot of potential and the writing is really well done! sadly it was not he kind of story I personally enjoy
but the story was entertaining, loved he magic and witchy part as much as the sapphic love story! I think the author has a lot of potential and the writing is really well done! sadly it was not he kind of story I personally enjoy
i know the controversy happened a while ago and most people have forgotten/gotten over it, but it’s been sitting in my chest, weighing me down since i realized what was going on while reading. i didn’t speak up about it: i was ashamed, embarrassed, frustrated, even, that i had spent so much time promoting an book, and an author, which turned out to be full of racism.
the thing is, for a lot of people, this is frustrating, right? for a lot of white people, i should say, this is annoying, frustrating and maybe, maybe, maybe, angering. but for me, and for most people of color, first and foremost, this hurts. i don’t think i can explain it in any other way. i’m not black, so this book didn’t directly attack me. and here i’ll say it’s a good idea to go to black readers who have reviewed this and read what they’ve said because they’re the ones to follow here.
however, as a person of color who’s ancestors have suffered and who’s grandparents have suffered and who’s homeland is continuing to suffer, this book hurt. it hurt in a way that very few books hurt. it took an experience that my family has gone through, where white people forcibly place themselves in power and don’t consider anyone else, and flipped it. this author took the experiences of millions upon billions of people in the world, and throughout history, who have suffered at the hands of white people and turned it into a fantasy story, where suddenly, we’re the oppressors?
let me back up for a minute and tell you a story. let me know if it sounds familiar. people and their families took over land years and years ago. as they grew wealthier, they bought more land til they had a kingdom. a monarchy is born. henceforth, the firstborns get the crown and continue ruling over people who have no say in the matter. regardless of what’s going on in their kingdom, these people are kept safe by guards, with taxes, and with power. unequal, unfairly taken power. the people in the kingdom are unfairly taxed, worked til they drop and many are sick with an illness that can’t be cured.
did any of that sound familiar?
yeah?
yeah.
it’s the history of how people, especially people of color, have been treated for eons. it’s what our ancestors have been through. it’s part of our family history, written in the pages of our lives, carved into the walls of our homes, told, in hushed whispers, the story passed from generation to generation.
and this author took that story, swept our history under the rug and made us oppressors. she made us into the thing we grew up seeing in our nightmares.
that’s why i’m still angry, why so many of us, are still angry. because it hurts. and it’s not okay. and we speak up, we spoke up, but nothing changes.
so please, i have a list of books by BIPOC authors in a guide on my profile, preorder those.
the thing is, for a lot of people, this is frustrating, right? for a lot of white people, i should say, this is annoying, frustrating and maybe, maybe, maybe, angering. but for me, and for most people of color, first and foremost, this hurts. i don’t think i can explain it in any other way. i’m not black, so this book didn’t directly attack me. and here i’ll say it’s a good idea to go to black readers who have reviewed this and read what they’ve said because they’re the ones to follow here.
however, as a person of color who’s ancestors have suffered and who’s grandparents have suffered and who’s homeland is continuing to suffer, this book hurt. it hurt in a way that very few books hurt. it took an experience that my family has gone through, where white people forcibly place themselves in power and don’t consider anyone else, and flipped it. this author took the experiences of millions upon billions of people in the world, and throughout history, who have suffered at the hands of white people and turned it into a fantasy story, where suddenly, we’re the oppressors?
let me back up for a minute and tell you a story. let me know if it sounds familiar. people and their families took over land years and years ago. as they grew wealthier, they bought more land til they had a kingdom. a monarchy is born. henceforth, the firstborns get the crown and continue ruling over people who have no say in the matter. regardless of what’s going on in their kingdom, these people are kept safe by guards, with taxes, and with power. unequal, unfairly taken power. the people in the kingdom are unfairly taxed, worked til they drop and many are sick with an illness that can’t be cured.
did any of that sound familiar?
yeah?
yeah.
it’s the history of how people, especially people of color, have been treated for eons. it’s what our ancestors have been through. it’s part of our family history, written in the pages of our lives, carved into the walls of our homes, told, in hushed whispers, the story passed from generation to generation.
and this author took that story, swept our history under the rug and made us oppressors. she made us into the thing we grew up seeing in our nightmares.
that’s why i’m still angry, why so many of us, are still angry. because it hurts. and it’s not okay. and we speak up, we spoke up, but nothing changes.
so please, i have a list of books by BIPOC authors in a guide on my profile, preorder those.
Pros: This book is one that has been sat on my shelf for a while, I received it a few months ago as part of a Fairyloot box and there it has sat since.
As a part of a new book group I have joined we chose this book to be our first Book of the Month and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
It was adventurous, challenging and at times dark and kept me guessing throughout. This book has a mix of character and plot building and I have to admit I am all here for it! Books that focus on either one or the other always seem to me like they are missing something and this book somehow managed to balance them perfectly. I found the characters extremely lovable and the main character even gave me slight Manon Blackbeak vibes from SJMS Throne of Glass series. The inclusivity of diverse characters within the book was also a breath of fresh air and the ease at which this was included into the story was really nice to see.
Cons: The only thing I would say about this book is that the ending seemed quite rushed and abrupt, if it wasn't for this it would have easily been a 4 star review.
All in all a very pleasant read and I will look out for more books from this author in the future!
As a part of a new book group I have joined we chose this book to be our first Book of the Month and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
It was adventurous, challenging and at times dark and kept me guessing throughout. This book has a mix of character and plot building and I have to admit I am all here for it! Books that focus on either one or the other always seem to me like they are missing something and this book somehow managed to balance them perfectly. I found the characters extremely lovable and the main character even gave me slight Manon Blackbeak vibes from SJMS Throne of Glass series. The inclusivity of diverse characters within the book was also a breath of fresh air and the ease at which this was included into the story was really nice to see.
Cons: The only thing I would say about this book is that the ending seemed quite rushed and abrupt, if it wasn't for this it would have easily been a 4 star review.
All in all a very pleasant read and I will look out for more books from this author in the future!