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pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Simply beautiful. So much LGBT+ representation. Especially for my fellow ace community members. Also no one told me there were pirates!! (You think I would have put two and two together when I first looked at Fairyloot's alternate cover, but alas I did not). Lastly, Alix . . . sweet baby child . . . did any one else smash together Aang (ATLA) and Al (Fullmetal Alchemost) in their head when imagining him? Or was it just me?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, Death, War, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
melliebean28's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I am a fan of multiple pov's and I think it was done well with the two main characters, Alix and Karis. I absolutely love the fully platonic relationship between the two characters, and the juvenile side romance developed between the tertiary characters. This book had me gripped early on, with subtle world building that wasn't too confusing and a linear plot. What a great debut novel, I'm excited to read any future works from Emily Victoria.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
jasper_is_atypical's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Classism, Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
THIS GOLDEN FLAME is a story of exploitation, personhood, and substrate chauvinism in a fantasy version of technically-not-ancient-Greece.
Karis is trying to get free of the Scriptorium and find her brother, whom she last saw seven years ago. Alix is an automaton Karis finds before escaping, and a large part of his arc revolves around figuring out the extent to which his mechanical origins define him, how much it matters to how he goes about existing in the world.
The worldbuilding is mostly in the background and in little details, like the clothing. This isn't a book that sets out to dazzle with the setting, the setting exists to support the characters rather than to be a huge presence itself. The plot is pretty linear, and I don't want to spoil it. This is a very character-driven book, with most of the tension revolving around the characters deciding how to proceed based on a few key factors which they can't affect much. Where this really shines is in characterization and character development. They don't become totally different people or something, but rather they become more confident and self-aware versions of themselves as they gain allies and figure out their path forward.
Karis is trying to get free of the Scriptorium and find her brother, whom she last saw seven years ago. Alix is an automaton Karis finds before escaping, and a large part of his arc revolves around figuring out the extent to which his mechanical origins define him, how much it matters to how he goes about existing in the world.
The worldbuilding is mostly in the background and in little details, like the clothing. This isn't a book that sets out to dazzle with the setting, the setting exists to support the characters rather than to be a huge presence itself. The plot is pretty linear, and I don't want to spoil it. This is a very character-driven book, with most of the tension revolving around the characters deciding how to proceed based on a few key factors which they can't affect much. Where this really shines is in characterization and character development. They don't become totally different people or something, but rather they become more confident and self-aware versions of themselves as they gain allies and figure out their path forward.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Slavery
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
the_books_music_life's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't know this book had pirates and open sea adventures!! I love pirate stories/elements.
I was a little wary going into this book since it’s a standalone fantasy/syfy. With most standalone fantasies you get one of two things; a lot of info dumping in the very beginning or you don’t get enough and you’re left confused. You didn’t get a whole lot of info dumping, you got bits and pieces of the history and the world without it overwhelming you. That being said I was a bit confused at the beginning and later on since we didn’t get a whole lot of information but it was cleared up not long after.
I was pleasantly surprised how the author made use of two of the characters pronouns. I have yet to read a book that referenced or made note of it. I also think there was a hint of asexuality rep but it was just a tiny sliver that I'm unsure if it really was there.
I don't have strong feelings for this book. I enjoyed it and liked many aspects of it but it was just okay for me. It might have something to do with the audiobook, I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrators. Or maybe it's because it's syfy and I'm not the greatest fan of it.
Overall this book had a good plot and was fast paced without leaving the reader in the dust. Some of the characters had a good amount of growing as the book progressed.
The ending was ambiguous enough that you can make up what you think/want to happen next, while also giving the story that ending it needs to be a standalone.
I was a little wary going into this book since it’s a standalone fantasy/syfy. With most standalone fantasies you get one of two things; a lot of info dumping in the very beginning or you don’t get enough and you’re left confused. You didn’t get a whole lot of info dumping, you got bits and pieces of the history and the world without it overwhelming you. That being said I was a bit confused at the beginning and later on since we didn’t get a whole lot of information but it was cleared up not long after.
I was pleasantly surprised how the author made use of two of the characters pronouns. I have yet to read a book that referenced or made note of it. I also think there was a hint of asexuality rep but it was just a tiny sliver that I'm unsure if it really was there.
I don't have strong feelings for this book. I enjoyed it and liked many aspects of it but it was just okay for me. It might have something to do with the audiobook, I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrators. Or maybe it's because it's syfy and I'm not the greatest fan of it.
Overall this book had a good plot and was fast paced without leaving the reader in the dust. Some of the characters had a good amount of growing as the book progressed.
The ending was ambiguous enough that you can make up what you think/want to happen next, while also giving the story that ending it needs to be a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Torture and War
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
3.5
Scrappy crew on a quest to find a missing brother and maybe overthrow an oppressive organization on the way? Gimme. I love the honesty in this book between Karis and Alix. It's so refreshing and I love to see friendships built on trust. I also really enjoyed the concept of the automatons and all the Scriptwork! And, aro-ace protagonist!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent
emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
This book was fun and adventurous. I thought that the Grecian touch to the worldbuilding was enjoyable, and I liked how unique the magic system was, and that it was used differently in different places in the fantasy world. Also, it had a big pirate presence, which is always a bonus. The character development was pretty strong; I really liked where Karis, Alix and Dane ended up personally.
There were two main issues with this book for me. The first is that it was told in 1st person POV, alternating between Karis and Alix - the alternating POV was necessary, but it definitely needed 3rd person not 1st, as Karis and Alix's "voices" were so so similar. The second issue is that I think this may have been better off as a duology. The ending just felt a little rushed, and I don't think there was enough time in this book to build up the magnitude of the "final battle".
There were two main issues with this book for me. The first is that it was told in 1st person POV, alternating between Karis and Alix - the alternating POV was necessary, but it definitely needed 3rd person not 1st, as Karis and Alix's "voices" were so so similar. The second issue is that I think this may have been better off as a duology. The ending just felt a little rushed, and I don't think there was enough time in this book to build up the magnitude of the "final battle".
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Minor: Grief, Death, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Blood
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a fun and adventurous fantasy with pirates, androids (?), and ace rep! I enjoyed the story, but there wasn't a lot that really stood out to me about it. I wish that the character development was a little more in depth and that I could have learned more backstory about them. I liked some of the side characters better than the main characters and wished they were in it more. But definitely a fun story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, Violence, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Ableism