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lovetorbjorn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Genocide
sealbrecht's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.5
I honestly have no words after that ending, there's only pain :(
I'm okay with that though! I like it when authors aren't afraid to raise the stakes and do something shocking, even if it didn't make for the most optimal ending where the reader's emotions are concerned. I really really enjoyed this read, and I adore Gideon and I adore Harrow and I can't wait to see where the next book takes their story. My only issue is that the writing style, while beautiful at times, is also really dense, so the info-dumping world-building sections were a bit of a chore to get through sometimes, especially since the world is so complexly crafted and takes a bit of work to understand.
I'm okay with that though! I like it when authors aren't afraid to raise the stakes and do something shocking, even if it didn't make for the most optimal ending where the reader's emotions are concerned. I really really enjoyed this read, and I adore Gideon and I adore Harrow and I can't wait to see where the next book takes their story. My only issue is that the writing style, while beautiful at times, is also really dense, so the info-dumping world-building sections were a bit of a chore to get through sometimes, especially since the world is so complexly crafted and takes a bit of work to understand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Genocide, Suicide, and Grief
terranova's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When you hear the elevator pitch "Murder mystery between necromancers in a crumbling gothic castle in space", you expect something quite a bit different from what you get. Gideon's irreverence and insight make what could have been miserable gore porn into an engaging, funny, witty and ultimately tragic story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Death, Gore, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Genocide
fiveredhens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
favorite quotes:
Harrow was sprawled on a sofa spread with tattered brocade, robes abandoned, scrawny black-clad legs crossed at the ankles. In Gideon's mind she looked like an evil stick.
I will make dessert, can reassure you
cook better than I duel.
—M.
Harrow said, "No."
"I want to go," said Gideon.
"This sounds impossibly vapid."
"I want to eat a dessert."
"She'd just skinned over the damage surface fix, hides the cracks. To really heal, she needs thalergy—life force—and she hasn't got any to spare."
"Oh, yeah," said Gideon. "Sextus gave her turbo cancer."
Harrow was sprawled on a sofa spread with tattered brocade, robes abandoned, scrawny black-clad legs crossed at the ankles. In Gideon's mind she looked like an evil stick.
I will make dessert, can reassure you
cook better than I duel.
—M.
Harrow said, "No."
"I want to go," said Gideon.
"This sounds impossibly vapid."
"I want to eat a dessert."
"She'd just skinned over the damage surface fix, hides the cracks. To really heal, she needs thalergy—life force—and she hasn't got any to spare."
"Oh, yeah," said Gideon. "Sextus gave her turbo cancer."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
kaylamoran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
It was an extremely slow start, I considered DNFing it. But once I got into it it was so worth it!
I love Gideon's sense of humor, I wish more book characters had a sarcastic wit like her.
I love Gideon's sense of humor, I wish more book characters had a sarcastic wit like her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Two stars seemed too harsh, but for the majority of this book, I was not enthralled. There were SO MANY characters, all of which had very convoluted names, politics I'm still not 100% I understand, and almost none of the characters liked each other. So for me there wasn't a lot to grab on to in the story for me to think "Yeah, I want to read two more books in this series!"
Then I got to the 75% mark in the book and THINGS POPPED OFF. The action was almost nonstop at that point and I've never had a book pull me in for more so hard so late in the story. I know I have at least another year before the third book comes out, so I have time to get my hands on a copy of Harrow the Ninth, but I was not expecting to ever want to read a book from her POV, let alone like her character!
<Spoiler>I did not expect the Emperor to be so....nice? Like I think I was expecting a character like Hordak or Horde Prime from the new She-Ra, but not a soft-spoken, seemingly kind, gentle, and understanding character. It was a very interesting twist and probably also a big reason why I want to pick up Harrow the Ninth. I want to know more about his character and story!
Then I got to the 75% mark in the book and THINGS POPPED OFF. The action was almost nonstop at that point and I've never had a book pull me in for more so hard so late in the story. I know I have at least another year before the third book comes out, so I have time to get my hands on a copy of Harrow the Ninth, but I was not expecting to ever want to read a book from her POV, let alone like her character!
<Spoiler>I did not expect the Emperor to be so....nice? Like I think I was expecting a character like Hordak or Horde Prime from the new She-Ra, but not a soft-spoken, seemingly kind, gentle, and understanding character. It was a very interesting twist and probably also a big reason why I want to pick up Harrow the Ninth. I want to know more about his character and story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
bookish_sabrina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Slavery, and Suicide
Minor: Confinement
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