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tbd24'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
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Slavery, Torture, Religious bigotry, and War
_forestofpages's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
kattyenn's review against another edition
0.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
rbuhrke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
If the ending of the book was spoiled for you don’t panic. The series is worth it to keep going.crufts'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
2.75
Young Gideon was raised as an indentured servant of the Ninth House, a planet ruled by a despotic, necromantic regime under a distant Emperor. Although she constantly tries to escape, her attempts are foiled by her teachers and by the heir to the House, Harrow.
But everything changes when the Emperor summons representatives of each house to his own planet, demanding they undergo a trial to become "lyctors". Dragged along to the planet by Harrow, Gideon finds herself facing dangers she never imagined...
On the positive side, Gideon is very likeable and sassy as a protagonist. Regarding worldbuilding, it was intriguingly different to the average fantasy novel - it's a kind of scifi/fantasy mixture with the combination of necromancy and space tech. I also enjoyed the variety in the characters' physical appearances. The lesbian representation is a nice bonus, especially as it's the protagonist, although I would warn any hopefuls that
However, the plot felt a little aimless because the protagonist's goals are not kept at the forefront. Gideon begins the book with a desire to escape and join the Imperial Army, but this is rapidly forgotten as she gets kicked around by fate for the first third of the book.
Also, I didn't find this goal terribly compelling in the first place. The entire Empire was depicted as rotten to the core with few redeeming features, so what good would it do to move around to some other place in it? It seemed like the only worthwhile goal Gideon could have would be to destroy the whole system, or else to leave it.
The pacing is also very slow; even by the 40% mark, the mysteries of the lyctor challenge are still largely untouched. I also found the large number of named characters difficult to absorb. Similarly, the necromantic magic system is complicated and largely left unexplained. This made it seem like any kind of magic could theoretically be performed, if it was convenient for the plot.
I also found it hard to reconcile the fact that early in the book,
I think I would have liked there to be more in the story's world that Gideon felt was worth fighting for - more people she wanted to be there to protect, or happy experiences she hoped to have, that kind of thing.
I'm unsure whether to recommend this book. I guess I'll say that if you think it's not for you, it's probably not.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Confinement and Slavery
Body horror, violence, death: It is a book about necromancers, after all. An example of the "body horror" involved isSuicide: The backstory of some minor characters.
Slavery, confinement: Gideon's "indentured servitude" is close to slavery. After a failed escape attempt, she is confined to a few rooms.
kalmia31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
hzamrzla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Gore, Terminal illness, and Medical trauma
Minor: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
vintovka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
GtN has a very strong beginning. I love the tactic of giving zero exposition. It makes you instantly intrigued in trying to figure out what is even going on with all these people, and also makes you focus on the characters and their dynamics more, since it's the only thing you somewhat understand. These are very strong and eye-catching from the very beginning. GtN has about fifteen characters who are all in some way relevant to the plot, and they're all delightfully distinguishable and colourful.
Gideon is pretty standard as far as heroes of the story go, but she's very likeable. Empathetic, rebellious, moves before she thinks, has mysterious origins; I've seen it all before, but Gideon manages to sold me on these concepts once again through sheer force of her personality. She works best with Harrow, Gideon's relationship with her is the backbone of the whole book.
I love unreliable narrators as much as the next guy, but this particular rendition of it left me a little unsatisfied. For like, half a book Gideon has no idea what is going on and just stumbles around, getting into situations, while you see glimpses of something you don't grasp happening in the distance. The final twist left me absolutely dissapointed, and the book was saved only by the last thirty pages. GtN reads very much like a book that's supposed to bloom only during rereading, which I don't particularly appreciate.
In general, GtN is a good fundament for a series, in the sense that I will be buying the next book. The only thing is I'm not sure I will like it that much.
((also lol russian translation sucks ass, why are the originals so expensive man))
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Slavery, Cannibalism, Stalking, Alcohol, and War
yorgosson'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
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
arobear'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
Worldbuilding and character development are excellent; the setting feels mysterious throughout and (for better or worse) I love the characters. They're my shitty little children now!
Be ready for strong emotions though, fair warning.
Graphic: Body horror, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Vomit