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dreadspawn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Murder, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
abby_can_read'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
3.0
This was quite the book. I don't really know how to explain my feelings. I think it was interesting. I liked the magic system. The worldbuilding and the lore were interest. I struggled to like the main characters -- Calla, Anton, and August -- and I'm wasn't the best fan of the romance between Calla and Anton.
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Child death, Blood, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
v_torres's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
loveandolive's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Death
teddy_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Gore
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
catsandbookspluspup's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Genocide, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
josaye's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Gore
brewdy_reader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Look, I think this book got done dirty in reviews. I was very entertained by this story and cannot wait for the sequel to come out.
The descriptions of the city make the smog suffocating and the poverty palpable. Street food and urban bars and brothels, city guards and surveillance cameras on every corner, cramped living quarters, and rumors of life outside the city walls set the backdrop for the annual competition in which 88 lucky entrants fight to the death in a winner take all game. Morally grey is a theme for all the MCs: an exile, an outlaw princess, and the heir to the throne.
The first third of the book does require mental focus in order to grasp the names, places, characters and their backstories, and also the rules of the fantasy system. Critics call this 'info dumping' but this is exactly what happens in high fantasy books; it cannot be all action all the time and requires build up. This is fantasy first and romance second. There is flirting, tension, romance, and one pretty spicy scene. There's also some great combat street fighting and dark urban dystopian vibes.
Minor complaints: the opening was on the slow side and some of the wrap-up anti-climatic. However, I really enjoyed the fantasy elements and I'm excited to see what is next from Chloe Gong.
Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, Classism, and Gore
liz_cox's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
sydapel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Sexual content