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myrealityislemons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: War and Slavery
ctara2123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Torture and Gun violence
Minor: Death and War
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Death of parent and Slavery
anniereads221'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: Slavery, Grief, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
the_books_music_life's review
- 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 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.
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
3.5
Graphic: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, Violence, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Ableism
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Torture