Scan barcode
talonsontypewriters's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Classism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Gore, War, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Child abuse
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Vomit, Torture, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Infertility, Self harm, Addiction, Sexual content, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts
Discrimination and derogatory terms between in-universe factions. Self-injury for magical purposes.booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
I devoured this, finishing the whole thing in two days. Crier is Made, one of the Automae who took over several decades before her creation and displaced the humans who made the first of them. Humans now are servants at best, slaves at worst, full of unrest and needing a revolution. Ayla has dreamed for years of getting back at the local Automae leader for her own brother's death by killing his daughter, but when she becomes Lady Crier's servant things stop feeling so simple after all.
Ayla's closest human friend is in love with her, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings. I'm not sure whether that's because she doesn't want to get him killed, or if she completely lacks romantic and/or feelings toward him.
Crier and Ayla don't trust each other but find themselves drawn to each other's company. Crier has almost no friends and is newly betrothed to an Automa fomenting a different kind of revolution, one which would move away from human trappings entirely in a city devoid of life except for the Made. Ayla wanted to kill a specific powerful Automa's child, but before she can she begins to maybe think of that Automae as Crier, possibly a person, and not so easy to let herself kill. The romance between Ayla and Crier builds very slowly and fits their situation. They share intimate connections because of Ayla's role as Crier's servant, but those connections feel one-way because what Crier feels as kindness is a job for Ayla. However, the fact that Ayla has spent years planning to kill Crier means that she has feelings for the Automa which are as intense as Crier's for her... they're just not necessarily the same kind of feeling.
The worldbuilding for the Automae and the humans is detailed enough to feel like a real place, but it focuses mainly on the ways that the Automae do or do not attempt to mimic humans in their society and structures. It means that a great many concepts and items can be lifted wholesale and then used by the Automae in slightly different ways from how a human would have meant them. The political machinations hit the right balance of intrigue and complexity for me, stopping shy of becoming confusing by keeping the number of important characters and factions small but having their plans have multiple layers. This uses cross-purposes between supposed allies and complementary tactics between nominal enemies in a way that's deliciously messy.
I love this and I'll read the sequel as soon as I can, I want to know how things resolve for everyone. I don't necessarily want Crier and Ayla to end up together (not without having several truthful conversations first), but I'm excited to see how this story goes.
Ayla's closest human friend is in love with her, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings. I'm not sure whether that's because she doesn't want to get him killed, or if she completely lacks romantic and/or feelings toward him.
Crier and Ayla don't trust each other but find themselves drawn to each other's company. Crier has almost no friends and is newly betrothed to an Automa fomenting a different kind of revolution, one which would move away from human trappings entirely in a city devoid of life except for the Made. Ayla wanted to kill a specific powerful Automa's child, but before she can she begins to maybe think of that Automae as Crier, possibly a person, and not so easy to let herself kill. The romance between Ayla and Crier builds very slowly and fits their situation. They share intimate connections because of Ayla's role as Crier's servant, but those connections feel one-way because what Crier feels as kindness is a job for Ayla. However, the fact that Ayla has spent years planning to kill Crier means that she has feelings for the Automa which are as intense as Crier's for her... they're just not necessarily the same kind of feeling.
The worldbuilding for the Automae and the humans is detailed enough to feel like a real place, but it focuses mainly on the ways that the Automae do or do not attempt to mimic humans in their society and structures. It means that a great many concepts and items can be lifted wholesale and then used by the Automae in slightly different ways from how a human would have meant them. The political machinations hit the right balance of intrigue and complexity for me, stopping shy of becoming confusing by keeping the number of important characters and factions small but having their plans have multiple layers. This uses cross-purposes between supposed allies and complementary tactics between nominal enemies in a way that's deliciously messy.
I love this and I'll read the sequel as soon as I can, I want to know how things resolve for everyone. I don't necessarily want Crier and Ayla to end up together (not without having several truthful conversations first), but I'm excited to see how this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Animal death, and Suicide
nightshaderoots's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
I liked how complex the plot and characters are. The writing style was something to get used to but I liked the way the author described scenes and the characters. The world building was also something I haven't seen before which I loved learning about. The lore building was also paced well so it doesn't feel like info dumping but it was still enough where I wasn't in the dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Body horror, Cursing, Grief, Torture, Physical abuse, Vomit, War, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Infertility
librariangeorgia's review
adventurous
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
4.0
I’d put off reading this book for SO LONG purely because it’s an absolute CHONK of a book.
I loved it. I need the second book now.
The writing style is quite simple, but I preferred that over the complex styles that you usually find in fantasy. The characters are well developed, even the background characters. Ayla is a bit chaotic but maybe that’s the intention?
I know she’s meant to be the ‘villain’ but I loved Crier!!
Lots of cliches: enemies to lovers, angry protagonist, evil villain, etc. But I’m loving them. I’m loving Ayla and Crier.
Overall, a very enjoyable easy-to-read fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, and War
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book dragged a bit at the start of me (and I have to admit — I'm not the biggest sci-fi person) but the last quarter really turned it around for me and I'm probably going to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Mental illness and Child abuse
teaskate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
The idea and the world was interesting and the layout of the book was nice.Also I love maps in books.I enjoyed the main relationship,and in general their characters.A point I also really liked about Crier’s war is the fact that I got really lost in the book at times,the time just flew by.Exited to read the sequel. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and War
bibliorama's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
Enjoyment - 3.75
I quite enjoyed this book. I don't really reach for sci fi often, but this struck a nice balance between the sci fi elements and the fantasy ones. With all the alchemy and clockwork mechanics, it felt like it had a dash of steampunk strewn in, which I don't read as much as I should. The story kept me intrigued and I liked the historical document pieces that came after Crier's chapters, it was a nice touch and helped build the world. This world did feel like it had a history behind it and that the characters are living with the past's decisions. It wasn't a story that completely sucked me in to were I could forget that I was reading, but it wasn't one that I kept putting down either.
Start - 4
This start was strong and the world around these characters was built up quite well. Nothing ever felt like an info dump and information was revealed in a natural way.
Characters - 3.75
Now here I have to say Ayla was the least interesting POV to me, and if this book were told from just her perspective I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. She starts the book out by wanting revenge against the Automae ruler because humans are in the lower class. That's a completely understandable want/desire, but it's a pretty common one in stories today. So she felt more bland and like other characters I've read. She did still have a personality that was consistent though, so it wasn't like she was poorly written just not the special sauce in this book.
Crier on the other hand was my favorite. I liked getting to learn about the automae and how they lived and what their thought process was like. They were the unique part to this book and I thought they were well done. It also doesn't hurt that most of the tension comes from Kinok and Hesod because they always are a little unhinged, and Crier has a close proximity to them. That makes her scenes pretty interesting especially since Crier is technically one of them, but never is fully brought in to that Automae circle.
With Ayla and Crier together, they were cute and pretty wholesome really. I found they were easy to root for.
Atmosphere - 2.5
I did like the history of how the Automae were created and the characters that went along with it. They built the world, but as far as the actual setting, it wasn't super vibrant. It was enough to let the characters to their thing, but not a showstopper in itself.
Plot - 4
At the heart of this story is a romance, but ultimately the plot is way more complex and deep than many YA fantasy romances I've read. The side characters have a lot of their own motivations going on. I'm excited to see where the second book takes the story.
Ending - 4
Left me wondering how the next book would proceed, so I'm definitely continuing on.
Style - 3
The writing was good and didn't distract from the story. I could see some differences in the writing for each perspective which was nice. It just wasn't something distinct from other stories, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Overall - 3.5 rounded down
I quite enjoyed this book. I don't really reach for sci fi often, but this struck a nice balance between the sci fi elements and the fantasy ones. With all the alchemy and clockwork mechanics, it felt like it had a dash of steampunk strewn in, which I don't read as much as I should. The story kept me intrigued and I liked the historical document pieces that came after Crier's chapters, it was a nice touch and helped build the world. This world did feel like it had a history behind it and that the characters are living with the past's decisions. It wasn't a story that completely sucked me in to were I could forget that I was reading, but it wasn't one that I kept putting down either.
Start - 4
This start was strong and the world around these characters was built up quite well. Nothing ever felt like an info dump and information was revealed in a natural way.
Characters - 3.75
Now here I have to say Ayla was the least interesting POV to me, and if this book were told from just her perspective I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. She starts the book out by wanting revenge against the Automae ruler because humans are in the lower class. That's a completely understandable want/desire, but it's a pretty common one in stories today. So she felt more bland and like other characters I've read. She did still have a personality that was consistent though, so it wasn't like she was poorly written just not the special sauce in this book.
Crier on the other hand was my favorite. I liked getting to learn about the automae and how they lived and what their thought process was like. They were the unique part to this book and I thought they were well done. It also doesn't hurt that most of the tension comes from Kinok and Hesod because they always are a little unhinged, and Crier has a close proximity to them. That makes her scenes pretty interesting especially since Crier is technically one of them, but never is fully brought in to that Automae circle.
With Ayla and Crier together, they were cute and pretty wholesome really. I found they were easy to root for.
Atmosphere - 2.5
I did like the history of how the Automae were created and the characters that went along with it. They built the world, but as far as the actual setting, it wasn't super vibrant. It was enough to let the characters to their thing, but not a showstopper in itself.
Plot - 4
At the heart of this story is a romance, but ultimately the plot is way more complex and deep than many YA fantasy romances I've read. The side characters have a lot of their own motivations going on. I'm excited to see where the second book takes the story.
Ending - 4
Left me wondering how the next book would proceed, so I'm definitely continuing on.
Style - 3
The writing was good and didn't distract from the story. I could see some differences in the writing for each perspective which was nice. It just wasn't something distinct from other stories, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Overall - 3.5 rounded down
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Violence
Nothing super graphic or overly described that I noted.clayclay's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
This story challenged me. It was impossible to put down. Incredibly engaging and visceral descriptions. Summer coming like “a slow descent into boiling water.” UGH SO GOOD. We love a sapphic antifascist sci-fi rebellion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Xenophobia, Violence, and Genocide
hanz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Violence, Confinement, Excrement, Gore, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Infertility, and Drug use
cheeky_biscuits's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Murder, War, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Classism, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement and Dysphoria