Reviews with content warning for Violence - Dark Age

"You know I believe we all begin equal parts light and dark. I fear you think your strength lies in your darkness. But the measure of a man is not the fear he sows in his enemies. It is the hope he gives his friends."

This is certainly one of the most bleak and gruesome books I will ever read. But besides one twist that I didn't like, this was a great step up from Iron Gold. Finally getting Mustang POVs was such a great treat.

And regarding the Mustang POVs, getting inside her head added so much of value to the story. I feel like after being frustrated with Darrow's arc in Iron Gold, understanding Mustang's view on his actions helped me better understand Darrow. That was an excellent writing choice by Pierce Brown.

Overall, great book. Looking forward to Light Bringer.

Edit 7/28/23: changed rating from 4.75 to 4.5

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felinefey's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

It was hard to read at times because the despair is palpable throughout. But certainly worthwhile and engaging.

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cnnr876's review against another edition

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dark slow-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? Yes

2.5

Even as audio, I found this to be a massive slogfest. Thought the intertwining plots were much less compelling than earlier installments, the characters difficult / impossible to root for, and the overall storyline incredibly convoluted. Really missed the mark and lacked the spark of the original trilogy.

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