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justagirlwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
“Love is for children, said the girl.
Death is for fools, said the shadow.
Darkness is my destiny, said the boy.
Allegiance is my undoing, said the eagle.
Suffering is our fate, said the beauty.
And they were all horribly wrong.”
So... I can't review this book in one single line. There's too much to say:
Lowkey wasn't expecting to get so invested into this world and enjoy this book as much as I did! Maybe I'm just a romance girl at heart. The way I absolutely ATE it up. I was here for this book lol. Solid plot, solid worldbuilding, solid writing (lots of great quotes), the yearning, the unintentionally funny moments that made me laugh out loud, great characters, great dynamics... I had a fun time reading this book, which I haven't had in a really long time! This book goes from 0 to 100 real quick, and it's around about after the 100 pages mark.
I was also re-reading certain bits to get a better grasp on the world and the characters and the plot. There is a few little nuggets of foreshadowing that I really enjoyed, as well as the plot twists. I was in this weird state where I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want it to end but I also wanted to know what would happen next. Books are weird like that.
Was the romance a little rushed but also kind of not? Yes.
Was the pacing all over the place? Yes.
Could some of the characters have been developed more? Yes.
But I still had a great time!!
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny
cozyreader9752'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
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Torture, Grief, Physical abuse, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Child death
a10a'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
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Torture
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual content and Child death
gabydoesgrowth'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, War, Murder, Torture, Death, Violence, Classism, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement and Child death
jobaji'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Torture
tallnecked_pancakeface'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
2.0
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Misogyny
reign_kaur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
maple_dove'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
For one thing, the double-life aspect. I'm a sucker for double lives. I absolutely adored the worldbuilding too.
I did have some qualms. For example, I didn't like that the reveal of the Hunter's identity was revealed so quickly in one chapter.
Reviewers have probably complained about how they couldn't take Zafira or Nasir seriously as the Hunter or Prince of Death. However (if this is the case) I think they're missing the point. I believe that was the author's intention. Zafira and Nasir may have these intimidating roles and personas, but what this book shows is that those personas do not tell the full story of who they actually are.
Favorite Quotes:
Paranoia had a way of visiting when he was least desired.
Darkness had seized his mind, whispers and half-crazed screams echoing in his ears when his fingers passed over the inscriptions in the ancient tongue. It was a darkness wrought with pain, a darkness that could never end.
It was a darkness that despaired in itself.
Maybe the tiny lions were merely ornaments, a display of pride for the victory over a man who defied men, only to be slain by women.
In this moment, we are two souls, marooned.
That was life, wasn't it? A collection of moments, a menagerie of people. Everyone stranded everywhere, always. ⭐️
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Child death, Child abuse, and Suicide
Verbal abuse (graphic)doodeedoda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Violence, Murder, Blood, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death