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sapphic_necromancer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, and Violence
mattiedancer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
- Fans of LGBTQ+ fantasy novels
- Fans of young adult fantasy books
- Those looking for a cute but strained-by-situation love story
- Those looking for something a bit different, but backed by familiar tropes and plotlines
- Violence, blood, bullying, dysphoria, child abuse, fire, fire injury, injury detail, classism, child death, death,
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
robinks'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Bullying, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, and Cursing
Minor: Gore, Kidnapping, and War
theirgracegrace'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Cursing, Death, Dysphoria, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
Xio goes through phases of disordered eating in the book due to the stress of the Trials. Teo and Xio have a very frank conversation regarding using hormones and gender dysphoria about halfway through the book.good_names_dont_exist'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Blood, and Bullying
Moderate: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
20sidedbi'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
brizlee's review
- 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: Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Dysphoria, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
bedtimesandbooks's review
- 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
Graphic: War, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Dysphoria, Classism, and Child death
barbarella85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cursing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Fire/Fire injury
theaceofpages'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
I loved this book so much! At different times it reminded me more of one of the above mentioned books than the others, but it remained completely unique. I always enjoy it when fantasy worlds are based on something other than western myths (in this case it is inspired by Mexican mythology), but as someone who isn't from that part of the world I would have loved a glossary of some kind to explain what the culturally inspired things are. Another slightly lower point of the book was the inclusion of social media. Specifically in the way it was done. I don't mind this world having technology of ours alongside the magic, but it bothered me that the names were so close to the platforms in our world. I think it would have been a lot less jarring had the author made up new names - even if the platform performed the same function as the real world counterpart. I know it's very minor, but it did annoy me. Some things were also repeated a little too frequently for my taste (e.g. Teo is a Jade, not a gold. He didn't get to go to the academy. Jades never get to compete. Oh, just a reminder that Teo is a Jade and less powerful and wasn't trained). It's not too major though. Oh. And one last frustration. Spoilerish related to trans stuff.
I loved the world building and the various characters. It was all very well fleshed out. And I loved how birds were important and incorporated. (Well animals in general, but birds were the focus). And I loved how queer it is. Everything is just normalised in this world and I'd love it of things could reach that kind of level in real life. I know the author is queer, which probably helps to explain why Teo and the other representation are so authentic. I love it when LGBTQ+ can just be and are just normal characters.
The book ends on a set up for the sequel. While I did have some suspicions about what was going on, I definitely didn't see the how coming. I definitely want to know what happens next and will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out.
Some notes on some of the content warnings:
- Animal cruelty:
Animals get used and no quite intentionally hurt during one of the trials - Classisim: <spolier> Jades are seen as lesser than golds
- Transphobia:
Some internalised transphobia/ enbyphobia as well as descriptions of dysphoria.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Cursing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Transphobia, Child death, and Animal cruelty