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natnat_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, War, Slavery, Drug use, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy
eidal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Torture, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Trafficking
Minor: War, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, and Alcohol
sadistic_sarcast's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Rape, Violence, and Slavery
Moderate: War
1undercover's review against another edition
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
teagstime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Personally a big fan of Damen and his struggle to understand anything about Laurent- because I, too, struggle to understand him. Laurent... I want to crawl inside your brain. That boy definitely has so much emotion hidden under the cold, cruel demeanor... and I'm sooo ready to dive in 😌
I cannot rec to anyone without them looking into the TW first, because there's some content I can see being... problematic, let's say! But in my opinion, none of those acts are really glorified- our main two characters are/become aware of these issues and want to change things. But, imo, a very good read and I definitely have high hopes for the rest!
Graphic: Pedophilia, Blood, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, War, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Classism, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent and Drug use
frantic_vampire'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, War, Violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Slavery, Rape, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Adult/minor relationship
livelaughlesbian99's review against another edition
3.75
And that’s kind what it’s supposed to be, so I’m not judging my rating on that. This takes place in a brutal world where slavery is normalized across many cultures. If that does not sound like a horror you can stomach do not read this book. I can understand why some say this romanticizes slavery, but I saw it more as trying to explore how cultures of the past treated sexual slavery (which is a horrific but prominent part of the human past… this content isn’t based off of nothing. Ancient Greeks and Romans had cultural practices similar to the practices in the book).
Personally I appreciate the focus on how those who were enslaved would have been impacted by societies like this. Between Damen and Erasmus’ perspective you learn a lot about how these systems are justified. I do not believe including morally wrong beliefs in characters means the text condones them. But I completely understand why people have issues with this book and it’s fine if you do. For me books with subject matter like this are also horror books, and like horror books, there can be catharsis in exploring the worst of humanity.
That being said, oh my GOD did I love this book’s political intrigue. It really is as good as people say. While this book is really preamble for the rest of the series, which is why I rated it the way I did, the ending was fantastic.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Rape, Slavery, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, and War
30something_reads's review against another edition
4.25
Yes.
And now I have to go get the other ones because I am invested.
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Violence, War, and Blood
Minor: Rape and Animal death
raineedayreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Slavery, War, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
dahliaden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Slavery, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, War, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Child abuse