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paper_aphid'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the side characters were also very enjoyable, I love all the other slaves mentioned. the regent is so unsettling though, sooo so....
I will say that this is the type of book you have to be mentally ready to read. I've owned it for years, but knowing the content warnings, I had to take a step back and wait until I felt ready to handle such heavy topics. with that said, I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Rape, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent
depressionesque's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Blood, Confinement, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Drug use, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Cursing, Xenophobia, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape, War, and Pedophilia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, War, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
nicetomitchya'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Abandonment, Racism, Bullying, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cursing and Drug abuse
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
lisareadingbooks_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
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
brdiaz1123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, War, Blood, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Sexual content
mary_jinxedit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Classism, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship