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ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Liking is calm and reasonable. Love is fierce and chaotic, as is hate. If I get a man to hate me—just a little—I’m a breath away from making him love me.”
i actually enjoyed this more than i was expecting! i was a bit put off seeing that it was 100 pages longer in this republishing than the original, and truthfully i think it could've been edited down.
however! it was good! it's a unique magic system of sprygans, tree-like creatures with enhanced abilities and varying gifts of power and their hybrid offspring living in a teetering, liminal place between both sprygans and humans.
axly is a flawed fmc, but in a way that makes her engaging and intriguing. she's definitely in the category of "bad ass fmc's" who fight, but her constant reassessment of loyalties and morals keeps you invested. she's funny, she's sassy, she's trying to figure out how to not let the most important people to her die but is also willing to take down whoever she needs to, including her own. thus makes for a great lead.
there were times when the action was going i was completely sucked into the book, then there were times of info dumping and conversational summaries of the plot that made this a little long and drag, but i certainly was also emotionally invested in multiple characters. what IS the prince's intentions? what will happen with grim?
overall i do want to see what happens in the next installment and have high hopes for it. i feel like fans of more detailed epic fantasy and stories like mask of mirrors will be into this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Torture, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
ayearinbookswithzoe's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture