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fiolud'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
mads_99's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
inkdrinker2007'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
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
zzara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Slavery
lolsous'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
5.0
Even though there are many pov characters they all feel developed, with agency and a distinct personality. It's refreshing to see not one but two angsty love stories between a more optimistic girl and morally ambiguous/troubled boy, let the girl chose herself first and not extinct herself for the boy.
The world building is overall great, and what drew me to the book to begin with. The world feels somehow cosy, even though most we see of the world is harsh. It's very atmospheric and has vibes. The magic system is lovely and fits perfectly into the world. The world is heavily influenced by European and Asian culture and history, so much that the significant deviations really confused me for a long while. I could not understand how Pekka (clearly Finnish) is not from Fjerda, that Fjedans don't drink coffee but tea, and that it's a very sexist society. It took a while to understand that Fjerda is not the Nordic countries fearing magic but a what-if on Scandinavia turned Nazis. It makes Fjerda absurdly evil, but obviously it's not extremely unrealistic. It could easily have gone wrong, but Matthias and his relationship with Nina are beautifully written. I was sceptical in the beginning but I ended up loving Nina and Matthias together.
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Violence
asmallgremlin'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
4.75
This book is highly entertaining and a brilliant read. It’s medium paced but because it’s so exciting it becomes a real page turner - I read most of it in a day! The central plot involves an ‘impossible heist’ to quote the front cover - and the way this heist was pulled off was truly exciting and twisty-turny. I love the setting of Ketterdam - it reads very Victorian-esque steampunky city with gambling bars, criminal gangs and the constant threat of destitution.
The characters were so fun and I loved all of them - I don’t really have a favourite, they were all equally interesting and brilliantly written. You also get a sense of how close these characters are to each other, they know each other so well and they all have interesting and varied relationships. I particularly enjoyed Kaz and Inej’s painfully slow slow burn and Nina and Matthias’s story of forgiving each other and being on each other’s sides (I also greatly enjoyed the ‘not just girls’ scene between Wylan and Jesper).
This was such a fun book and I am looking forward to starting Book 2 soon!
Graphic: Violence
amiradeara'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
5.0
Minor: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
ha__ah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Slavery
Minor: Addiction and Genocide
mald626'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: Addiction, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery and Trafficking
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
book_lvrr'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: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail