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cluckieduck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A roller coaster of fantasy fun!
I’ll start with the actual book review before touching on the scandal that has grown.
In typical JLA fashion, this book is a bit overstuffed with info & description and could probably be 1/4 thinner, at least. As well, there’s so many redundancies between this series & the newer Flesh & Fire series; Poppy & the Consort are basically the same characters, so having two series practically repeating is a bit much with the double-info dumps, but I digress. The bulk of this was quite enjoyable! There’s a lot of action, tension, angst, grief, love, lust, surprise…everything you want in a fantasy novel. I just wish she were a better writer, or at least had a better editor.
The characters, both main & supporting, are appropriately loveable & hateable. Even more than Isbeth, Callum is a particularly despicable villain. And Reaver is a delightful addition to our core group of heroes and I am here for all his snark & dry remarks. I’m interested to see where the next book will take us after the ending we are given.
Id rather not address this, but I think it’s almost necessary at this point. I stayed away from social media after I saw grumblings of how JLA “ruined” the series with this book, so the whole time I was reading, I kept wondering what all the griping was about, then finishing to see it’s all linked to the Joining…get a grip people. The rise in vitriol that female authors of these kind of series receive is disgusting when a storyline or a “ship” doesn’t go a a particular way. Now, I was neither for or against the Joining. That’s up to JLA as a writer and I don’t think she was swayed by fan opinion. Could it have been written better? Probably. Did it detract from the story? No!
Everyone is welcome to their opinions and everyone has their own tastes, which means you can read or not read what you want to. Criticism is ok, but doxxing & threats are disgraceful. This is a fantasy series after all.
I’ll start with the actual book review before touching on the scandal that has grown.
In typical JLA fashion, this book is a bit overstuffed with info & description and could probably be 1/4 thinner, at least. As well, there’s so many redundancies between this series & the newer Flesh & Fire series; Poppy & the Consort are basically the same characters, so having two series practically repeating is a bit much with the double-info dumps, but I digress. The bulk of this was quite enjoyable! There’s a lot of action, tension, angst, grief, love, lust, surprise…everything you want in a fantasy novel. I just wish she were a better writer, or at least had a better editor.
The characters, both main & supporting, are appropriately loveable & hateable. Even more than Isbeth, Callum is a particularly despicable villain. And Reaver is a delightful addition to our core group of heroes and I am here for all his snark & dry remarks. I’m interested to see where the next book will take us after the ending we are given.
Id rather not address this, but I think it’s almost necessary at this point. I stayed away from social media after I saw grumblings of how JLA “ruined” the series with this book, so the whole time I was reading, I kept wondering what all the griping was about, then finishing to see it’s all linked to the Joining…get a grip people. The rise in vitriol that female authors of these kind of series receive is disgusting when a storyline or a “ship” doesn’t go a a particular way. Now, I was neither for or against the Joining. That’s up to JLA as a writer and I don’t think she was swayed by fan opinion. Could it have been written better? Probably. Did it detract from the story? No!
Everyone is welcome to their opinions and everyone has their own tastes, which means you can read or not read what you want to. Criticism is ok, but doxxing & threats are disgraceful. This is a fantasy series after all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, and Gore
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Child death, Murder, War, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Blood, and Death
charlottef00's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape
potalian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder, Kidnapping, and Torture
ranjanireviewsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
*NO SPOILERS*
Initial statistics:
Writing- 2/5
Plot- 2.5/5
Romance- 2/5
Fantasy (world-building and all)- 3.75/5
Stabbing jokes- 8
Poppy's Questions jokes- 6
Time Casteel called Poppy "my queen" in a really fucking cringe way- 15
Times Casteel was inappropriately horny- Infinity
Poppy- 3/5
Casteel- 2/5
Kieran- 1000000000000000/5
Malik- 5/5; want more
Delano- Infinity/5; precious always protect
I literally cannot with this series. Why are there two more books. Of course I'm going to read them, don't ask stupid questions.
Initial statistics:
Writing- 2/5
Plot- 2.5/5
Romance- 2/5
Fantasy (world-building and all)- 3.75/5
Stabbing jokes- 8
Poppy's Questions jokes- 6
Time Casteel called Poppy "my queen" in a really fucking cringe way- 15
Times Casteel was inappropriately horny- Infinity
Poppy- 3/5
Casteel- 2/5
Kieran- 1000000000000000/5
Malik- 5/5; want more
Delano- Infinity/5; precious always protect
I literally cannot with this series. Why are there two more books. Of course I'm going to read them, don't ask stupid questions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
stardust_heidi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I started the first 5 chapters and decided to wait until the weekend to read, and when I did, I devoured the rest of the book in approximately 24 hours. I could NOT put it down. This is one that hooks with with unbearable angst from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end; however, after Casteel is rescued, things definitely get more lighthearted and funny in ways similar to the previous books.</spoiler)
Also, I won't lie, I was apprehensive about the Joining, but it was done SO WELL, and dear lord, I love the love between the three of them and the way Cas and Kieran both worship Poppy.
A phenomenal installment to this series. My heart was racing at the end and I literally had to put my book down every few minutes to take a deep breath.
I need the next two books STAT.
A phenomenal installment to this series. My heart was racing at the end and I literally had to put my book down every few minutes to take a deep breath.
I need the next two books STAT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Violence, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and War
_katrinareads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Blood, Death, and Emotional abuse
hannahbaysinger_jones's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I literally have no idea why people are giving this book such low ratings. It was such a good FBAA novel and it makes sense with all the characters storylines and character progression.
Personally I would have loved more action rather than the assorted talking and re-explanations that I felt took up a lot of the chapters when we as readers already knew what was going on.
Can't wait for the next one though :)
Personally I would have loved more action rather than the assorted talking and re-explanations that I felt took up a lot of the chapters when we as readers already knew what was going on.
Can't wait for the next one though :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Confinement, Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Eating disorder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Excrement
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