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fuelledbymonster's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Stalking, Murder, and Body horror
prashiie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
"I am a weapon made of flesh, a sword covered in skin. I was born to kill a king, to end a reign of terror before it can truly begin. Fire and lightning raised Maven up, and fire and lightning will bring him down."
The book starts with Mare and Cal running away with the Scarlet Guard. She is ready to go on a quest to find others like her before Maven hunts them all down. There are so many newbloods out there with amazing abilities.
"I could control it if I wanted. I could shut this whole thing down. I could drown us all."
In this book, Mare is very confident of herself and her powers. She realises that she is very powerful and dangerous.
"Lightning has no mercy."
But she is also very angry at the world, especially at the Silvers for the injustice that they bring upon Reds and the newbloods. She didn’t deem them worthy of her mercy which scared and infuriated Cal.
"Anyone can betray anyone."
Maven’s betrayals have really hurt her and now Mare finds it very difficult to trust the people around her. This very sentence haunts her throughout the story.
I did expect Mare and Call to renew their romantic interest in each other, but they are both so traumatised by recent events that this didn’t happen. Mare’s relationship with Kilorn also changed. She realises that they have both grown much since their time in the Stilts. He is a great friend to her!
And at the end, she managed to kill Queen Elara. I expected more of a fight between them - it seemed quite abrupt. At the same time, she also loses her beloved brother Shade. I really liked Shade and his powers, so his death was quite shocking. Unfortunately, Mare ends up in Maven’s hands again to save the people she cares about and he is not happy about his mother’s death.
Very excited to see how the next book plays out!
The book starts with Mare and Cal running away with the Scarlet Guard. She is ready to go on a quest to find others like her before Maven hunts them all down. There are so many newbloods out there with amazing abilities.
"I could control it if I wanted. I could shut this whole thing down. I could drown us all."
In this book, Mare is very confident of herself and her powers. She realises that she is very powerful and dangerous.
"Lightning has no mercy."
But she is also very angry at the world, especially at the Silvers for the injustice that they bring upon Reds and the newbloods. She didn’t deem them worthy of her mercy which scared and infuriated Cal.
"Anyone can betray anyone."
Maven’s betrayals have really hurt her and now Mare finds it very difficult to trust the people around her. This very sentence haunts her throughout the story.
And at the end, she managed to kill Queen Elara. I expected more of a fight between them - it seemed quite abrupt. At the same time, she also loses her beloved brother Shade. I really liked Shade and his powers, so his death was quite shocking. Unfortunately, Mare ends up in Maven’s hands again to save the people she cares about and he is not happy about his mother’s death.
Very excited to see how the next book plays out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Xenophobia, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Death
Minor: Violence, Stalking, and War
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