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minnow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Blood, Murder, Torture, Death of parent, Infidelity, Child death, and Sexual content
rsb12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Medical content, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
alainral's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Terminal illness, Bullying, Blood, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
cozy_tea_reader'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Kidnapping, Gore, Blood, Death, Grief, and Chronic illness
Minor: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Murder, Sexual content, Infertility, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The book deals with these themes within a fantasy context and its not graphic but there.avosage18's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Grief, Chronic illness, War, Xenophobia, and Infertility
warlocksarecool21's review
- 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
4.5
All of the characters in this story were so compelling as well. I adored Sidra and I thought Torin was such an interesting character. Sidra’s struggles with her faith and the journey she went on to heal her grief was so well done and impactful. I also really enjoyed watching grizzly Torin grow and change for the better.
I did love Jack and Adaira but I felt like Sidra and Torin’s relationship had more depth. I did like the juxtaposition of the two relationships, how Sidra and Torin grew to love each other so deeply despite their faults and initial arrangement. Whereas Adaira and Jack were always destined to be together in whatever capacity. I really hope to see Jack and Adaira’s relationship grow more in the next book, despite the challenges that lay before them.
Moderate: Chronic illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death and Violence
naomi_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Torture, Classism, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia, Bullying, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual content and War
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Miscarriage
chloemakesbooks'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? It's complicated
2.75
When I read the description to my husband, he said he tuned out after a single sentence, which cracked me up. A lot of mysterious hinting throughout (sigh), partnerships where one partner can't just say what they want/are thinking (HEAVY sigh), and some basic fantasy conventions. Worldbuilding was minimal and based on Celtic lore. Characterization was a bit ham fisted, but I liked them anyway because that's my thing. Writing was forgettable except for the few places I snorted at cliches. (Do authors know you don't HAVE to write sex scenes?) Just not sure I'll remember this one.
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Death of parent