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lexish's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
wizardingwisteria's review against another edition
I tried to enjoy this so bad. The premise seems so entertaining and the characters felt interesting and unique. I started this book over about five times in an attempt to keep all of the details straight. I would normally reach around 50 pages, find myself confused, and just flip back to page one and start another attempt. I finally made it past page 70 but another character was introduced and I was lost all over again.
There are simply too many main characters and the book flips between them too often. I also feel like their goals/missions are too different to be constantly switching. The character that made me quit this final time, Ivan, felt so random. He had briefly appeared in a chapter about Nash, and then vanished. Then all of the sudden he has his own dedicated chapter? It would have been a much easier read if the author settled on two characters to flip between instead of four or five. Instead, they attempt to flesh out side characters way deeper than they need to be.
I recognize the learning curve that fantasy books often have at the start, but this curve felt pretty steep. A great introduction but beyond that the world feels like a jumbled mess. So many names are thrown out so fast its hard to keep them straight. I would like to give this book another try in the future. Maybe this is just the type that can't be read while also reading other books.
There are simply too many main characters and the book flips between them too often. I also feel like their goals/missions are too different to be constantly switching. The character that made me quit this final time, Ivan, felt so random. He had briefly appeared in a chapter about Nash, and then vanished. Then all of the sudden he has his own dedicated chapter? It would have been a much easier read if the author settled on two characters to flip between instead of four or five. Instead, they attempt to flesh out side characters way deeper than they need to be.
I recognize the learning curve that fantasy books often have at the start, but this curve felt pretty steep. A great introduction but beyond that the world feels like a jumbled mess. So many names are thrown out so fast its hard to keep them straight. I would like to give this book another try in the future. Maybe this is just the type that can't be read while also reading other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Was it ground breaking? No. Did I have a fun reading it? Yes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Death, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
venti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
i liked this a lot more than i thought i would. the strength of this novel definitely resides in its characters — and also the subtle worldbuilding behind the adept. i loved ryia as a character, because oddly there is a very unexpanded upon market for unrepentant female murderers in fantasy. clem was another surprising second favourite, and i thought his air of menace was well communicated even with him not being the focus of many chapters.
there’s a little weakness in the backstory of some characters — especially ryia — but i suppose it’s expanded upon in the following entry (out july 2023) rather than vague flashbacks for her i would have preferred to live in ambiguity (or if mj kuhn had gone full throttle in favour of a backstory also) for the entirety of the book and been happy, but that’s a personal preference more than anything. i am a go big or go home kind of person.
as for the fact this is labelled as lgbtq+ i would not completely disagree with that idea but i would protest to it being a driving force for why you should read this novel. it’s very vague, but once again i suppose it’s expanded upon in the following entry, which i’m sorely wishing is releasing on schedule.
i liked it! give it a shot if you like evil women
there’s a little weakness in the backstory of some characters — especially ryia — but i suppose it’s expanded upon in the following entry (out july 2023) rather than vague flashbacks for her i would have preferred to live in ambiguity (or if mj kuhn had gone full throttle in favour of a backstory also) for the entirety of the book and been happy, but that’s a personal preference more than anything. i am a go big or go home kind of person.
as for the fact this is labelled as lgbtq+ i would not completely disagree with that idea but i would protest to it being a driving force for why you should read this novel. it’s very vague, but once again i suppose it’s expanded upon in the following entry, which i’m sorely wishing is releasing on schedule.
i liked it! give it a shot if you like evil women
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War and Body horror
marleywrites's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Ableism
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery
theteamsreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An incredible read from beginning to end. The literal form of edge-of-seat writing and action. All characters presented well with different attitudes and skills required for the heist, and the plotting itself was superb. Definite reread required, but mixed feelings on whether or not I want a sequel. Recommend to anyone wanting a badass selection of characters (all morally grey of course), found family, huge diversity, a realistic heist, and a well thought Medieval-esque world for these characters to cause chaos in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Slavery, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment
emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
On the surface, this book was promising. The magic and political systems were both really interesting, and I liked how the five main characters all had such dynamic reasons for their involvement in the heist, connecting back to the worldbuilding in captivating ways. That’s kind of where my positives for this story run out. One of my main issues is that it was too short to give the plot, world, and characters a chance to develop properly. The worldbuilding in particular was pretty thin outside of the city of Carrowick. Nash and Ryia had the EXACT same voice (could not tell them apart), and the romances felt forced.
Aside from this, the dialogue was so cliché it was cringey (literally nearly every line of dialogue was cliched, I couldn’t believe it). And perhaps most importantly, the heist sucked. It was just straightforward, linear action with no surprises or subplots - and it was also, like, WAY too easy All in all, I’m not convinced I’m going to pick up the sequel, but who knows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Murder, Torture, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Death, Violence, Vomit, and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood, Cannibalism, Ableism, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Sexual content, Trafficking, War, Gore, Animal death, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Confinement, Excrement, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
Minor warnings for forced separation from family, illness, epidemic, capital punishment, sick parent.hammy91's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Slavery, and Violence
samusc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.5
This book was fun and definitely scratches the itch for a good heist story. There were a few highly memorable, emotional action scenes that I adored. I love how this book managed to make disguise kits badass. This one wraps with a strong cliffhanger, so I hope the sequel has been confirmed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Vomit, Violence, and Slavery
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