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Somewhere around the 50% mark I started to notice how every other female character was portrayed and it just got more noticeable as time passed how inconsequential the author found them in comparison to Saeris and the male characters (who got to have backstories and exist as more than just a plot device)
Found the use of 'male' and 'female' throughout the book a bit tedious and I've always had a bit of an ick around the term mate for another person but the world building and initial setup really grabbed me. The quicksilver was a really interesting concept and the way idea that it could link multiple worlds had me hoping for a more grown up take on The Magicians Nephew.
I did not know this was a fae book going in since it'd be on my tbr for ages and I liked how initially unpredictable it was. That didnt last sadly, and every interaction with Kingfisher at the start was about how horny he made her (maam you have essentially been kidnapped and you think you're brother and surrogate father are in danger of being killed and you're gushing like Niagara can you calm down???) Too much insta lust for me tbh. This would make a 12 year old on fanfiction.net circa 2005 blush like a tomato but the freaks on ao3 would call this vanilla.
I enjoyed the side characters - some genuinely funny and interesting personalities there! Carrion was a hoot, Lorreth a surprising cutie and Isaebail has some really strong potential to be a badass. The author is definitely trying to set up some romantic pairings but so far not a single queer person to exist
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War
Minor: Child abuse
Literally no plot till 80% and I don’t condone r*pe.
Graphic: Rape
The premise was very interesting, and although there were many elements at play, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the history or lore. Hart did a good job showing and not just telling, which I feel like a lot of fantasy authors can slip into a habit of doing when introducing readers to new worlds. Saeris’ experience learning about the quicksilver and how to connect with it was fascinating.
I did feel that the story was a bit sluggish around 25% and almost stopped reading, but I’m glad that I kept at it. It takes a while to warm up to Kingfisher, as he initially seems immature and antagonistic. This is a particularly slow burn, but the pay off is exciting and explosive. I would have preferred a bit more time to flesh out the characters’ feelings towards each other in the end, but I’m sure the next book will do Fisher and Saeris justice.
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Torture, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Rape, Vomit
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, War