Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

6 reviews

garbutch's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring reflective
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0


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quinnpjd930's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

5.0

Absolutely delicious cat-and-mouse game in a twisting, turning, enemies-to-lovers tale. The book alternates between the main character’s points of view to give the best look into each of their inner struggles with slowly falling for someone they don’t want to fall for. Loveable characters, a well-constructed fantasy realm, and a depth to plot lines with plenty of surprises and twists and turns along the way. So well written and one of the best enemies to lovers I’ve read! 

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maple_dove's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

4.0

This book wasn't what I expected it to be, but that's not always a bad thing. :) But the book did fall a little flat for me by the end.

I think I should be honest, I had a hard time thinking of Esha as this ruthless assassin. Her actions don't really match her notoriety.

The world is beautiful but this book doesn't feel unique (again, not all books have to be unique).

Definitely reading the next book.

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lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

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adventurous tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

If I could sum up this great book in one trope twister:
Childhood friends to enemies to lovers.
Great for fans of Rebel of the Sands or Flame in the Mist. Definitely plan on continuing to read the trilogy!!

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rensreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

oh this was absolutely amazing! i was gripped by this story from the very first sentence.

esha was my everything. she was deadly and beautiful with enough of a soft heart to really draw you in and keep you there. im a sucker for a tortured and morally ambiguous mc thought so that was no surprise.

kulan faltered sometimes but his character development was superb. i’m glad he’s able to make his own life decisions now. i hope he keeps making the right decisions and stay true to his choice of sticking by esha. they deserve each other.

4.5 stars from me (:

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caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

This book is recommended to fans of Sabaa Tahir and I completely understand. It has a lot of similar feelings and vibes as An Ember in the Ashes, and although I do think AEitA is better constructed, I still really enjoyed this book. (AEitA is a clear 5 stars to me personally while this is 4 stars for me but could easily be a solid 3 stars for some.)

Key ways this book differs that might make you really want to read it:
  • Esha is a more skilled and dominant rebel in this book than Laia in AEitA (cannot speak to Laia's development in later books which I am sure is substantial)
  • Esha and her rebels have a stronger foothold and stance in this book, from a neighboring land, so they are making progress faster.
  • the mythology that inspired this is clearly different. It's not the background mythology that makes them feel similar it's the political structure and male character background.
  • we only get Esha and Kumal's POVs, no Helene to deal with.
  • the romance is more prominent/progresses more quickly in this book than in AEitA.

Personally I picked this book up off my TBR because of a readathon prompt to read a book with a time of day in the title, but had no real expectations going in (I couldn't remember why it was ON my TBR) and was surprised and delighted to find myself drawn in and speeding through. It was engaging and interesting and I am a sucker for some elements of the plot here that could technically be considered spoiler-y although they're very heavily lampshaded. Specifically
I'm a real sucker for childhood bffs to enemies (in this case because they a. didn't remember each other and b. ended up on opposite sides of the coup. REAL CATNIP FOR ME.) to cat and mouse because we are hot for each other but are also enemies!!!. ANYWAY, it's missing the angst of I-loved-this-person-but-we-are-now-enemies that say, Onyx and Ivory has, but it's still delightful and when they do remember each other it is well timed in the narrative.


Anyway, I think it's worth taking a look here if you liked AEiTA but cannot guarantee it will scratch that same itch.

If you haven't read/aren't interested in AEitA and are somehow still reading this review, you might love this book if you love very competent soldier/assassin trying to defeat each other but also hot for each other narratives or if you want to read some stories about good people being deprogrammed and fighting for good!

Sexual content:
There is one instance of fake making-out to hide from searchers, one kiss, and allusions to sexual attraction/a previous intimate relationship/the existence of sex, but nothing else, FTB or otherwise, in this book.

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