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kaneebli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Slavery, and Kidnapping
pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
gpfot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Freya has always dreamed of being more and fighting in battle. When her husband betrays her, she is forced to reveal to everyone that she is a shield maiden and has been blessed by the gods with incredible gifts. In order to keep Freya safe, Bjorn is tied to her via blood oath, because Bjorn is a fierce and ruthless warrior, and Freya's new husband's son. Now Freya is torn about who to protect, and trying to fight the desires she has on her own.
This is a smutty adult fantasy, so if you enjoy high stakes, high action, and sultry scenes, this might be the next fantasy for you.
Freya was an admirable character, and she seemed to have noble reasons for the decisions she makes, but I did not love her. Freya is so caught up in this idea that she has to protect her family and make decisions that are good for them, that she completely loses herself and what she wants as a person. Additionally, the people she is trying so desperately to protect clearly do not care about her in the same way, and it is infuriating to watch Freya bend over backwards for these people when they can barely bat an eyelash for her. Overall, she felt like a weak protagonist to me, but I hope that she has some personal growth throughout the series.
The magic system felt very approachable. I was able to follow along easily, and everything made sense. However, it was complex enough to keep my attention. This is definitely a difficult line to ride, especially with an introduction to a new fantasy series. Freya's magic was fascinating, and I really enjoyed the mystery around why she was blessed (or cursed) by the gods.
Freya and Bjorn seem pretty good together. It is difficult to determine in this book what everyone's true intentions are, but I am rooting for the pair to be together. I love how Bjorn is forcing Freya to see she is worth more than she is giving herself credit for.
I was pretty irate by the ending of this book, which, in this context, is probably a sign of quality writing. The book ends with a lot of unresolved issues, and what I believe is a major misunderstanding. It made me curious to pick up the next book, but I was also really upset by the outcome.
I will likely pick up the next book out of curiosity.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Our protagonist was so insufferably stubborn and I found no redeeming qualities in her. I'm not sure she does one action that someone asks her to for the entire book, even if they would have been to her benefit. She's so hot-and-cold, changing her mind at the drop of a hat to whatever course of action would be the least convenient for her and the people around her. I wanted to like her! I especially loved that opening scene with her love interest; they had banter that I actually enjoyed!? But I was so frustrated with her by the end I couldn't enjoy anything about their romance.
I predicted one of the big main twists from the first moment it was foreshadowed. The other big twist was something I guessed was probably going to happen. It didn't feel fun, it didn't feel like I can solved the author's intricate puzzle and now I was in on it. I spent a lot of this book going "are you serious?" and "how it is not obvious to you!"
The magic makes NO sense and was a constant source of irritation. People who possess the blood of a god are "unfated" and both do not have a destiny/fate of their own and can change the destinies of those around them... but can also be the center of a prophecy and two of them can be destined to be together? How does that make sense!
The final cherry on top is that I could not help but notice the number of named female characters
I am so grateful I hesitated on preordering this book, and will not be continuing with the series.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexism, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Kidnapping
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thewitchykitty'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail