Scan barcode
3arth2kaye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism
jessiereads98'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
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this. It’s a complex story with complex characters. I really enjoy the unique magic system with multiple gods coming into play and in conflict with each other. I also appreciate the feminist themes woven beautifully into the story.
I did find the pacing in the first half of the book to be a bit slow and like it took a little long to get to things. It felt at times like the story was meandering and dragging its feet on getting where it was going. The pacing did pick up for a much more satisfying final half-third of the book.
I don’t fully enjoy Priya and Malini’s relationship. The power imbalance and Malini’s constant use of Priya and expecting Priya to always do what is best for her makes me somewhat uncomfortable. While I enjoy the relationship as one that is toxic and compelling and narratively interesting, I am not sure if that is the author’s intention or if I as a reader am meant to simply root for them as star crossed lovers. I understand the idea is for there to be a lot of moral greyness and none of these characters are perfect, nor would I want them to be. However, there are times where I find Malini’s treatment of Priya going past moral greyness to this is just an imbalanced power dynamic of a woman from a lower class being expected to serve one of a higher class and I don’t find it romantic.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
karcitis's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Torture and Classism
rat_girly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved the development of most of the relationships: Priya & Sima, Bhumika & Jeevan, Ahiranyi vs others, and most of all - Rao & Aditya. Queer, boyhood crush vibes. I found Malini and Priya’s relationship to be heavily out of balance, especially given the coloniser/colonised dynamic, but I think that is the point and will hopefully be rectified in book 3.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Confinement
wordwilderness's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Plot & Story Focus
Writing Style
Characters
Series Flow
You’ll Like This Book if You Enjoy…
- Epic fantasy
- Multi-POV books
- A large cast of characters
- Compelling and conflicted relationships
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
maya_venkatesh36's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexism and Vomit
lqvekanej's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, and Infidelity
alphabetmafiamember's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
bibookworm's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Body horror
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicide and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Torture