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dragongirl271'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Animal death, Police brutality, and Bullying
Minor: Gore, Violence, Suicide, Torture, and Trafficking
broccoli_j'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? It's complicated
4.0
All in all it’s a good book for a younger ya audience
Graphic: Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence
bzliz'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? No
3.75
The world is pretty vivid in how horrible it is. Abuse of all kinds apparently runs rampant and people truly just ignore it in hopes that they won’t get executed for speaking out. Obviously some people aren’t chill with what’s going on but they keep to themselves for the most part because they’re punished if they do speak out. I liked Sophia’s connection with Luke but I wish it was more substantial- like they’d been friends for a while and he really had a reason to stick his neck out for her- because when he came to save her at the ball, it felt unnatural. Like he’s been protecting himself for so long but after a few sassy interactions he feels compelled to protect her so they can both be secretly gay together but still stuck in this horrible place. I’m also confused by Erin’s characterization. She breaks Sophia’s heart by refusing to run away out of her own sense of self preservation and wants to follow the King’s terrible laws, but she already broke rules and norms by having a relationship with Sophia. Someone that set on keeping themself safe doesn’t seem like they’d ever admit or act on any gay feelings.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Sophia and Constance, and I really liked Amina’s murky morality. Even though it was easy to guess at the “plot twist” of the prince’s secret to youth, I did not see Amina’s plot twist coming. Constance wasn’t a knight in shining armor; she was a solid foundation on which Sophia was able to build her own feelings of rebellion against tyranny and I think the message of “we can stand up to things that are wrong and also girls can save themselves” is a pretty good one to put out in the world.
Mind the content warnings, especially if you can’t stomach descriptions or discussions of misogyny, sexual assault, physical abuse and domestic violence, and implications of pedophilia.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Slavery, Child abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
a_sleepy_berry'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, Classism, Murder, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Homophobia, and Outing
transpercy_'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Domestic abuse, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, and Sexual assault
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
blackheartbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
⠀⠀
I loved this story so much. I wish I could have read this when I was in high school. I always felt like a misfit. I didn't feel thin enough or pretty enough, and underneath everything else, I never felt straight enough. So to read about a young lesbian woman taking down the patriarchy was exactly what teenage me needed to read.
⠀
Bayron's writing is pretty wonderful. She manages to make these big life lessons accessible no matter the age group, and she uses the Cinderella myth in a new and exciting way. I really liked how she deconstructed the internalized misogyny of the original fairy tale and replaced it with women upholding each other to break out of the throes of the patriarchy.
⠀
It'd be impossible to contain everything I loved in a single review. This book is a hard read because it discusses a lot of awful topics, but it does so with grace and care. I love how Sophie was able to both tackle the toxic power structures of her world while still acknowledging that change does not occur overnight. It felt like a believable ending to me as well, while still giving us the happily ever after we expect from fairytales. If you've read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide
betsi'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? No
4.5
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
lollyr's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
<spoiler>
I felt like the target audience was unclear. From one hand, the dialog was often cringey and childish, the metaphor and moral of the story spoon fed to the reader and the characters flat and unchanging. On the other hand some topics handled in the story are very much intended for mathur readers.
At times it felt like the writing was trying to be shocking and edgy but it just looked out of place.
The love intrest was dull and cartoonish in her behavior and odd facial expressions. Ever since Liv's body was found by Sophia the king plot twist was extremely predictable.
Sophia is a mediocre but loveble protagonist. Her motivations are clear and understandable but she did not changed at all in the duration of the story.
Honesty, I shipped her with Erin till the end because I thing it would made more compelling story.
Prince charmin was a flat and exaggerated villan but he was also pretty menacing (at least in the first half of the book).
Amana was the best character in my opinion. She was compelling and intriguin until her very end
<spoiler>
Over all, I did mostly enjoyed the read. I thing maybe the book was intended for younger readers and it have great messages over all.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Infidelity
zojkajacenko'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Outing, Rape, and Sexual assault
bennythefup's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Gore, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Death, and Death of parent