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saurahsaurus'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
sirkeili's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love how this tale is Little Red Riding Hood meets Beauty and the Beast, and yet it holds its own in both regards. Red's character feels both remarkably insular to the fairy tale heroine, and yet she also is so much more.
However, this story is also about love, and how far one will go for it. Red for Eammon - and him for her - as well as how far Red and Neve will go for one another. Making deals with gods and ancient beings alike, just to ensure the other is safe, whatever the price may be.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide attempt and Classism
thehushedearth's review
- 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
4.5
The world: I found that the writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. The prose reminded me of many of the dark fairy tales that I have read without being overtly dark to accomplish this feat. Whitten brings her world, setting, and characters to life in startling and fresh detail. I found that the dichotomy of beauty and darkness, light and shadow, in this novel were as fascinating as they were lovely.
The characters: All of Whitten's characters have a fierceness about them in one way or another that I loved. The cast of characters in this book are diverse and full of strong voices. Each of the cast of side characters had an interesting story and were unique to themselves. I would have liked to see a little more development or involvement of some of the side characters.
Red (Redarys) was born a second daughter and was therefore destined for the Wolf. While at first, I was a little put off by Red's attitude, her tenacity and strength won me over in the end. She can be a little crass, stubborn, and selfish at times, but overall I feel like this lends to her being human and flawed which makes her more relatable.
Neve (Neverah) is the first daughter and therefore, for the throne. She comes off as kind and cares for her sister in such a fierce way. Over the course of the book, we watch her character make an arc from a more meek and gentle girl to a powerful and determined woman.
I enjoyed the bond between Red and Neve, the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that the sisters share. It did lead to some less than smart decisions on both of their parts admittedly. But overall, I feel like the bond that they had was formidable and added much needed tension throughout the story as they were being pulled back together by the love that they shared.
The Wolf I think was my favorite character. He was the perfect mixture of brooding, mysterious, protective, and kind. He is the character type that I am the most in love with: the dark, intimidating, mysterious one that is secretly the sweetest, kindest person who only wants to take care of those that he loves. He is made flawed and more relatable in his awkwardness and his almost fundamental need to protect those that he cares for by himself.
Overall, I loved the story and cannot wait to see how it unfolds further in the second book.
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement
Blood and self-harm used for magic purposes, not due to mental health issues.bookwormamy's review
- 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: Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
oceanw1's review
- 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: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual content
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The plot is there, technically, but most of the action is them running around bleeding or not bleeding or asking the other one to bleed or not bleed on something so it can do or not do a magic thing. Also there's only one bed, and some gestures at a love triangle that resolves itself with very little fanfare. If you don't like wound care and longing then read something else, as that's (gloriously, intimately) the bulk of the text. There's a larger arc involving Red's twin sister which is set to continue in the next book, and it has a lot of promise. I like this one, it hits a niche I didn't realize I was missing.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
readwithde's review
- 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
I appreciated how the early sections of lore and worldbuilding were handling all *in media res* as Red prepared to leave for the Wilderwood. For the first 100-ish pages, though, most of Red's story is lore and worldbuilding with little character development or character building. Her sister Neve, friend Raffe, and beau Arick all enjoy time apart from this influx of lore, and therfore are much more interesting towards the start of the story.
As Red learns to live with the Wolf
The conclusion was a bit jarring for me.
Some of the most interesting worldbuilding I've read in a long time, and very descriptive magic; captivating.
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
dernhelms_bag's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
forthesanityof1's review
- 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, Self harm, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
The self-harm trigger is in reference to characters