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katiekeske's review against another edition
I thought the premise was interesting, but as I continued reading, the actions of the characters didn't make a lot of sense. There's some real gore and terrible things done to each other, and yet the woman keeps thinking about how attractive the horseman is. I know the characters are supposed to eventually get together, but I can tell you right now that I would not be thinking about how attractive or kissable someone is after they shot me with arrows and dragged me behind a horse until my arm dislocated. If two characters are supposed to hate each other, I want them to actually hate each other. Not act petulant but really be attracted to the person.
All that to say, I don't feel compelled to keep reading this. Maybe I'll come back to it someday if I'm in the right mood.
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
witchloved's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Child death
cait_reads_stuff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Kidnapping, and Pandemic/Epidemic
wait_whoissheagain's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Despite this, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the plot. The premise of the story is interesting, and I was intrigued to read a fantasy book that takes place in the “real world”, but I feel like this book’s plot was lacking. We had the hero, but there was no real villain to fight. If we consider Pestilence the villain, then the FMC didn’t do much fighting at all. I’m hoping that the plot intensifies throughout the remainder of the series.
Another aspect of the book that I’m still trying to process, is the FMC’s internal struggle with her feelings for Pestilence. The horseman put Sara through A LOT (no spoilers, but Chapter 18 had me in tears) and she seems to get over these things pretty quickly because “it’s hard to be mad at something that’s so pretty” and because he made a sandwich. I feel like this is a stark contrast to her beliefs at the beginning of the book. It wasn’t until the last few chapters, when Pestilence’s character started developing, that I began to accept this change. Once again, I’m hoping their relationship will be explored and expanded upon in the next book. I would love to see more of Pestilence’s character development.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to continuing the series. I am intrigued to see the role that the other horsemen will play in this world.
Graphic: Medical trauma and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Murder, Animal death, Blood, and Physical abuse
awanderinglibrarianreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Grief, Death, Violence, Torture, Child death, and Body horror
punk_n_plant'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: Body horror, Torture, Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Gun violence
Minor: Sexism and Sexual harassment
mxgremlin's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Terminal illness, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Genocide, and Violence
alex_baker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death and Animal death
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Genocide, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Terminal illness, Blood, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Vomit and Child death
mattiedancer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
- Fans of ACOTAR and dystopian societies
- Someone looking for a romance with an intriguing plot
- Those who like fantasy/apocalyptic novels that centre on romance
- Readers who like (or don’t mind) a bit of spice, but not just spice.
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Gore, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Terminal illness
Minor: Pregnancy