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arsenelouppain's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I wanted to like this book so bad! It's got a great premise, and I loved the writing style. I also think the author is really cool!
My main complaint is about the protagonist, Iris. I found her largely unlikeable and her behavior was downright erratic at times. I lost it whenshe decided to make out with a dude in the middle of a mission where lives hung in the balance. It took me five months to get through this just because I hated Iris so, so much.
I was also not a fan of the love triangle (love square? Love pentagon? Maybe even a hexagon.) It was unnecessary and annoying to read through. Perhaps just Jinn and Adam would have been fine. But Max? They barely even knew each other! I understand that it's possible to fall in love at first sight, but there was way too much going on between all the fighting and mysteries and drama for them to form any kind of connection. Especially after he abandonned her and Jinn in the first round of the tournament.
One thing that also bothered me was whenall of the Fanciful Freaks acted like the apocalypse was somehow impossible. Like, you went to a fair in South Kensington and can now breathe fire, but you don't think it's possible that the world might end one day? Seriously?
I liked the ending. I was actually surprised whenMax was revealed to have betrayed them. In hindsight, it's painfully obvious, but please remember that I read this book over the course of five months. It was a nice set up for the sequel.
I also approve of the way Raughley addressed the issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
In the end, this book was not for me, but if you're interested, I recommend giving it a go!
My main complaint is about the protagonist, Iris. I found her largely unlikeable and her behavior was downright erratic at times. I lost it when
I was also not a fan of the love triangle (love square? Love pentagon? Maybe even a hexagon.) It was unnecessary and annoying to read through. Perhaps just Jinn and Adam would have been fine. But
One thing that also bothered me was when
I liked the ending. I was actually surprised when
I also approve of the way Raughley addressed the issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
In the end, this book was not for me, but if you're interested, I recommend giving it a go!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Murder, Violence, Slavery, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, and Death
starlessnights's review
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Kidnapping
Minor: War, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Suicide attempt
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