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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found a copy of this book at Dollar Tree, and I was so shocked I found it for a dollar I impulse bought it. I then proceeded to not pick it up for a year. I did not have really any expectations for this book, and I did not know anything going into it, and I was BLOWN away at how quickly I was invested in this story.
"Rule" follows the points of view of three girls from three very different backgrounds and upbringings. To their utter shock, they are told that their actual father is the king. He has finally decided to reveal this secret because he is dying, and his only son was recently murdered, so now one of these girls will be selected to rule after his demise. Each one of them has a damning secret that will surely eliminate them as a candidate. There is also a mystery person who knows all of their secrets and is trying to get rid of them by threatening to reveal them.
As I have said many times, I think I am growing out of my YA stage, so I normally do not have any expectations or I have very low expectations when I pick up a YA novel, especially one that has been out for many years.
I loved how this story followed three very different girls who all come from very different places, but they are all still so similar. I loved that they each have their own secret that we slowly get to see revealed throughout the story. I also loved seeing that none of them were perfect nor the clear best candidate to be Queen. They all have their own aspects that they are best at.
Will I continue in this series to see what happens? Perhaps someday, but it is not at the top of my reading list now. I am content with having enjoyed this story alone.
"Rule" follows the points of view of three girls from three very different backgrounds and upbringings. To their utter shock, they are told that their actual father is the king. He has finally decided to reveal this secret because he is dying, and his only son was recently murdered, so now one of these girls will be selected to rule after his demise. Each one of them has a damning secret that will surely eliminate them as a candidate. There is also a mystery person who knows all of their secrets and is trying to get rid of them by threatening to reveal them.
As I have said many times, I think I am growing out of my YA stage, so I normally do not have any expectations or I have very low expectations when I pick up a YA novel, especially one that has been out for many years.
I loved how this story followed three very different girls who all come from very different places, but they are all still so similar. I loved that they each have their own secret that we slowly get to see revealed throughout the story. I also loved seeing that none of them were perfect nor the clear best candidate to be Queen. They all have their own aspects that they are best at.
Will I continue in this series to see what happens? Perhaps someday, but it is not at the top of my reading list now. I am content with having enjoyed this story alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: War
valpyre's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
[audiobook]
well this was a sufficiently mediocre listen to get me through the day. i did like bits and pieces of the story, and i liked each sister well enough (mostly) to keep going, but i honestly zoned out a lot because it didn't really capture my interest. there were a lot of predictable moments (e.g. romances, who was going to end up being the prime suspect and what would happen to them), and yet the story didn't really have a lot of coherency, imo. kind of a bummer because the first chapter really captured my attention but i feel like the magic system was all talk and barely any show tbqh.
i also don't know how i feel about the "fantasy" racism in the story -- fantasy being in quotes bc zofi is obviously part of some equivalent to real-life Roma people, and shes also dark-skinned, so is the racism really fantastical
no part of this book really blew me away nor did it particularly annoy me (although i have to mention that there was some repetitive writing -- literally, like an exact phrase being used twice).
well this was a sufficiently mediocre listen to get me through the day. i did like bits and pieces of the story, and i liked each sister well enough (mostly) to keep going, but i honestly zoned out a lot because it didn't really capture my interest. there were a lot of predictable moments (e.g. romances, who was going to end up being the prime suspect and what would happen to them), and yet the story didn't really have a lot of coherency, imo. kind of a bummer because the first chapter really captured my attention but i feel like the magic system was all talk and barely any show tbqh.
i also don't know how i feel about the "fantasy" racism in the story -- fantasy being in quotes bc zofi is obviously part of some equivalent to real-life Roma people, and shes also dark-skinned, so is the racism really fantastical
no part of this book really blew me away nor did it particularly annoy me (although i have to mention that there was some repetitive writing -- literally, like an exact phrase being used twice).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence and Self harm
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