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fantasyshelves'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Classism, War, Gore, Death of parent, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Suicide attempt, Ableism, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
sarahna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I started the year off rereading the first two books of the series in order to fully enjoy the conclusion to it all and it was so worth it! Wren's pov was something I wished for since book one and it really made sense how it was implemented. I don't even know where to begin to review the series but overall it was just amazing to read a YA fantasy series that didn't just have amazing sapphic and disability rep but also had high stakes. Major characters do die and the ones that survive usually have injuries or disability they have to deal with and play a big role in the plot.
Spoilers ahead:
Nitta truly shined in the book and I loved all the parts she was in. I just wish Bo was still around with Merrin. I noticed how most queer characters ended up dying, including the morally grey ones (Shifu Cein) but lots of other characters die as well so maybe its just me noticing that. Bo was just such a great comedic relief and I loved the chemistry he had with Merrin. Nitta on the other hand embraced her disability and I loved the fact that she got a wheelchair appropriate for war. Just badass.
The reason why it was a five star read for me was that Wren and Lei's relationship yoyo-ed too much for me. Some conflicts were blown out of proportion and happened because of miscommunication or the lack of communication in general. So much could've been avoided and when they finally did get together in the end it felt a bit unbelievable but because of the high stakes it didn't feel too off.
I loved the section 3 months after the Demon king was killed. It tied all the story lines together and it was nice to see the remaining paper girls stick together. All in all, I really liked the series even if book 2 was a bit of a mess. Just lovely.
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Classism, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
zalesbian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It was not a perfect book, but it is my favorite of the trilogy.
Graphic: Violence, War, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Blood
I am surprised that this is categorized at Young Adult for 14 y/o and up. There were some very gruesome descriptions throughout this book. Plus the whole series is about Sexual Assault and trauma. A truly excellent book, but be prepared for some uncomfortable scenes.starccato'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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Self harm
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Vomit
queerspoons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Gore
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
eviecate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This series has been a rollercoaster. When this book picked up at the conclusion of the last one I was scared. The first book was, in my opinion, the most intense and with the main character going back to the site of the majority of her trauma, I didn’t have high hopes. However I found this book to be the strongest in the trilogy. By the time I read this book I already had a strong connection to the characters and found myself on the edge of my seat for the majority of it. I did have a bit of difficulty navigating Lei’s first-person POV with Wren’s third-person but I got used to it. While the second book focused on relationships this one was mainly driven by the war. I think that made it stronger however my favorite moments were when characters were vulnerable with each other. Lei and Wren’s connection to one another is where this book really shines. The way they help each other cope with their traumas is beautiful. Ngan does a really good job of making the relationship balanced and not just sidelining Wren as only Lei’s love interest. These characters have both faced intense trauma and their different coping strategies really make them feel like distinct characters. I really liked how the series ended and i felt like everything was wrapped up nicely. This book made me feel every emotion. I didn’t cry but I came close. At the end of the day this book is about women learning to cope with extreme trauma in a society that is built to tear them down. I can have respect for a dystopian fantasy that has real world implications and this one definitely did.
My biggest problem with this book and series as a whole is the marketing to a young adult audience. I picked up the first novel in 2018 when it came out looking for a YA fantasy with a lesbian relationship and while it delivered on this I was shocked by the violence and sexual assault. While there is a trigger warning it is small and easy to miss. I think this marketing is a result of the author being a woman of color and the characters being 17-18 over the course of the series.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent