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ticktock's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Racism, Slavery, Child abuse, Classism, Suicide attempt, and Physical abuse
barefootbetsy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I loved this book!!! I finished this one and immediately ordered the next two in the series.
There is a huge cast of characters, which I was initially nervous about, but this author does such a great job of making each character complex/unique and includes little details about the character in every scene that I didn’t find it difficult to keep track at all.
The pacing in general and timing of suspenseful events was extremely well done — I didn’t want to put the book down and would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t absolutely have to do other things in my life.
I’m quite invested in the outcome at this point and am very excited to read the next installments!
There is a huge cast of characters, which I was initially nervous about, but this author does such a great job of making each character complex/unique and includes little details about the character in every scene that I didn’t find it difficult to keep track at all.
The pacing in general and timing of suspenseful events was extremely well done — I didn’t want to put the book down and would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t absolutely have to do other things in my life.
I’m quite invested in the outcome at this point and am very excited to read the next installments!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Eating disorder, Outing, Police brutality, Stalking, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Slavery, Death, and Death of parent
jamielikestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Physical abuse
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: Homophobia
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
Thank you to Kraken Collective for an ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had so much fun with this book!! I need more queer epic fantasy like this one!
City of Strife centers around Arathiel's return to Isandor. He has been gone for over a hundred years and he doesn't know what to expect. Rather than returning to his family, he hides in the Lower City and meets Larryn, Hasryan and Cal. The four quickly kindle a strong friendship and when Hasryan is accused of a crime he didn't commit, Arathiel and his friends will have to figure out what lengths they'll go to save him.
Besides that storyline, the Myrian Empire is trying to get a hold in Isandor and they've sent one of their worst commanders to do it. The Noble Houses are attempting to prevent the Myrians from gaining a foot hold, but they spend more time fighting between houses to present a strong front. However, there are people on each side that want to get out of the conflict. Nevian, an abused apprentice, just wants to learn enough magic. Branwen, a spy for House Daithrii, is trying to stay alive. And Varden, an Isbari priest of the Myrians, is entangled in a traitorous web that's one string from falling apart.
I freaking loved this story so much. All of the characters were well rounded dynamic characters. I constantly wanted to know more about them all. I loved the friendships that formed in this book. The way platonic relationships were given the most importance was chef's kisses. I seriously loved seeing all of these characters lives entangle and see these relationship progress from strangers or enemies to friends.
Then there's the magic and the politics! The stakes always felt high and the tension that surrounded the whole book kept me engaged and flipping pages as fast as possible. I hated having to put this down at night! I loved all the magic in this book. There are so many different types and then Arathiel's strange inability to feel pain, cold, heat or taste. I really hope we find out more about the well that did that to him.
The main cast is so queer. Even though there was a line about the world being generally queerphobic/queermisic, everyone was basically like fuck that shit I'm gay as fuck. There was also amazing trans and nonbinary inclusion, including a character with they/them pronouns and several side characters and a deity that use neopronouns! I just loved it all so much.
I can't wait to get back to the world of Isandor and see what happens next!!
Rep: Brown cis male MC who can't feel pain, cold, heat or taste, Black demiromantic cis male MC (Dark elf), white aroace cis male MC, Brown gay cis male MC, white sapphic female MC, fat aromantic halfing cis male MC, bisexual cis female side character, lesbian cis female side character, trans female side character, white nonbinary side character, MLM side pairing, female side characters with chronic illness (brief mention).
CWs: Torture, child abuse, physical and emotional abuse, xenophobia, violence, blood, racism. Moderate: murder, death, looming execution, police corruption, generalized queerphobia/queermisia.
I had so much fun with this book!! I need more queer epic fantasy like this one!
City of Strife centers around Arathiel's return to Isandor. He has been gone for over a hundred years and he doesn't know what to expect. Rather than returning to his family, he hides in the Lower City and meets Larryn, Hasryan and Cal. The four quickly kindle a strong friendship and when Hasryan is accused of a crime he didn't commit, Arathiel and his friends will have to figure out what lengths they'll go to save him.
Besides that storyline, the Myrian Empire is trying to get a hold in Isandor and they've sent one of their worst commanders to do it. The Noble Houses are attempting to prevent the Myrians from gaining a foot hold, but they spend more time fighting between houses to present a strong front. However, there are people on each side that want to get out of the conflict. Nevian, an abused apprentice, just wants to learn enough magic. Branwen, a spy for House Daithrii, is trying to stay alive. And Varden, an Isbari priest of the Myrians, is entangled in a traitorous web that's one string from falling apart.
I freaking loved this story so much. All of the characters were well rounded dynamic characters. I constantly wanted to know more about them all. I loved the friendships that formed in this book. The way platonic relationships were given the most importance was chef's kisses. I seriously loved seeing all of these characters lives entangle and see these relationship progress from strangers or enemies to friends.
Then there's the magic and the politics! The stakes always felt high and the tension that surrounded the whole book kept me engaged and flipping pages as fast as possible. I hated having to put this down at night! I loved all the magic in this book. There are so many different types and then Arathiel's strange inability to feel pain, cold, heat or taste. I really hope we find out more about the well that did that to him.
The main cast is so queer. Even though there was a line about the world being generally queerphobic/queermisic, everyone was basically like fuck that shit I'm gay as fuck. There was also amazing trans and nonbinary inclusion, including a character with they/them pronouns and several side characters and a deity that use neopronouns! I just loved it all so much.
I can't wait to get back to the world of Isandor and see what happens next!!
Rep: Brown cis male MC who can't feel pain, cold, heat or taste, Black demiromantic cis male MC (Dark elf), white aroace cis male MC, Brown gay cis male MC, white sapphic female MC, fat aromantic halfing cis male MC, bisexual cis female side character, lesbian cis female side character, trans female side character, white nonbinary side character, MLM side pairing, female side characters with chronic illness (brief mention).
CWs: Torture, child abuse, physical and emotional abuse, xenophobia, violence, blood, racism. Moderate: murder, death, looming execution, police corruption, generalized queerphobia/queermisia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Racism
Moderate: Murder and Death
firesolstice's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia
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