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yesirea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
This book made me feel emotions that I never imagined that I would have ever felt from a book. I had to take some breaks while reading this because I was crying too much. With such evocative writing, I love this book with my whole heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, War, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Miscarriage
cwallace1005's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
This was a tough one to rate. The pacing of this book was... interesting. The first third was a little boring, to be honest. The middle third was exciting, but a little long and repetitive. The last third was emotionally interesting, but a definite drop in action. Definitely a unique structure for a book. This is also considered a standalone book, and while I agree that it does stand on its own, there are a lot of things set up that didn't feel complete by the end of the book. I believe this is sort of a prequel to another series from the author that she's stated she isn't going to continue. But the writing is mostly very good and the characterization is beautiful. I nearly rated this book 4 stars for Misaki alone, I love her story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Blood, Infertility, Sexism, Miscarriage, Death, Suicide, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Torture
Minor: Child abuse and Kidnapping
sofiadanielle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
An incredible read. And also very moving/emotional, having found myself crying at least three times because of it.
Sort of Avatar: The Last Airbender-esque, with characters who had powers relating to the elements. Though it didn’t strike me as fantasy in the sense of what I’ve grown to think of in the genre (magic, fae, with creatures of legends, etc.), I was still quite taken with the whole universe of it.
I do think the book focuses more on the topics of war, emotional processing, death, loss (of many things), and in that sense, was quite heavy, but Misaki’s character arc was so pushing in completing the story.
.5 stars taken away only for what I believe was slightly messy world building; as I was reading on a Kindle, I couldn’t easily traverse from where I was in the story to the glossary; and the world outside of Takayubi was.. Muddled. Additionally, I also have questions about the conflict added to the end that wasn’t resolved..
Still, both points don’t detract from the story all too badly, in my opinion, and I still so very much got involved in this story and the characters involved.
Sort of Avatar: The Last Airbender-esque, with characters who had powers relating to the elements. Though it didn’t strike me as fantasy in the sense of what I’ve grown to think of in the genre (magic, fae, with creatures of legends, etc.), I was still quite taken with the whole universe of it.
I do think the book focuses more on the topics of war, emotional processing, death, loss (of many things), and in that sense, was quite heavy, but Misaki’s character arc was so pushing in completing the story.
.5 stars taken away only for what I believe was slightly messy world building; as I was reading on a Kindle, I couldn’t easily traverse from where I was in the story to the glossary; and the world outside of Takayubi was.. Muddled. Additionally, I also have questions about the conflict added to the end that wasn’t resolved..
Still, both points don’t detract from the story all too badly, in my opinion, and I still so very much got involved in this story and the characters involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Grief, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, and Murder
kylek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Her body was angled slightly to hide the sword at her hip, giving the appearance of a diminutive housewife. In it's own way, that was better cover than any shadow.
I had been expecting the first half of this to be very boring and just not good because of how people talk about it, but I did not find it boring at all, nor was it bad. Was it slow? I guess. It's the type of slow that you'll find in any epic fantasy/sci-fi. It took like 35% to set up the world and characters, which to me was pretty standard for epics.
With that said this is a very tough one to read in one go because it's so heavy. It was just a lot and for a long time. I think I continuously cried for a solid 30-35% of this book. It just broke my heart over and over again. This book deals with very heavy themes, like TRIGGER WARNINGS
I don't want to say much more than this, just that after this and Blood Over Bright Haven, ML Wang is now an autobuy author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Child death, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape and Grief
Minor: Child abuse
stephkitten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
I loved this book. The story moved me to tears more than once. The ending really hit me in all the feels with how it dealt with acceptance and moving forward. I am astonished at the emotional depth in the themes in this book, particularly for an author that I believe is fairly young. The themes of loss and motherhood and aging/maturing are dealt with so well....there is a level of maturity here I would not expect from a young author. Not to mention the world is very well developed, the characters are well fleshed out, and the action, magic, and sword play are all gripping. An emotional page turner. I will read more from this author, and would read more in this world if she changed her mind about discontinuing it and decided to write in it more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexism, Miscarriage, War, Child death, Violence, and Rape
bibliofritz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, War, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
ichinoot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Beautifully written story about the tragedies and reality of war, in a world so different from our own, but still so grounded and human. An incredibly emotional story mixed with an amazing power system and very well written action, you will most definitely not want to put this book down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Murder, Gore, Suicide, Death, War, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Genocide, Sexual assault, Self harm, Medical trauma, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Infertility
susanatherly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, War, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Vomit, and Child death
zeldazonks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
An incredible book, I cried 3 times reading this. I have to admit that it ever so slightly lost me towards the end, I also would be so up for this to be a series so I'm gutted that I won't get more. The writing was beautiful, the journey we go on with the characters is so good (especially Mamoru) and the lore/world building was just amazing. I spent 75% of this book convinced it would be a 5* read but I do have a few gripes:
1) for some reason the very specific way that Misaki's extra curricular activities (trying to avoid spoilers) are written felt really incongruous with everything else and were kind of cringe to me. The superhero vibes were just jarring.
2) I on the whole didn't mind the redemption arc of the husband, I spent a lot of the book waiting for it to happen because otherwise he would have been so cartoonishly villainous, but I think Misaki was very quick to forgive a specific incident involving Mamoru.
3) I don't know if it's because it was meant to be a series and then plans changed, but there's so much set up for plot lines for future books and so the end kind of lagged for me compared to how incredible the first 2/3 of the book were.
Having said that, the first 2/3 were so good, that I still loved it.
1) for some reason the very specific way that Misaki's extra curricular activities (trying to avoid spoilers) are written felt really incongruous with everything else and were kind of cringe to me. The superhero vibes were just jarring.
2) I on the whole didn't mind the redemption arc of the husband, I spent a lot of the book waiting for it to happen because otherwise he would have been so cartoonishly villainous, but I think Misaki was very quick to forgive a specific incident involving Mamoru.
3) I don't know if it's because it was meant to be a series and then plans changed, but there's so much set up for plot lines for future books and so the end kind of lagged for me compared to how incredible the first 2/3 of the book were.
Having said that, the first 2/3 were so good, that I still loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gore, Death, Torture, Grief, Violence, Rape, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia
lejones1785's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.25
I am conflicted about this book. We all want books that make you feel things. Well this one really hit the spot. I have been so angry at these characters, but I have also shed tears. It was a beautifully written book, but I just can't love it. After years of abuse and being held back from being an amazing warrior, a duel makes everything ok? The love that never was just appeared? And now it's back to house wife and opening a restaurant? There was so much potential in the story that I'm a bit disappointed in the end. Maybe it's setting up for future stories? It's a good book, just not on my top list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Classism, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse