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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
sitare's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Child death, Mental illness, and Blood
Moderate: Rape
romine2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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 havent read a good fantasy book that has kept me hooked from start to finish in a long while. I went into this book thinking, "surely everyone's 5 star reviews are just overreacting". Though now, after staying up until 3am every night reading this book, I realise that this book deserves these great ratings. The characters themselves i both love and hate, and their flaws and the means in which they face these flaws are realistic. The world building and language was confusing at first- I hadn't actually consulted the glossary until halfway through oops.. However, I did appreciate the time and thought process put into this book. I just wish that this series would be continued, because I would eat it up and leave no crumbs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Death, Child death, Misogyny, Violence, War, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape
j_schley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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: Sexism, Mental illness, Child death, Violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Gore, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
kschauer18's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Gore, Death, War, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Rape, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Miscarriage
lornaelspeth91's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide and Child death
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Child abuse
pistachiolatte's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
La premisa de este libro no puede ser mas tentadora: poderes elementales al estilo Avatar the Last Airbender, combinado con Ciudad de Jade, con una escenografía que recuerda a las películas de samurais de Zhang Yimou.
Combina esos elementos de manera muy solvente, en un mundo con sus propias religiones, política, continentes... todo muy bien construido. La narración es en tercera persona desde el punto de vista de diferentes personajes, mi favorita. Es un libro character-driven (no suceden muchas cosas, hay acción pero no es su foco, se centra en los personajes ). Para mi, sus mayores defectos son su ritmo irregular (arranca muy fuerte y en la segunda mitad se estanca) y los cabos sueltos/información a medias que deja.
En resumen, si la premisa te atrae, dale una oportunidad. Está muy bien escrito y se agradece una novela única de fantasía en lugar de una serie de +3 volúmenes.
Dicho esto voy a entrar a detallar más, para los que ya lo hemos leído.
Por poner un ejemplo, todo el tema del secuestrador de niños para formar un ejercito se queda en el aire. Robin y Misaki hablan al final sobre una conversación que ella debería tener con Hiroshi (nunca llega). Empezamos el libro con Kwang Chul-Hee siendo MUY relevante y a mitad literalmente no se le vuelve a mencionar.
También pensaba que rechazaban la ayuda del emperador como primer paso de una venganza/revolucion por Takayubi, pero tampoco llega nunca. Quiero decir, es el punto principal del libro y no se hace nada al respecto. Está claro que en la guerra no todo son victorias épicas, pero se supone que sois los mejores luchadores del mundo y esenciales para el continente y casi os exterminan sin que os quejéis. :(
La extensión de los episodios también se me ha hecho algo pesada e irregular. Además, se usa mucho vocabulario exclusivo de este libro, lo cual interrumpe mucho la lectura para revisar el glosario, especialmente al inicio, cuando no estás familiarizado aún.
Pese a estas cosas, el libro me ha gustado mucho. Para empezar, el autor se ha arriesgado a la hora de desarrollar la historia. Por ejemplo, los de aire en esta historia son los malos, en lugar de los de fuego COMO SIEMPRE. Además, en una historia mas inmadura la relación de Robin y Misaki seguramente se hubiera llevado de manera muy distinta, con huidas a caballo al atardecer y cosas asi. Me ha encantado como se trata la reconstrucción de su relación con Takeru.
De hecho, ha sido muy refrescante leer a una protagonista de +30 años en lugar de a una niñata de 17. Me ha encantado toooodo el arco de Mamoru. Me ha encantado la magia de este mundo, las habilidades de cada personaje, la escenografía de montañas nevadas.
Siento que voy a recordar este libro con cariño, porque pese a sus defectos consigue que retengas esta historia, como si hubieras estado allí.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, War, Abortion, Suicide, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Slavery
hailiebear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Classism
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Rape
sanyaes_library's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
epic fantasy
Japanese inspired
epic fight scenes
war + politics
avatar the last airbender vibes
strong fmc in her 30's
dual pov: mother + her 14 y/o son
complex characters
family + friendship
i can't remember the last time i have been so invested in a new world. this has some of the best action scenes i have ever read. + misaki is one of my favorite fantasy fmc, she is everything!!!!
my favorite quotes:
❝You lost your right to my obedience when you stopped being a man!”
"Flayed and boneless, he faced the creature he had awakened, this woman of gods’ blood and fury."
"Wholeness, she had learned, was not the absence of pain but the ability to hold it.❞
things i didn't like:
×the beginning is very info dumpy
×the pacing was off at times.
Japanese inspired
epic fight scenes
war + politics
avatar the last airbender vibes
strong fmc in her 30's
dual pov: mother + her 14 y/o son
complex characters
family + friendship
i can't remember the last time i have been so invested in a new world. this has some of the best action scenes i have ever read. + misaki is one of my favorite fantasy fmc, she is everything!!!!
my favorite quotes:
❝You lost your right to my obedience when you stopped being a man!”
"Flayed and boneless, he faced the creature he had awakened, this woman of gods’ blood and fury."
"Wholeness, she had learned, was not the absence of pain but the ability to hold it.❞
things i didn't like:
×the beginning is very info dumpy
×the pacing was off at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Suicide, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Genocide, War, and Misogyny