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mari1532's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am a bit confused by two things throughout the story. First, Ione's whole subplot confused me. How did Ione and Elspeth grow up so close and then diverge so quickly on their paths? Elspeth was a well-constructed character and throughout her motivations were clear, but I have no idea why Ione was making the choices that she was. The game that all the characters play toward the climax of the book did make things slightly clearer, but overall she did not feel fully fleshed out. I hope that she gets a bigger subplot in the next book.
The second thing that was confusing for me throughout the book and it is possible that I just did not understand this in the text is how many cards there are in total. There are rarer cards that are much harder to find, but some of the cards are quite ubiquitous. The cards seemed to be important for displays of power, but I'm not sure if two different decks are being constructed by the two factions or if one group is ahead in the number of cards that they have.
I really enjoyed the romance subplot of the book. The dynamics between the characters were fun to watch develop throughout the book.
The ending of this book was absolutely shocking and gripping! I have no idea how Gillig is going to resolve all the loose ends in the next book, but I cannot wait to find out.
Highly recommend. It starts a bit slow but the plot is worth the wait.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
draconicmama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am so mad that I've let this sit on my TBR pile for so long. Impeccable writing, fascinating world building, and very intriguing characters lead us beautifully along a well done plot. While the plot itself is somewhat predictable, I very much enjoyed witnessing how the characters came to the conclusions I saw for them and I cannot wait to see how this all comes together in book 2! I expect there will be more surprises there then there were in book 1.
Also, I am obsessed with the poetic speech of Nightmare. Absolutely loved that aspect of his character. Definitely upped the creepy factor.
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
margaret_k30's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Infidelity, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
schlavina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
In the beginning I was a bit confused with the Providence Cards etc. but that resolved over the course if the book. Overall a really great book that does not have too much fantasy but some parts of it. Would recommend!
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
icouldbemason'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
5.0
Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
chris_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol
plainromance's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
chronic_listener's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying and Police brutality
shadow_cat94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The story was riveting, the characters are engaging, and the world building is constant. Rachel Gillig has a wonderful way with words that just made me want to cling to every sentence as I turned through the pages.
Character development isn't really a thing that happens in this book it's more about character revelations as we get to see the people behind their masks - their real motivations rather than the MC's preconceptions. However, this approach makes it feel like it's the Nightmare's story and Elspeth is the POV character as she is the only constant character that does not change while we follow her around. It's interesting and different.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
the_castle_library's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent