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diredreamings'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
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Trafficking
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, War, Death, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cannibalism
faith_1849'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: War, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: Torture and Slavery
roksyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In the dangerous Warrens, Azoth has few choices to survive. To escape lifelong destitution in the slums, he apprentices himself to Durzo Blint and commits to a life of cultivating death.
Apart from the primary antagonist, of course, this is one of the few stories for which I can say - genuinely - that I am invested in all of the characters. Whilst the odd one did irritate me (as intended), none of the characters felt superfluous, and each one is carefully wrought and developed. I could picture each and everyone clearly in my mind, from looks to mannerisms, and felt I could relate in some way to an aspect of each.
This book is dark, violent, and intense in ways which challenge a reader's moralities at every turn, yet beneath the layers of grey there is a spark - brilliant, though faint - of the kind from which one cannot turn away. The final chapters of this first book in the trilogy see that spark flare to life, and I feel I am a moth drawn to that flame. All the quibbles I might have about dialogue (which at times could have used a little more attention) were quickly overwhelmed by the intricacies of the narrative and the expertly handled world-building.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Child death, Blood, Torture, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
jessealejandro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence
beingsimba's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity, War, and Stalking
razielnd'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Cursing, War, Drug use, Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Pregnancy, Murder, Misogyny, Excrement, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Death, Confinement, Child death, Cannibalism, Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Violence, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Terminal illness, Stalking, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Grief, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
mayhem9683'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
3.75
Graphic: Cannibalism, Alcoholism, Child death, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Confinement
fox2800'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
5.0
Morally gray characters. Dark concepts.
But it was amazingly written. The pacing could not have been better. The characters had depth and weren’t overly predictable. There are so many layers to the plot that unfold, and it is told through multiple povs that allow you to slowly piece together the big picture.
The structure and writing style remind me of the throne of glass series. Overall, very well written.
Graphic: War, Rape, Murder, Child death, Bullying, Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Child death, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Cursing, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Death, Violence, War, Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
theguildwriter'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
4.25
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
vanesst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, War, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Classism, Confinement, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity