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rberdan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I know enough about Arthurian legend to understand what’s going on, but I wouldn’t say I’m typically drawn to these stories, which is a testament to the author’s skill at storytelling. Sure, there were some predictable bits… it’s a YA novel and I expect this… but there were also some things I didn’t see coming and some different story elements in terms of both magic and the interweaving of power, elitism, and racism that were deftly woven. By the end of the noon I was already fully invested, and then when I read the author’s notes I retroactively had an even deeper appreciation for the work.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Murder, Bullying, and Slavery
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
ghostlyprince's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol, Stalking, Body shaming, Classism, and Confinement
lqne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, War, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Hate crime, Medical content, Sexual violence, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Minor: Bullying
lillygabriella's review
- 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
4.75
This was a very interesting spin on Arthurian legends, and a scathing critique of the power wielded by secret society members. It is also and at it's core, a story of grief and coming to terms with that grief.
I don't like to drop spoilers in my reviews, so I will just close by saying that this is a really great book and I highly recommend it. The quarter star off from 5 is for dropping all that Welsh through the book and then not having a pronunciation guide at the end.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
patienceholmes's review
- 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
I personally found it a little too cliche with the romance aspects but I think so many people would love it for that and that’s personal taste.
Aside from that it was really great. I loved the focus on grief, I loved the magic system and learning how it all worked, I loved the way the characters were expanded on and delving deeper into their backstories.
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, Abandonment, War, Slavery, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Car accident, and Bullying
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Pregnancy, Child abuse, and Racial slurs
oddlyghoul'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Bullying, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Murder, Genocide, Racial slurs, Sexism, Blood, Gore, Alcohol, Car accident, Police brutality, and Antisemitism
clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Classism, Pregnancy, War, Murder, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Car accident, and Stalking
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
I did like the incorporation of King Arthur and the magical aspects of it. I also enjoyed Bree finding out more about her own magic.
I of course love the narrator of the audiobook, and I've listened to her read quite a few now.
I'm iffy if I want to continue with the second book or not. Like I like the concept enough to want to continue it, but I don't know if I like it enough to check out the second one from my library right away.
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Child death, Bullying, Racism, Grief, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Slavery, Medical content, and Colonisation
saltylane'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
Highly recommend & I’m going to read the next book asap.
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Violence, Racism, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Bullying, Slavery, Car accident, Classism, and Gore
Minor: Rape, Vomit, and Transphobia
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Being one of the few Black girls on campus, Bree finds being in an elite society of blood and oath bonded mages pretty irksome. She is continually reminded that she doesn't belong, whether being mistaken as wait-staff, assumed to have been allowed entry as "affirmative action", or just wandering in the school gardens and finding a monument to the nameless slaves who built the campus.
Her boyfriend's paranoid bodyguard is sure that she's actually secretly a demon who is trying to manipulate or kill him... and just when she feels like she might be getting a grip on what is going on, she meets with a woman who used to know her mother, who tells her that this order of Blood Mages she has met with, are colonial scum who have stolen their magic, who never consider balance, and who are causing most of the imbalance that is drawing evil manifestations into the world.
And how do you learn all this stuff and still keep it secret from your childhood best friend.. with whom you are supposed to be living the college dream? To get anywhere Bree is going to have to start being honest with herself, get in touch with her own power, and be vulnerable enough to ask for help from unlikely places.
We've got a bit of diversity despite things being very White-centric. One of the main characters has relationships with guys and girls, another is non-binary gender (they/them), and Bree's best friend Alice is Taiwanese American. I've listened to a few books that have been read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and she does a solid job, but in this particular book where most of the characters are White, it makes my brain work doubly hard. I have to keep reminding myself that the young men she is hanging out with are not Black. It's very easy for my brain to be lulled into the idea that Selwyn is a Black lad, because that's how his voice sounds in the narration. Maybe I just need to concentrate harder.
Quite a lengthy book, but it really does close off with a "first book feel" that leaves you wondering about enough to bring you back for another round... maybe later though.
Graphic: Mental illness, Slavery, Bullying, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexism, War, Child abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Gore, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Cancer