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picaresquedreamer'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Child abuse, Bullying, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
Minor: Classism and Racism
ladypalutena's review
- 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
4.25
It was a struggle through the first 20% or so of this book, but after that, I was able to wrap my head around the world and I settled down to read. I guess I've been on a "crotchety female lead" kick here lately, because this is the third series I've started this year with a main character that starts off unlikable (the other two being El from The Scholomance and Celaena from Throne of Glass). I was really frustrated with Jude in the beginning of the book - she had seen this fairy general murder her parents in front of her and take her away, and yet she's somehow never left? Even when Vivi, her older sister, attempted to take them back to the mortal realm, she begged to go back. And it makes sense - she was only seven when it happened, and kids of that age don't have too much object permanence.
Which is why I was surprised to find that Jude is really only here for revenge. There's a deep anger underlying everything she does, a way to get back at those who hurt her, a way to rise above being "just another mortal" and wanting to prove herself to the fae, and become a knight in one of their households. I can work with this, I thought.
And then halfway through the book, everything goes completely sideways.
The writing itself is a little simple, and it's easy to follow, and this is solidly in the YA category, so you do have some teenage shenanigans, but the last 30% of the book had me on the absolute edge of my seat. I don't know what I would have done if I wasn't reading this years later, and had to wait for the next book to be written. As it stands, I have to wait for the next one to be available on Libby, but that's a small price to pay instead of waiting years.
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Self harm
annick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
books I rate over four stars mean I’d recommend to others and I’d be likely to reread in future (from being willing to likely and on to definitely and occasionally: imminently)
Once I got around 70pages in, I really got into it and ended up reading on until 3:30am. And excited to start book two the next day
It has flaws. I dislike the US-default of this writer’s fairy-based fantasy writing. Some twists were not a surprise (and most of these weren’t disappointing when revealed)
The psychological tensions between the twins feels undercooked. maybe it’s a slow burn into the series.
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Stalking, Physical abuse, Blood, and Violence
dagmar_gorter8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Self harm, Slavery, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief
shadereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Death of parent, Violence, Slavery, Self harm, Death, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia and Infidelity
Minor: Drug use
lydia203's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Self harm, and Bullying
nonidude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Bullying
Minor: War, Death of parent, Torture, Slavery, and Pregnancy
embermusic'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
1.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Self harm
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Vomit, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Self harm, Racism, Murder, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Death
ericius's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship