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dontwanthvn's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
zozo_reads'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
janeywaneyb'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
5.0
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
stories'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
This is a book that will give again on the reread, for sure.
A first in series that confidently stands alone while also leaves you scrambling for the sequel.
Superb use of textual format and some stunning lines, not to mention a real array of characters, including explicit canonical wlw and amputee.
Could barely put this book down, and even this scattershot review is after a solid 1( minutes of awestruck space staring upon finishing. 10/10 recommend.
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Vomit, Police brutality, and Abortion
Deathly trials of air, fire, water and earth undertaken by protagonist narrator.kinsportch'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Self harm
Minor: Addiction
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
lunalorenne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Gore, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
nicksalex'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
sunsetcity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
steffandbooks'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? No
5.0
Not gonna lie though, I had a hard time getting into this because I was so confused with the world, like, literally nothing was being explained until page 100 or so when you finally get a few glimpses at the magic system and how the different kingdoms are interconnected. But then later, I realized, this is intentional and let's be honest, isn't every high fantasy book confusing in the beginning?
I am so in love with Kiva. She is such a great character, very strong female lead and very selfless. The well-beings of others always come first and although she doesn't trust easily, I couldn't blame her because she was thrown into prison when she was only 7 and had to survive somehow. We get glimpses of her past and what happened to her family and how she went through some difficult time by herself, being addicted to certain things and stuff but overcame that period of her time in prison as well. Like I said - she is such a strong character.
We also had so many plots intertwining into each other in this book, I loved it! You know when you sometimes read a book and there is one main plot? This was not the case here. While we think it focused mainly on the Trial by Ordeal, the normal prison life goes on as well and there are many challenges Kiva has to face and we focus on that in the book as well for some time, while going back to the Trial when it became time for the next Ordeal.
Side characters like Jaren, Naari, Tipp and Mot had me reeling. Jaren was so mysterious in the beginning that I didn't know what to think of him. I had a slight feeling what he was hiding, but in the end, didn't see it coming nonetheless. Naari has my full heart. She poses as a guard in the prison and while Kiva came to fear all guards, she slowly realized that Naari is different and she turns into a friend. I loved seeing how both, Jaren and Naari, just slowly made their way into Kiva's heart and she wasn't able to do anything about it. And Tipp! Oh boy, that sweet, sweet boy. I was sobbing for him and when I saw a fanart of the character? Man, now I wish I had my own younger brother.
The ending was just mind-blowing. I loved how Lynette just casually mentions the biggest plot twist in two solid sentences and then goes back to the "main story". Obviously, I have to pick up the next book immediately as I need to know what happens with all the characters and I can only hope that Kiva will stay true to herself based on what was revealed on the last page....
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Genocide, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Murder
Minor: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent