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grey_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
pages_and_procrastination's review against another edition
This was an e-arc that I received from Netgalley.
I was very optimistic when I first started this galley. Mostly because I had been wanting to read something by this author for a long time, and it immediately started with something I could become invested in. it was a bit confusing as to who the characters were and how they would all connect with each other. The writing was my taste - it was a bit to superfluous and flowery. But I was interested in what was going to happen to the missing kid, the talent of the twins and how the story was going to come together.
Then I woke up and realized that I had been reading this book for 4 days and had only made it 25% into the story. So I put a limit on how much time I was going to invest in this story. I spent an entire day focused mostly on reading as much as I could and found that as much as what was happening in the story, the pages weren't moving as quickly. Then there was a semi graphic rape scene of a kid so I started skipping over things. And then I quietly gave up. It wasn't just the sexual; and physical abuse of the children. it's that the girl grew up and fell in love with her abuser, even though she had the power to stop him. It was that even though his methods may have been wrong (human trafficking children) the reason behind making child soldiers was right. Maybe there are a lot of things that I missed. by jumping over scenes, but I couldn't get with those two things.
I was very optimistic when I first started this galley. Mostly because I had been wanting to read something by this author for a long time, and it immediately started with something I could become invested in. it was a bit confusing as to who the characters were and how they would all connect with each other. The writing was my taste - it was a bit to superfluous and flowery. But I was interested in what was going to happen to the missing kid, the talent of the twins and how the story was going to come together.
Then I woke up and realized that I had been reading this book for 4 days and had only made it 25% into the story. So I put a limit on how much time I was going to invest in this story. I spent an entire day focused mostly on reading as much as I could and found that as much as what was happening in the story, the pages weren't moving as quickly. Then there was a semi graphic rape scene of a kid so I started skipping over things. And then I quietly gave up. It wasn't just the sexual; and physical abuse of the children. it's that the girl grew up and fell in love with her abuser, even though she had the power to stop him. It was that even though his methods may have been wrong (human trafficking children) the reason behind making child soldiers was right. Maybe there are a lot of things that I missed. by jumping over scenes, but I couldn't get with those two things.
kaitlyns_literary_teahouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
So this book was rather difficult for me to get into and enjoy. And I will lay that primarily at the feet of the non-linear timeline. You jump back and forth between multiple periods in Cora/Stefonie's life and I personally always find that difficult to follow and create a connection with the characters. Cora/Stefonie definitely is not a likeable character, I couldn't even get behind her as she experienced horrible things. I definitely don't think she deserves them but it didn't make me root for her either. The twins however, are amazing and I loved them. I definitely wish that they played an even bigger part than they did.
Overall this book has it's ups and downs but I would definitely try something else by this author and I think for the right people this is an amazing book.
Overall this book has it's ups and downs but I would definitely try something else by this author and I think for the right people this is an amazing book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
booksthatburn's review against another edition
I wasn’t connecting with the story and then it started getting very graphic and I decided to stop reading. The twins were cool at first but their characters felt kind of gimmicky and mysterious in a way I don’t like.
The world building was confusing and there were too many settings that seemed to have very different rules but the scenes jumped between them too quickly for me to get a handle on any one setting and I felt lost.
The world building was confusing and there were too many settings that seemed to have very different rules but the scenes jumped between them too quickly for me to get a handle on any one setting and I felt lost.
meaghanreadshfx's review against another edition
5.0
Destroyer of Light is a really amazing retelling for lovers of sci-fi. I love how all of the stories interweave. While sci-fi is not a genre that I like to read super often, this sci-fi retelling is definitely a keeper.
laurareads87's review against another edition
I'm not going to give this one a rating as I've stopped reading around the 50% point. There is a lot that I love about this book thusfar -- the worldbuilding is intricate and compelling, the multiple points of view are distinct and each interesting in their own way, the plot is moving at a good pace and keeping me interested, and the writing is stunning. I would absolutely read more of Jennifer Marie Brissett's work based on what I've read of this book. The reason that I am not finishing the book I'm going to put behind spoiler tags -- it contains no plot spoilers but it relates to the content warning on the book + I recognize not everyone will want to read it. The repeated scenes of sexual violence are just not something I can read right now -- I will note that I read adult fiction exclusively and absolutely read content warning provided so did expect some content related to this; however, I was not prepared for how graphic it would be, and in particular for repeated graphic scenes of sexual assault committed against children. For the sake of my own well-being, I have to put this one down for now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence