Scan barcode
archcon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
As someone interested in WWI, I enjoyed the clear parallels and the interesting new aspects added to the familiar parts.
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Confinement, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and War
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug use
20sidedbi'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, and War
romiress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Murder
Minor: Suicide
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Slavery
llyrian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Murder
therainbowshelf'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Classism
blackrabbitrun'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and War
story_goblin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, and War
The main character is a war veteran who works at a veteran's hospital working with patients exhibiting symptoms similar to what we would call PTSD. He can "see" an "infection" inside them with magic powers he has to hide because all "witches" are sent to insane asylums. He ran away from home because all mages born into rich families that have powers other than controlling storms are forcibly bonded to a "storm-singer" and used as back-up batteries/treated as inferior. In addition to the general medical content of him working in a hospital, there are several moments when it's discussed in the news that a veteran killed innocent people around him. The main character sees this first hand once. They also towards the end visit one of the insane asylums.allisonwonderlandreads'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
4.0
The story draws on many relevant social issues. Classism is a major component here, since lower class witches are shipped off to asylums, whereas the ruling class of mages keeps their power secret, even as they use it to advance their own importance. Imperialism, war, and its traumas are also a large presence here. Miles works as a psychiatrist at a veterans' hospital. Once a prisoner of war himself, Miles' empathy and patients-first attitude make him well-loved by the men he serves. He can't use his magic healing abilities to help for fear of being accused of witchcraft, so he trudges along, filing paperwork, arguing with his boss, and doing his best with limited resources. I really resonated with the way his empathy was trampled on by bureaucracy, politics, and lack of funds.
There was so much to love here. I would say the world-building skews towards social rather than magical detail. I loved the descriptions of bike traffic (including an adrenaline-filled chase scene!), fashion, and technology. There's also a very sweet mlm romance that had a light touch on the story but was still fully realized rather than an afterthought. In addition, a complicated brother/sister relationship left me with a mix of emotions. The layers of mystery and power-grabbing machinations in the story were captivating. I am eager to dive into the rest of the trilogy.
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Torture
foreverinastory'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
3.5
Miles Singer has run from his past. His magical ability to heal is treated as nothing more than a trick by witching society, so determined to do some good Miles enlisted and went off to war. After serving, Miles goes into psychiatry and is determined to help other soldiers who are also suffering from PTSD. But the illness seems like more than just PTSD. When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder.
This Edwardian world of magic was really interesting. For the first half we don't really see how witching society works as Miles is incognito and hiding from all witches. But when his family comes back into the picture, we see what Miles has run from and see his worst fears come true. The one thing I really liked about the world was that gender wasn't a factor in magical society. It was all based on primary mages and secondary ones. Primary mages can control the weather and are called storm-singers. All other witches with magic are considered secondary and used as batteries to power the primary mages with a bond that basically takes the secondary's will.
The plot kept me guessing the entire time and the last 30% was basically my brain imploding by what had happened to Miles patients and other witches. I did also enjoy the relationship that developed between Miles and Tristan, but the pacing of it felt a bit weird--a little too insta-lovey for me. I'm definitely curious to see what will happen next.
Rep: Achillean male MC with PTSD, achillean male love interest. Many side characters/patients with PTSD.
CWs: Violence, alcohol consumption, blood, confinement of patients, death, death of parent--flashback, drug use, gaslighting, grief, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness (PTSD), murder--flashback, physical abuse, forced enslavement of MC and many side characters, implied sexual content, suicidal thoughts, talk of committing suicide, suicide attempts and side characters who commit suicide.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content