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joshoonet's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
- I had a bit if a hard time getting into this book, mostly because the feeling of having to read another ~1200 pages to finish the series was kind of daunting
- But then I ended up finishing the majority of the book in one day, so it was absolutely captivating!
- Almost as good as the first one, but of course higher stakes and more complicated politics
- Lost focus a bit during the big fighting bits
- Love how nothing is ever quite how it seems, everyone is scheming all the time
- Starting the third book immediately!
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gun violence, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, Torture, and Excrement
War and pretty much all the violent and gory stuff:blueberry0531's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
bibliorama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ah the part where shit hits the fan. My favorite!
Also I'd like to preface this by saying the terror that these Golds cause, while entertaining to me in book form, does not mean I want real life politics to emulate it in the slightest (even though I think sometimes it does to our detriment).
Start - 4.5
Once the book gets going, it doesn't stop. It's full steam ahead.
Characters - 5
Faves are still my faves (Sevro and Virginia looking straight at you). Though some new dynamics were introduced that by the end caused some major heartbreak and backstabbyness.
These are some of the most chaotic characters I have ever read, like every intrusive thought wins out. The theatrics of this book are also top tier and its politics are such a show. This book has one of my all-time favorite scenes being where Darrow challenges Cassius to a duel in the most dramatic fashion. It serves a political purpose while also being satisfying to see a character not half ass anything, he just takes it there.
Best quote: “My honour has been pissed upon. And I demand satisfaction.”
Atmosphere - 5
We get a lot more of the world in this book and more of the Sci Fi elements which were fun.
Plot - 4
Again, is it plot or is it vibes? It's very much just characters doing the absolute most and then having to deal with the consequences of their own actions. This creates a fascinating journey to watch go down, and man that ending was . . . the worst in the best way.
Ending - 5
Everything culminates to that ending and I'm not entirely sure how Darrow gets himself out of this one. There are betrayals where some I could see coming, but they still hurt. The characters are the stars of the show being complex, messy, and endearing.
Style - 3
Writing is good, it has to be for me to connect as much as I did to the characters.
Overall - 4.5
After finishing this review, I want to go pick up the third one now. I've waited long enough.
Graphic: Gore, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Classism
chris_reads'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Murder, and War
Minor: Vomit, Blood, and Trafficking
cami_stokes3859's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, and War
Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
berglindsh'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
4.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Death, Gore, Blood, Classism, Slavery, and Torture
st_ender's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I did have fun tho, it was tense and it made me gasp and go wait whaaat out loud so I guess the aim was achieved. It was also very different than the first one in about everything but also less ender-y (don't worry the space school takes like a chapter) so I'm excited for the next one
Graphic: Pregnancy, Murder, War, Classism, Death of parent, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Trafficking
grets_reads'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Police brutality, Classism, Genocide, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Grief
Minor: Torture, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, and Alcohol
laguerrelewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Slavery, and War
powkaye's review against another edition
Also I was told that the writing and overall story would improve from book one but over 100 pages in and wasn’t getting better it was getting worse.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
I know now that this is grim dark series. I’ve read them before but this was the absolute worst I’ve ever read and it’s directed at young adults. Reviewers don’t mention the barbarism when they review the book and thus aren’t being honest with their audience. I wish I’d known. Waste of time and money although I sent mine back for a refund.