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Moderate: Violence, Blood
Minor: Child death
The magic system is so unique and Gillig did a great job with her world building. The characters use “trees” as a curse word, which was such a fun touch for a fantasy world with a cursed forest.
I like a vulnerable heroine, one whose strength evolves over the series, but I was really unimpressed by Elspeth.
Gillig’s debut definitely had promise—the world was interesting and grounded, the magic system was interesting, and the plot was great. But her characters (her many, many main characters) were so flat that it ultimately fell short in my eyes.
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Blood
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Self harm, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Torture, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcohol
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Child death
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Infidelity, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury
Elspeth Spindle lives with a monster inside of her head…but when she’s pulled into a mysterious and possibly treasonous plot, the monster might be exactly what she needs.
I LOVED THIS. The magic system is a bit complicated so it was a slightly slow beginning as I got my sea legs in the world, and then I absolutely fell in love—the plot, the characters, the world, all of it. I am so so excited to read Two Twisted Crowns (and alas I have finished it before I even post this review, oh well).
The ending of this book gave me actual chills, and I screamed and gasped and squealed so many times at so many different parts. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.
HUGE thanks also to my buddy read crew and to my friend Alx for gifting me this one and for being the champion this book deserves.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Gothic fantasy; Tarot cards; found family vibes
CW: Blood/injury/violence; child death and abuse and mentions of death of parent
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent