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oliverreeds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, War, Child death, Kidnapping, Gore, Cursing, Sexual content, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
saukittome's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, and War
Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual content, War, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Cursing, and Gun violence
eve_reads'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? Yes
4.25
⁕ I usually don't enjoy dual point of views, but Legrand does it so well. The chapters are relatively short and almost every single one ends on a cliff hanger, so I was completely hooked from start to finish. I truly don't think there was one moment I was bored.
⁕ There is zero info dumping in this book, but it did take me almost 300 pages to get a firm grasp on the important historical and religious context of the world. I really hope the next 2 books in the series further grows upon this knowledge.
⁕ Legrand starts each chapter entry with a journal/text/letter excerpt that is dated with months from the Gregorian calendar. I really wish she had devised her own system for time/date keeping because this was a really small and easy detail that detracted from the world-building.
⁕ To whoever labeled this book as a YA on Goodreads and Storygraph: Why?!?! There are brutal beheadings of children, assault, body horror/experimentation, and at least one sex scene. I'm not complaining (especially since the author expertly used these moments to explore themes of morality, loyalty, and survival), but I think a lot of audiences looking for mature reads might accidentally pass this one over because of false advertising.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and War
thecourtofreading'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
4.75
"we live in a world where good kings die and those foolish enough to hope for something better are killed where they stand."
i quite literally could NOT put this book down, and i love when this happens, because this book was good. i'll admit, the prologue made me want to dnf it a little, but i was intrigued enough to keep going and honestly i'm so glad i did because this book delivered.
at first, i thought it was going to be some wacky time travel thing and i was thinking how the heck that was going to work, but it wasn't and i was pleasantly surprised with the turn this took and what happened. it's split into dual povs, and usually this annoys me because there's always one pov where it's like "oh great it's this person again", but honestly each storyline kept me gripped and i don't even think there was a dual chapter. the pacing was amazing.
i would definitely continue this series, however my tbr (and wallet) are YELLING at me to not buy anymore books, so i'll listen until i've read a few more and then i'll splurge out on the two sequels.
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse
angstifies'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and War
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am not overly attached to either of the main girls to be honest but their stories still managed to intrigue me. While the romances did provide me some sexy inspiring quotes I could care less about them. The only one I'd care to see more of is Rielle and Corien but that's mostly because Corien is interesting to me and I want to see how his story plays out.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Sexual content, Child abuse, Violence, Animal death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
maria109's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Torture, and Sexual content
mypatronusisajedi'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
Moderate: Violence, War, Torture, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Cursing, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual harassment
jeminnycricket's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, War, Trafficking, and Torture
jackie_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture