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rinku'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
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Police brutality, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
nutmegandselkie'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
3.5
Graphic: Violence and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty
chainsawmochi'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As for the plot, it was solid; I was entertained and enjoyed myself while reading. I enjoyed the slow and steady pace. There was some action in areas to break up the easy feeling--to keep one on one's toes, I suppose you might say. The growing danger of the villain was a nice touch. The moments of reading a book within a book were nice as well, giving the reader a good look into the literature of Viv's world. I really enjoyed that bit as it is something you don't normally see in a fantasy novel.
That's really what makes this series, as a whole, wonderful--author Travis Baldree is able to weave and create a world around the characters without being too abrasive about it. The world building is gentle, easy. It feels so natural to learn about the universe held within the series by just taking in small things like town names, the literature, the food, the drinks, and the small shops that Viv visits and eventually owns.
Second come the characters. As I mentioned, in this book, Viv is a little lackluster compared to the older version of herself that comes later. The Viv we have in "Bookshops & Bonedust" is still fresh to the world, so it's understandable that she comes across as a blank slate. She doesn't really know who she is yet, either. Joining her this go around is a cast of characters that are memorable. That being said, I don't feel like they stick in the same way the characters in "Legends & Lattes" do. They are still interesting, but they just don't scratch the itch the same way.
If you are going to read this book, please do yourself a favor and read it before you take a gander at "Legends & Lattes." For those readers that have already read the aforementioned book, maybe skip this one unless you really, really love Viv.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Death, Animal cruelty, Gore, and Blood
themichellegray'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
3.0
While I really enjoyed the lore behind Viv's greatsword and friendship with Gallina, this story was lacking some of the warmth that L&L provided. The newly introduced characters were lovable enough but didn't charm me in the same way that Cal and Thimble did. The pacing was VERY slow and often felt as-if nothing was happening; the goals were secondary and the dangers weren't fully explained.
Despite my critiques, this was still an average read that felt safe to return to each day and I really appreciated the epilogue!
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal cruelty and Alcohol
fatherprozac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty
paigehf'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood and Cursing
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty
riverofhorton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Kidnapping, Ableism, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Abandonment, Alcohol, Confinement, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
torikate7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol and Animal cruelty
callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Torture, Animal cruelty, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death, and Murder
dragonaion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As a reader, this book also showed a new perspective on love, both platonic and romantic, that is unique, heartfelt, and honest. Some relationships are like two ships that pass in the night and that doesn't make them any less meaningful or beautiful.
"Sometimes we aren't the right people yet."
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Racism, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Death
Racism is due to one character often self-deprecating herself with physical attributes due to her race (height). No slurs or separation of behavior are expressed or weaponized. Cursing is frequent, especially due to one adorable character, although character-building, and the F-word is the worst.