Scan barcode
rtaire'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Antisemitism, Homophobia, Racism, and Ableism
carolined314's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence
judesbxtch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, and Xenophobia
Minor: Ableism and Slavery
bdingz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Overall, I liked this book but didn’t love it. I started by listening to the audiobook, but I switched to a physical copy (The narrators of the audiobook gave every character a fake French accent. This was grating and at times impeded by understanding of the dialogue and therefore, the story). The ending dragged a tad bit. That said, I love the world Chokshi built and I may read further.
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Racism and Antisemitism
erins_bookshelf_'s review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I need the next one like now
That thing with the birds was a bit creepy but I’m assuming Tristan had some kind of mind issue because of that stupid Phobus Helmet so I can’t blame him :(
The action and story of this were incredible I’m really glad I finally picked this up
I got it from my library so I need to buy it but I will be getting the next two from the library I need to know what happens next
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism and Antisemitism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Homophobia
lisa_m'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? Yes
4.75
This book however reminded me so much of some of my favourite books:
- a found family that reminded me a lot of Six of Crows (especially Kaz & Séverin!)
- a magical Order reminding me a lot of the Shadowhunters
- tattooed vows that reminded me of ACOTAR
- great unique gifts that reminded me of Raybearer
and somehow while reminding me of so many other books and series this book managed to stay unique.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel. The only reason I'm not quite giving it 5 stars is the ending & Séverins behaviour in the end.. Careful: BIG SPOILERS AHEAD! I get that he is hurt and grieving but what he said to Laila is in my opinion pretty unforgivable.. He knew how insecure she was about that and still he said it and didn't even apologise.. so so shitty!! The are both hurt but she did they right thing and overcame her fears while he was just an asshole.
I generally really liked Séverin throughout the book but this just didn't stick right with me..
Also what happened to Tristan was so unexpected and super sad. I usually get emotional very easily while reading but I didn't cry this time. I was sad but not THAT sad. That is also one of the reasons I decided to not give the book 5 stars. It didn't manage to ruin me..
I guess I did like the characters but I wasn't really attached to any of them. I do like though that the other is not afraid of killing of her main characters.
Also I really liked Laila and I think her POV was also always the most interesting to me. I really hope she will stay kind even after what happened because in one of the last chapters we get to see the new her and I have to say I don't like it. She carries her hurt around like a blade and that is so unlike her.
What I probably enjoyed most about this book was the scenery. Paris 1889 but with magic and secret societies.
I still have a lot of questions about the magic system and general world building but I hope that will all be clearer to me when I read the sequels.
I also really enjoyed the Authors Note at the end. What the author said about the Exposition Universelle and "La Belle Epoque" was really interesting. I like that she said you cannot just take the good and ignore the bad and I think you can definitely see that in the book as well. It has the glamour but also the seriousness which you already know I love in my books :)
Graphic: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Torture
gisblanketfort'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Antisemitism, Racism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, and Murder
blueberry0531'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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Death
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia
nadas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
It started of really interesting. I liked (most of) the character interactions , the world and its magic system and how it connects so many mythologies from around the world (even when it got really confusing to follow because of just how much information and details are introduced all at the same time that made it impossible to even remember what was going on 🙂). I loved the atmosphere there were times where it was so immersive I could feel myself in the characters place.
The heist that spanned most of the book was also so much fun and I loved it so much I thought this was going to be a new favourite.
The last 20% it completely lost me. I did not enjoy it one bit. Everything happened so fast and was somehow not interesting at all. I did not like how this ended and everything leading to this end felt rushed and not enjoyable to the least.
Also, even though I enjoyed the character interactions through out the book, I still found myself not caring very much for them??
I will still be reading the next book in the series just to know what actually happens after the reveal at the end and because I'm very confused right now after that and I don't like that.
Graphic: Death and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Racism
onamoonbeam'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? Yes
3.75
this is the first all words book i have read on paper in. years?? so like. what a time. i also have a bad habit to skip over words and read too fast so i may have missed a few details. but
i did not really understand what was going on with the puzzles but i love zofia's and enrique's dynamic and also both of them individually. i guess my main gripe here is that
me when the. sequence is fibonaccing!!!!
the italicized bits of severin's previous fathers at the beginnings of chapters were very good
and what a cliffhanger! i feel like we've only seen a bit of this world so far and i want to see more holy shit
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Colonisation