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andromeda_1998's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was one of my favorite books I’ve found in my fairyloot boxes. I liked reading this a lot. This is one of those books that grabs you and een you start this book, you just have to finish it. It was a very fun read.
Characters
Cas/Cassia was a really sweet but broken character. I really liked him for a male lead. Throughout the book you get more glimpses of the past and well this boy deserved a better life. Reading about his trauma and the way he tries to find his own happiness is sad and hopeful ad the same time.
Luna is also a fun character. I love the scene in which they meet! There friendship feels very natural and I love the way it is written.
Worldbuilding
Makiia Lucier kept the world basic, understandable and she explained just enough for it to work. The story is short and more worldbuilding would not have worked for this book. It’s very well done.
Story
The story has some darker elements, which I like. I like it when fantasy books include these darker elements and I feel like they belong in this story. I have questions about the choice to give Cas the power or curse to see ghost. We don’t really get information that explains why he can see them and I feel like it wasn’t really necessary for the story. I liked the element but I would have preferred more of an explanation.
Writing
The storytelling is amazingly done. The writings is beautiful but not over complicated. It’s a book that most people can read without problems. Which is good!
I would recommend this book to ya readers and especially the readers that are just starting to read in English. This story works for everyone but remember to always check the triggerwarnings first.
Characters
Cas/Cassia was a really sweet but broken character. I really liked him for a male lead. Throughout the book you get more glimpses of the past and well this boy deserved a better life. Reading about his trauma and the way he tries to find his own happiness is sad and hopeful ad the same time.
Luna is also a fun character. I love the scene in which they meet! There friendship feels very natural and I love the way it is written.
Worldbuilding
Makiia Lucier kept the world basic, understandable and she explained just enough for it to work. The story is short and more worldbuilding would not have worked for this book. It’s very well done.
Story
The story has some darker elements, which I like. I like it when fantasy books include these darker elements and I feel like they belong in this story. I have questions about the choice to give Cas the power or curse to see ghost. We don’t really get information that explains why he can see them and I feel like it wasn’t really necessary for the story. I liked the element but I would have preferred more of an explanation.
Writing
The storytelling is amazingly done. The writings is beautiful but not over complicated. It’s a book that most people can read without problems. Which is good!
I would recommend this book to ya readers and especially the readers that are just starting to read in English. This story works for everyone but remember to always check the triggerwarnings first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Infertility, and Grief
gingercat99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Abandonment
elmewhy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
~ 4 Stars ~ 29th January 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't often read from a male perspective in YA books but I thought it was really well written. Although I don't mind, I'm glad that romance isn't the main theme here as it would have taken away from the basis of the plot.
The grief and death we saw through our tortured souled MC was heartbreaking and the character development was great. The twist was enjoyable, and the endings for the characters were wonderful - I'm sad its a standalone as I would like to be with the characters more but it felt finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don't often read from a male perspective in YA books but I thought it was really well written. Although I don't mind, I'm glad that romance isn't the main theme here as it would have taken away from the basis of the plot.
The grief and death we saw through our tortured souled MC was heartbreaking and the character development was great. The twist was enjoyable, and the endings for the characters were wonderful - I'm sad its a standalone as I would like to be with the characters more but it felt finished.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Minor: Animal death
lennie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Vomit, Drug abuse, and Body horror
h_reads98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Slavery, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: War, Sexism, Mental illness, and Confinement
kestrel's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I loved this book so much! It's an overall well-crafted story with characters that feel real, and with a very cozy atmosphere despite the horrible things that happened in the past and the new danger in the present. While I can think of possible additions that could have made the book perfect (like perhaps a few pages more with the main antagonist), I feel so emotionally connected with this story that I don't care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Infertility, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Vomit, and War
kbairbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was fantastical enough where it brought the sense of escapism, but realistic enough to feel the hit. I will say I feel like the author left a loose end with the whole sewing ghosts aspect, but I did appreciate how Cas went back and buried Jehan’s body and her guards bodies. With so much experience in hurt and pain and death Cas was still such a kind soul. This book had a simple feel to it like a story told around a fireplace but also it felt like Graceling to me. The main character/narrator had a simpler feel to them than in the books I normally pick up. Nonetheless this was a delightful read and I devoured it in two days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Alcohol and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death
hawthornandhemlock's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
It's been awhile since I've been that invested in a story! Very much so enjoyed the writing style and characters. My poor boy Cas. Did a really wonderful job at capturing the feelings and atmosphere of a pandemic, the deep sadness and loss but the glimmer of hope as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Medical trauma
azrah786's review
4.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was gifted a finished copy of the book by Hodderscape for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review**
CW: plague/illness, implied torture, violence, gore, blood, death, animal death, vomit, amputation, human experimentation, immolation. neglect
A brilliant standalone, historical fantasy-mystery mashup that is bound to have you engrossed from the very first chapter.
Year of the Reaper transports us back in time and place to a fictional medieval land that has been ravaged by war and plague. We follow a young Lord named Cas who after surviving both imprisonment and illness is returning to his home town in the mountains after 3 years of being away. However, the home he returns to is no longer just his own as it is now acting as refuge for the King and Queen – a union formed just a year past between the rivalling kingdoms of Oliveras and Brisa.
Upon his arrival Cas happens to intervene on an assassination attempt, one that is targeting those close to the queen and thus he gets drawn into a mystery which could very much threaten the newfound peace between the two nations.
Lucier’s decision to go with setting a story in the aftermath of disaster rather than bang in the middle of one is just one of the things that really makes this story a standout. Not only do you get absorbed by the central mystery, which is masterfully put together and keeps you guessing page by page, but this book focuses just as much on the resilience of humanity in the face of adversity.
**I was gifted a finished copy of the book by Hodderscape for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review**
CW: plague/illness, implied torture, violence, gore, blood, death, animal death, vomit, amputation, human experimentation, immolation. neglect
A brilliant standalone, historical fantasy-mystery mashup that is bound to have you engrossed from the very first chapter.
Year of the Reaper transports us back in time and place to a fictional medieval land that has been ravaged by war and plague. We follow a young Lord named Cas who after surviving both imprisonment and illness is returning to his home town in the mountains after 3 years of being away. However, the home he returns to is no longer just his own as it is now acting as refuge for the King and Queen – a union formed just a year past between the rivalling kingdoms of Oliveras and Brisa.
Upon his arrival Cas happens to intervene on an assassination attempt, one that is targeting those close to the queen and thus he gets drawn into a mystery which could very much threaten the newfound peace between the two nations.
Lucier’s decision to go with setting a story in the aftermath of disaster rather than bang in the middle of one is just one of the things that really makes this story a standout. Not only do you get absorbed by the central mystery, which is masterfully put together and keeps you guessing page by page, but this book focuses just as much on the resilience of humanity in the face of adversity.
"Loss is a part of life, my lord Cassiapeus, and grief is constant. It is unbearable at first. Then you find you can indeed bear it. Over and over again. As many times as necessary."
Though action/battle scenes are few and far between, at its core this is a dark and brutal book. The writing immediately draws you into the bleak atmosphere of a place that is recovering from tragic events however, Lucier balances this brilliantly with the emotions and persistence of the various characters which adds an air of hope to it all. The fantasy elements are also on the subtle side but wow are they effective, particularly in helping capture the spirit of the setting as well as shaping the main protagonist.
I liked Cas as soon as he was introduced, his perspective was so interesting to follow. Though haunted by his past experiences, they have not totally hardened his personality. We follow him on a journey of rediscovering his world with a more mature perspective and on finding his place amongst his people again. In fact we see much of the people in this world re-accustoming their lives and learning to form new relationships with others.
There were some wonderful platonic and familial relationships presented in this book but my favourite has got to be the relationship that formed between Cas and Lena - the young and steadfast historian from the royal court. Their banter and understanding of one another brought them together beautifully, resulting in a slow burn romance that was soft and comfortable over angsty but one that pulls on your heart strings all the same.
"I'm not sure how to be around other people."
"By giving it one day...And then one day after that, and another after that. And if, after all those days, you still don't like people, what of it? It's no great crime to prefer the quiet."
My only complaint would be that I wish the book was longer because despite the 300 or so pages providing an ideal duration for the mystery storyline, the world building felt a little sparse in places and I would have loved to learn more about it all. I also wish we could have gotten a little more from the fantasy elements and time with some of the side characters too.
However, the fact that not all the secrets are given away in this standalone story opens up the possibilities of the author returning to this world and these characters and I would very much welcome that.
All in all this was an utterly satisfying and riveting standalone that I would recommend to YA fantasy and mystery lovers alike!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gore, Blood, Death, Animal death, and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit and Grief
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