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egurgens's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
I love the world Kalyn Josephson wove for this story. There are different nations, all with their own gods, their own culture, and characteristics. Aris is a beautiful city, with different sectors that favor different industries and crows. There are different types of crow, all with their specific kind of magic; wind, shadow, battle, water, earth, storm, fire, and sun. However, 'everything changed when the fire nation attacked." Haha, jk, although Illucia DID use fire to destroy the crows. In an attempt to keep the peace, Thia's sister, the new queen, promises her to Illucia as a bride to marry the heir, Ericen.
Ericen is a masterpiece in my opinion; one part ice and loyalty, one part fire and rebellion, and the rest is a mess, since he doesn't know what he wants from this war. He's just a softie with a tough shell, and I adore him. I also adore Caylus, all PTSD and mismatched sweaters and science and baking.
There is so much political drama: a mad, blood hungry queen vs the trained Crow rider who has to face the wrath of the mad queen to save her country... or does she? Thia found a storm crow egg in the ruins of the roost, and decides to try and raise it to rally her country and fight back against the Illucian oppressors.
Ericen is a masterpiece in my opinion; one part ice and loyalty, one part fire and rebellion, and the rest is a mess, since he doesn't know what he wants from this war. He's just a softie with a tough shell, and I adore him. I also adore Caylus, all PTSD and mismatched sweaters and science and baking.
There is so much political drama: a mad, blood hungry queen vs the trained Crow rider who has to face the wrath of the mad queen to save her country... or does she? Thia found a storm crow egg in the ruins of the roost, and decides to try and raise it to rally her country and fight back against the Illucian oppressors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
I loved this book! For me, the best part about it was how it dealt with Thia's mental health. She clearly has depression and PTSD from the events of Ronoch, and it is not slid under the rug, or ignored, or mysteriously solved by the appearance of a cute boy. It keeps coming back, and tripping her up, even though she is trying, and working, and slowly getting better.
I also really loved the side characters in this book! Kiva is great, as well as Caylus, and of course the crows!
The magic system is super interesting. I wish that we had been able to see more of it in this book, but I look forward to reading about it more in the sequel.
Definitely recommend!
I also really loved the side characters in this book! Kiva is great, as well as Caylus, and of course the crows!
The magic system is super interesting. I wish that we had been able to see more of it in this book, but I look forward to reading about it more in the sequel.
Definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Torture, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Xenophobia, Gore, Kidnapping, and Infidelity
Minor: Self harm
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