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chrissycrow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Excrement, and Murder
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Classism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Gore, War, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Child abuse
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Vomit, Torture, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Infertility, Self harm, Addiction, Sexual content, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts
Discrimination and derogatory terms between in-universe factions. Self-injury for magical purposes.sinaprst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
The sapphics won big time on this one, this was all I ever wanted and more.
I literally physically could not put this down (I read the last 300 pages in a day), because it is that good.
The romance was just the perfect slow burn with all of my favorite tropes executed perfectly. Both Crier and Ayla felt so real to me and I fell in love with both of them.
But the story aside the romance was just as great. I loved the way both Crier and Ayla had their own arc and their own secrets and motives that they kept from each other and how both arcs came together in the end.
Also, the writing style was beautiful and the world was believable and nicely crafted.
recommended reading ambience: https://youtu.be/6nRFaOFcbpk?si=hOC2OB-O1xe-7xKH
I literally physically could not put this down (I read the last 300 pages in a day), because it is that good.
The romance was just the perfect slow burn with all of my favorite tropes executed perfectly. Both Crier and Ayla felt so real to me and I fell in love with both of them.
But the story aside the romance was just as great. I loved the way both Crier and Ayla had their own arc and their own secrets and motives that they kept from each other and how both arcs came together in the end.
Also, the writing style was beautiful and the world was believable and nicely crafted.
recommended reading ambience: https://youtu.be/6nRFaOFcbpk?si=hOC2OB-O1xe-7xKH
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, and Death of parent
sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition
Dnf on November 24th (2022), Im sorry I can’t, I’ve been on approximately page 40 for the past week and I can’t seem to continue. I may try this one again one day.
Dnf on page 52
Dnf on page 52
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
nightshaderoots's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I liked how complex the plot and characters are. The writing style was something to get used to but I liked the way the author described scenes and the characters. The world building was also something I haven't seen before which I loved learning about. The lore building was also paced well so it doesn't feel like info dumping but it was still enough where I wasn't in the dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Body horror, Cursing, Grief, Torture, Physical abuse, Vomit, War, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Infertility
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
I’d put off reading this book for SO LONG purely because it’s an absolute CHONK of a book.
I loved it. I need the second book now.
The writing style is quite simple, but I preferred that over the complex styles that you usually find in fantasy. The characters are well developed, even the background characters. Ayla is a bit chaotic but maybe that’s the intention?
I know she’s meant to be the ‘villain’ but I loved Crier!!
Lots of cliches: enemies to lovers, angry protagonist, evil villain, etc. But I’m loving them. I’m loving Ayla and Crier.
Overall, a very enjoyable easy-to-read fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, and War
frantically's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
This book dragged a bit at the start of me (and I have to admit — I'm not the biggest sci-fi person) but the last quarter really turned it around for me and I'm probably going to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Mental illness and Child abuse
wet_towlette's review against another edition
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I am invested I want to read the next one immediately but it’s 1:45am so I must sleep. But tomorrow morning I will be starting iron heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery
teaskate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
The idea and the world was interesting and the layout of the book was nice.Also I love maps in books.I enjoyed the main relationship,and in general their characters.A point I also really liked about Crier’s war is the fact that I got really lost in the book at times,the time just flew by.Exited to read the sequel. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and War
bibliorama's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.5
Enjoyment - 3.75
I quite enjoyed this book. I don't really reach for sci fi often, but this struck a nice balance between the sci fi elements and the fantasy ones. With all the alchemy and clockwork mechanics, it felt like it had a dash of steampunk strewn in, which I don't read as much as I should. The story kept me intrigued and I liked the historical document pieces that came after Crier's chapters, it was a nice touch and helped build the world. This world did feel like it had a history behind it and that the characters are living with the past's decisions. It wasn't a story that completely sucked me in to were I could forget that I was reading, but it wasn't one that I kept putting down either.
Start - 4
This start was strong and the world around these characters was built up quite well. Nothing ever felt like an info dump and information was revealed in a natural way.
Characters - 3.75
Now here I have to say Ayla was the least interesting POV to me, and if this book were told from just her perspective I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. She starts the book out by wanting revenge against the Automae ruler because humans are in the lower class. That's a completely understandable want/desire, but it's a pretty common one in stories today. So she felt more bland and like other characters I've read. She did still have a personality that was consistent though, so it wasn't like she was poorly written just not the special sauce in this book.
Crier on the other hand was my favorite. I liked getting to learn about the automae and how they lived and what their thought process was like. They were the unique part to this book and I thought they were well done. It also doesn't hurt that most of the tension comes from Kinok and Hesod because they always are a little unhinged, and Crier has a close proximity to them. That makes her scenes pretty interesting especially since Crier is technically one of them, but never is fully brought in to that Automae circle.
With Ayla and Crier together, they were cute and pretty wholesome really. I found they were easy to root for.
Atmosphere - 2.5
I did like the history of how the Automae were created and the characters that went along with it. They built the world, but as far as the actual setting, it wasn't super vibrant. It was enough to let the characters to their thing, but not a showstopper in itself.
Plot - 4
At the heart of this story is a romance, but ultimately the plot is way more complex and deep than many YA fantasy romances I've read. The side characters have a lot of their own motivations going on. I'm excited to see where the second book takes the story.
Ending - 4
Left me wondering how the next book would proceed, so I'm definitely continuing on.
Style - 3
The writing was good and didn't distract from the story. I could see some differences in the writing for each perspective which was nice. It just wasn't something distinct from other stories, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Overall - 3.5 rounded down
I quite enjoyed this book. I don't really reach for sci fi often, but this struck a nice balance between the sci fi elements and the fantasy ones. With all the alchemy and clockwork mechanics, it felt like it had a dash of steampunk strewn in, which I don't read as much as I should. The story kept me intrigued and I liked the historical document pieces that came after Crier's chapters, it was a nice touch and helped build the world. This world did feel like it had a history behind it and that the characters are living with the past's decisions. It wasn't a story that completely sucked me in to were I could forget that I was reading, but it wasn't one that I kept putting down either.
Start - 4
This start was strong and the world around these characters was built up quite well. Nothing ever felt like an info dump and information was revealed in a natural way.
Characters - 3.75
Now here I have to say Ayla was the least interesting POV to me, and if this book were told from just her perspective I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. She starts the book out by wanting revenge against the Automae ruler because humans are in the lower class. That's a completely understandable want/desire, but it's a pretty common one in stories today. So she felt more bland and like other characters I've read. She did still have a personality that was consistent though, so it wasn't like she was poorly written just not the special sauce in this book.
Crier on the other hand was my favorite. I liked getting to learn about the automae and how they lived and what their thought process was like. They were the unique part to this book and I thought they were well done. It also doesn't hurt that most of the tension comes from Kinok and Hesod because they always are a little unhinged, and Crier has a close proximity to them. That makes her scenes pretty interesting especially since Crier is technically one of them, but never is fully brought in to that Automae circle.
With Ayla and Crier together, they were cute and pretty wholesome really. I found they were easy to root for.
Atmosphere - 2.5
I did like the history of how the Automae were created and the characters that went along with it. They built the world, but as far as the actual setting, it wasn't super vibrant. It was enough to let the characters to their thing, but not a showstopper in itself.
Plot - 4
At the heart of this story is a romance, but ultimately the plot is way more complex and deep than many YA fantasy romances I've read. The side characters have a lot of their own motivations going on. I'm excited to see where the second book takes the story.
Ending - 4
Left me wondering how the next book would proceed, so I'm definitely continuing on.
Style - 3
The writing was good and didn't distract from the story. I could see some differences in the writing for each perspective which was nice. It just wasn't something distinct from other stories, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Overall - 3.5 rounded down
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Violence
Nothing super graphic or overly described that I noted.