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jo_183's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Slavery, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, War, and Toxic relationship
nicamooch's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.75
The way this book builds in its entirety is amazing. I admit the first quarter is lot to get through especially, because of all the world building and establishment of characters, even I as a Pacat fan was starting to have my faith waver, BUT faith is restored 110%. Consider the rug pulled from beneath me several times, consider me in pain from this book. I’m so excited for Book 2!
I had to constantly pause the audiobook during chapter 34 lmao. I kept yelling “It’s not his name!” 😂
Also, that ending??? I’ve seen people constantly crying about the ending for this book and now I get it 😭 This is reading Prince’s Gambit for the first time kind of pain, I didn’t expect it to go this direction at all. Only Pacat can write a scene between characters like this and have it feel so tragic in a way unique to itself 😭
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Colonisation, Gun violence, Grief, and Racism
samchase112's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I think what people were is less important than what they are. And what people are is less important than what they could be.
Even under the guise of an overcomplicated fantasy world and endless description of said world and each of its ultimately useless facets, CS Pacat is still a master of tension and romance. And that is the reason I come back to her books again and again.
A good chunk of the book (read: ~80%) is a lot of explaining and confusing details, and I really was not enjoying my time with it. The whole old world/new world and the Stewards as a community were a lot to take in, and honestly it didn't even matter much by the end; I just didn't really care about them or their purpose. And do I really need to? (Honestly, the smaller-scale political battles of CaPri felt more intense and important than the big world struggles of this one.) Violet is badass, and I already love Will. James has such potential, and unfortunately he was barely in this first installment. But once we get to the real twists, the real meat of the story, in the last 20% or so, this book becomes a CS Pacat book. Just as in Captive Prince, this first book is mainly a set up for the epicness that will (hopefully) be the rest of the trilogy. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released!
Reread October 2023
Second reading: unquestionably better than the first! Knowing all the world-building to come, I was able to fully immerse myself in the story and world, and it was glorious. The characters were captivating, the story relentless, and the intrigue top-notch. I was absolutely enthralled.
Even under the guise of an overcomplicated fantasy world and endless description of said world and each of its ultimately useless facets, CS Pacat is still a master of tension and romance. And that is the reason I come back to her books again and again.
A good chunk of the book (read: ~80%) is a lot of explaining and confusing details, and I really was not enjoying my time with it. The whole old world/new world and the Stewards as a community were a lot to take in, and honestly it didn't even matter much by the end; I just didn't really care about them or their purpose. And do I really need to? (Honestly, the smaller-scale political battles of CaPri felt more intense and important than the big world struggles of this one.) Violet is badass, and I already love Will. James has such potential, and unfortunately he was barely in this first installment. But once we get to the real twists, the real meat of the story, in the last 20% or so, this book becomes a CS Pacat book. Just as in Captive Prince, this first book is mainly a set up for the epicness that will (hopefully) be the rest of the trilogy. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released!
Reread October 2023
Second reading: unquestionably better than the first! Knowing all the world-building to come, I was able to fully immerse myself in the story and world, and it was glorious. The characters were captivating, the story relentless, and the intrigue top-notch. I was absolutely enthralled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Torture, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Genocide, Grief, Slavery, and War
Minor: Vomit
leedolee's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-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
5.0
This book!!!!!
I didn't think I would fall in love with this book the way I did, but I did. I absolutely loved every single page of this book.
I've always enjoyed books where fantasy worlds existed in our own worlds, albeit a different era. And I absolutely loved the idea of Light battling the Dark.
The plot twists in this book were plenty and every single one surprised me. Although, the Big Reveal was something I had not seen coming! It was definitely unexpected and I didn't connect the dots until the Big Reveal.
The main characters were also fun to read about as well as the battle sequences, the magic, the lore, and the history.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
I didn't think I would fall in love with this book the way I did, but I did. I absolutely loved every single page of this book.
I've always enjoyed books where fantasy worlds existed in our own worlds, albeit a different era. And I absolutely loved the idea of Light battling the Dark.
The plot twists in this book were plenty and every single one surprised me. Although, the Big Reveal was something I had not seen coming! It was definitely unexpected and I didn't connect the dots until the Big Reveal.
The main characters were also fun to read about as well as the battle sequences, the magic, the lore, and the history.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
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