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sweetchocolatez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Slavery, Child death, Classism, Torture, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, War, Death, Toxic friendship, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Grief and Vomit
savanhahope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
So far this is my favorite book of the trilogy. I'm excited to see where the third installment goes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Slavery, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Torture, Pedophilia, and Homophobia
Because it's YA most things aren't described in too much detail but just a heads up that it is therequeer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian is the second book in the Ash Princess trilogy. We continue to follow Theo and her friends after their escape on Dragonsbane's ship.
This book continues its examination of power and greed, and continuously points out the privilege of the ruling ruling class. We see it in Sta'Crivero, an opulent city with technology, where they only value beautiful things. The citizens of this city see the Astrean and other refugees as cursed, and keep them behind walls instead of helping them.
We also see their privilege when Theo meets with the King and everyone present presses Theo to tell them all about the tragedy she has experienced. I really appreciated this part of the book, because it exposes how much people want tragedy porn. They say they want to know these things out of compassion, but it's just entertainment when you will never know such suffering. Our world is dealing with that right now. News stories, articles, think pieces, tv shows; they all center tragedy as entertainment.
I loved the growth of our cast of characters in this book! I love their dynamics, especially Art. Theo is coming into her own and coming to terms with the fact that she will not be the Queen of Peace that her mother was. "But you are the Queen of Flame and Fury, Theodosia, and you will set their world on fire."
There is plenty of court intrigue and random queer side characters, which is nice. Been a while since I shipped anyone, but I ship Erik and Heron so hard!
I love the concept of these books and can't wait to finish up the series with Ember Queen!
This book continues its examination of power and greed, and continuously points out the privilege of the ruling ruling class. We see it in Sta'Crivero, an opulent city with technology, where they only value beautiful things. The citizens of this city see the Astrean and other refugees as cursed, and keep them behind walls instead of helping them.
We also see their privilege when Theo meets with the King and everyone present presses Theo to tell them all about the tragedy she has experienced. I really appreciated this part of the book, because it exposes how much people want tragedy porn. They say they want to know these things out of compassion, but it's just entertainment when you will never know such suffering. Our world is dealing with that right now. News stories, articles, think pieces, tv shows; they all center tragedy as entertainment.
I loved the growth of our cast of characters in this book! I love their dynamics, especially Art. Theo is coming into her own and coming to terms with the fact that she will not be the Queen of Peace that her mother was. "But you are the Queen of Flame and Fury, Theodosia, and you will set their world on fire."
There is plenty of court intrigue and random queer side characters, which is nice. Been a while since I shipped anyone, but I ship Erik and Heron so hard!
I love the concept of these books and can't wait to finish up the series with Ember Queen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Murder, Slavery, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Rape
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