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venti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i wrote this before i read the last 200 or so pages:
hot take: i liked hekat. scandalously, i would even go so far as to say i liked her. i know. all the other reviews here are astonished.
hot take: i liked hekat. scandalously, i would even go so far as to say i liked her. i know. all the other reviews here are astonished.
tbh i don’t think it was easy to like her, and that is what makes her an entirely interesting character. you witness the horrors she endures — particularly within her tenure as a slave — and you begin to understand why she quickly becomes unlikable. she is a product of mijak and its society.
my opinions of hekat after the last 200 pages:
oh my god what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck
my opinions of hekat after the last 200 pages:
oh my god what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, War, Xenophobia, and Miscarriage
stacielouise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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 is my second read through of Empress, although the first read through was so long ago I couldn’t remember most of the details. Hekat has always stuck with me, though. She is a VERY memorable character. It almost seems wrong to enjoy her character and the book because it’s so terrible (in a very bad things happen way, not a this is a bad quality book way). This book is full of blood and gore and slaughter. Hekat is vicious, relentless and merciless. Miller doesn’t something quite remarkable, though. Instead of just presenting a villainous and eluding to her tortured roots to garner some empathy, she goes all in and has us take the journey of Hekat’s life, up to the point where the books ends. And the book ends on a truly tragic note. The only one happy and thriving is Dmitrek, but I feel fairly confident the loss of his brother will affect him, as well. I understand Hekat on a level rarely reached in a book. But let’s not have Hekat steal the show. Vorka is also an amazing character. He is kind and tender, but still strong and powerful. He seems to be the hero to Hekat’s villainy, but really they are on the same side, have the same beliefs and hold fast to those beliefs. I haven’t read the second and third books, so I don’t know what happens or what may be revealed about their god, but it’s clear something is not right. I have so many theories, and I’m eager to see find out what is going on. Ahhh and Vorka and Hekat’s love? So wonderful and tragic. I am so ready to FINALLY continue the series and find out what happens in the next two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Child abuse
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