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raintje's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: War
frantically's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
First off, the negatives: I couldn't stand Violet most of the time. There's a very fine line between being a "cool" anti-heroine character and being a pick-me girl and most of the time, she was the latter. There was so little build-up to her and Cyrus' relationship and their characterisation sometimes seemed to change at will.
But there was also a lot of stuff I loved! I wish this had been an adult or new adult fantasy because godddd, were those spicy scenes good. Like, came for the fantasy, stayed for the blood kink. In their makeout scenes, Cyrus & Violet had so much chemistry and especially towards the end, it really turned into a dark romance. Obsessed with that! I also enjoyed the magic system and the main villain.
I wish the next book would be more focused on Cyrus & Violet's relationship and less on the, a bit boring, plot. The writing was so beautiful and especially that last chapter makes me tempted to still read the next one 🤫
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Self harm, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: War and Death of parent
tak_everlasting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Sexual content, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, War, Colonisation, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Violence, Drug use, and Addiction
thoranareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Violence and Physical abuse
Minor: War
kbairbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Gore, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual content
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Colonisation, War, Chronic illness, Blood, Self harm, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
erica_reads_everything's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, War, Sexual content, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
relin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Violence, Animal death, Outing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Racism and Child death
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I loved the cynical, prickly and unapologetically cunning Violet who is willing to do whatever it takes to survive—even if it leaves her at loggerheads with the Crown Prince, Cyrus. And although she’s definitely a flawed character I couldn’t help myself from rooting for her—and hoping that she and Cyrus would just give in to all the that delicious sexual tension, curse be damned.
It does have similar vibes to The Cruel Prince or Serpent & Dove with a sprinkling of Briar Rose/ Beauty and The Beast elements that I really enjoyed, but it is a completely original story so don’t expect too many similarities.
The pace was surprisingly fast despite how lush the world and character building was and I honestly think it could’ve been longer if only so I didn’t have to leave Gina Chen’s gorgeously crafted world.
Trust me, if you love your fairytales dark, and dangerously twisted then you’re going to absolutely love this.
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Racism, Body horror, Classism, and Sexism
Moderate: War and Violence
katvou's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Animal death and War
Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content