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attolis's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content
avacadosocks'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
4.25
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Confinement, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
queenkath32's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
maryellen's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Vomit
ingrid6's review against another edition
3.75
One of the things that drew me towards the book was the promise of an older(and hopefully more experienced &mature cast of characters) and I think that I didn’t quite get that in Halla. I appreciated her problem solving and unique approach to things- but in the end I guess I was hoping for a FMC more comfortable in their own skin.
We didn’t get very much world building or explanation. I just assumed I’d have to read the main series for that.
I really enjoyed the side characters in particular. I’m a sucker for some funny side characters.
Minor: Confinement, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
robin1010's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
My primary issue with it is how Halla is described and treated by the author, especially considering the author is a woman herself. There are a huge amount of mentions of Halla's breasts or wide hips, and of a male character noticing them while she remains either unaware of or derogatory of them. Its deeply off putting. I don't mind descriptions of a characters body, especially given this is a romance novel, but her breasts/hips are mentioned more often than every other physical characteristic she has combined, and that's not an exaggeration. This weird over-sexualisation of her body is combined with a complete naivete - despite clearly being aware of and having had sex before, there are multiple occasions where she is either completely flustered by or completely unaware of sexual situations. This is especially weird interspersed with commentary about how 'middle aged' and 'worldly' she is. Its just a weird choice to advertise a character as more experienced and then also bank on the exploitative sexualisation of a naive woman.
Sarkis wasn't great either. He repeatedly drones on and on about how lackluster the men of the land are and how they don't appreciate or treat women properly, all while repeatedly leering at Halla's tits and imagining having sex with her while she is assumingly unaware. There are a few occasions where the book shows him acting like a normal human being -
ASIDE from the main characters though, this book was great. Zale was a fantastic character and I really enjoyed their entire arc and backstory. The lore and world building was so interesting and I liked it enough that I'll probably give the series this is a spin-off of a go. The various religious institutes combating one another was a great addition as well. The scenes set in the vanishing hills absolutely stood out from the rest of the book -
Plot wise there were definitely bits that worked better than others.
Overall, while I did enjoy some of it, it was overshadowed by the awkward, weird main characters and their awkward, weird interactions with one another.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Confinement, and Suicide attempt
rachelgreenreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really hope she makes this a trilogy as stated in the author’s note.
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
zghutcheson01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
There’s a minor character who seems to be ace and it’s not treated well but not for discrimination reasons, just for horny reasons. Still, as an ace person, it put a damper on the book but it was a very minor part and there was some great nonbinary representation.
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
Minor: Religious bigotry, Vomit, Misogyny, and War
a_ab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The book is way way way too long, and most of it is spent in a rather pointless repetitive travelog and on the romantic relationship focus for the main characters. The characters themselves have plenty of quirks, but despite that seem rather one-note. And worst of all: too much page-space is spent on the adventures and inner turmoil of the characters while the more fascinating aspects of the world are barely hinted at and remain unexplored.
Reading this book ended up feeling like a weird mixture of enjoyment and frustration.
Graphic: Murder and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Animal death, and Sexual content
spuki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content