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thecolouryes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Violence
Minor: Murder, Suicide, Self harm, Trafficking, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Misogyny, Death, War, and Torture
sonatica's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(If you plan on reading this book, please make sure to look at the content warnings, as it opens up with some really heavy topics right out the gate!)
While there were some aspects of the book and romance between the main characters that weren't for me, I genuinely enjoyed it! The narrator of the audiobook does a great job with the character voices though, that really stood out to me - especially Sarkis! Du be warned though, if you do listen to the audiobook version, that this book has a few 'spicy' scenes in it. Those generally catch me off guard in audiobooks, so I thought it might be helpful to others if they knew beforehand.
Spoilers for the end of the book ahead:
I loved the last fight (in chapter 56-58 I believe?) so so much! Halla's role in general over the ending chapters was great and the dynamic between her and Zale adds so much, too. :)
While there were some aspects of the book and romance between the main characters that weren't for me, I genuinely enjoyed it! The narrator of the audiobook does a great job with the character voices though, that really stood out to me - especially Sarkis! Du be warned though, if you do listen to the audiobook version, that this book has a few 'spicy' scenes in it. Those generally catch me off guard in audiobooks, so I thought it might be helpful to others if they knew beforehand.
Spoilers for the end of the book ahead:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse, War, and Murder
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, Vomit, Confinement, Blood, Death, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Slavery, Alcohol, Self harm, and Torture
amyteurhour's review against another edition
3.0
Content warning: suicidal ideation, violence/gory, threat of forced marriage & pregnancy
I thought the concept was interesting, and the ending lends itself to a possible sequel in the future. I did enjoy seeing more of how the White Rat operates outside of the context with the paladins. It’s pretty similar to the Saint of Steel series, and most of my criticisms from that series could apply to this book. If you plan to check out any books in the White Rat universe, I would probably suggest to space them out, otherwise they get pretty repetitive—although, I haven’t read the Clocktaur books so here’s to hoping they’re a little different? Overall, I still enjoyed it, and will be reading the last two currently available in the universe…just maybe in a month or two.
I thought the concept was interesting, and the ending lends itself to a possible sequel in the future. I did enjoy seeing more of how the White Rat operates outside of the context with the paladins. It’s pretty similar to the Saint of Steel series, and most of my criticisms from that series could apply to this book. If you plan to check out any books in the White Rat universe, I would probably suggest to space them out, otherwise they get pretty repetitive—although, I haven’t read the Clocktaur books so here’s to hoping they’re a little different? Overall, I still enjoyed it, and will be reading the last two currently available in the universe…just maybe in a month or two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
harkenthee's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I've accidentally stumbled my way backward through the World of the White Rat. Having read the Saint of Steel series first and this book second, things felt... familiar.
We have our main character, who is our social awkward, "you don't know you're beautiful, that's what makes you beautiful" respectable widow.
And we also have our brawny and wry warrior who is extremely respectful of his love interest, even when slathering over her big, heavy, hedonistic tracts of Southern Land.
Being fair to Halla, I found her genuinely delightful, with her incessant questions and curiosity for the world around her. Her earnest interactions and experiments with Zale were some of my favorite parts of the story.
Sarkis is... fairly unremarkable in the grand landscape of Kingfisher's of horny, brooding love interests. He is equal parts exasperated yet tantalized by Halla.
And thus is my relationship to these books.
There are so many parts that delight me and entreat me to know more about this world. But there are equally as many parts that make me want to bang my head again the wall. After the fifth self-pitying interior monologue of one or both going, "I swear they don't love me, they're just putting up with me" I metaphorically concussed myself.
SpoilerDon't even get me STARTED on the seemingly obligatory 2nd-act break-up which lasts less than a chapter. Halla barely bats an eye at him threatening to kill anyone- from their mild-mannered lawyer priest to an overly talkative woman. But draws the line at a mercenary turning traitor in a losing battle from over four centuries ago? M'kay. It was such a nonstarter of a conflict I had a hard time believing THAT was what kickstarted the final act.
Zale was one of my favorite parts of the book. I've got a soft spot for characters who are earnest, physically weak, and hyper-competent in their respective field. Gnoles are always a good time, even if Brindle's presence was near-undetectable most of the time. Unfortunately, like in most of the books so far, they've been in just the periphery, but maybe that's what makes them so enjoyable.
I also enjoy the relatively low stakes of the overarching plot. Not everything needs to be some epic save-the-world journey, sometimes the only world you need to save is the life you're living.
3 / 5 stars. I suspect my rating would've been higher had this been my first experience with the White Rat Universe. I think it's time for me to put down the series for a year or two and come back to it when I've been refreshed.
Addendum: I have to agree with some other reviews I've read about the acephobia surrounding Halla's deceased husband. On one hand, it's a pretty well-worn trope for the previous S/O to be either abusive or a bad lover. On the other, Halla and her husband both pretty much went into this marriage knowing it'd be fruitless. So I didn't really jive with the whole "LI repeatedly fantasizing about brutalizing a deceased man who on the whole was just pretty boring and did not seem interested in sex in general."
Also, idk if it was a misprint in my edition, but Zale gets misgendered by the author for a full paragraph while they're having a one-on-one talk with Serkis.
We have our main character, who is our social awkward, "you don't know you're beautiful, that's what makes you beautiful" respectable widow.
And we also have our brawny and wry warrior who is extremely respectful of his love interest, even when slathering over her big, heavy, hedonistic tracts of Southern Land.
Being fair to Halla, I found her genuinely delightful, with her incessant questions and curiosity for the world around her. Her earnest interactions and experiments with Zale were some of my favorite parts of the story.
Sarkis is... fairly unremarkable in the grand landscape of Kingfisher's of horny, brooding love interests. He is equal parts exasperated yet tantalized by Halla.
And thus is my relationship to these books.
There are so many parts that delight me and entreat me to know more about this world. But there are equally as many parts that make me want to bang my head again the wall. After the fifth self-pitying interior monologue of one or both going, "I swear they don't love me, they're just putting up with me" I metaphorically concussed myself.
SpoilerDon't even get me STARTED on the seemingly obligatory 2nd-act break-up which lasts less than a chapter. Halla barely bats an eye at him threatening to kill anyone- from their mild-mannered lawyer priest to an overly talkative woman. But draws the line at a mercenary turning traitor in a losing battle from over four centuries ago? M'kay. It was such a nonstarter of a conflict I had a hard time believing THAT was what kickstarted the final act.
Zale was one of my favorite parts of the book. I've got a soft spot for characters who are earnest, physically weak, and hyper-competent in their respective field. Gnoles are always a good time, even if Brindle's presence was near-undetectable most of the time. Unfortunately, like in most of the books so far, they've been in just the periphery, but maybe that's what makes them so enjoyable.
I also enjoy the relatively low stakes of the overarching plot. Not everything needs to be some epic save-the-world journey, sometimes the only world you need to save is the life you're living.
3 / 5 stars. I suspect my rating would've been higher had this been my first experience with the White Rat Universe. I think it's time for me to put down the series for a year or two and come back to it when I've been refreshed.
Addendum: I have to agree with some other reviews I've read about the acephobia surrounding Halla's deceased husband. On one hand, it's a pretty well-worn trope for the previous S/O to be either abusive or a bad lover. On the other, Halla and her husband both pretty much went into this marriage knowing it'd be fruitless. So I didn't really jive with the whole "LI repeatedly fantasizing about brutalizing a deceased man who on the whole was just pretty boring and did not seem interested in sex in general."
Also, idk if it was a misprint in my edition, but Zale gets misgendered by the author for a full paragraph while they're having a one-on-one talk with Serkis.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
nekoshka's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Torture, and Vomit
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Suicide, Violence, Death, Murder, Sexism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia and Vomit
max_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 Stars
This was absolutely delightful! I love the pull between immortality and mortality. Hella and Sarkis were absolutely precious together. And I love the introduction to the Dreaming God Paladins. Also I'm a gnole stan, so this was great. Also, love the casual nonbinary representation.
Jesse Vilinsky did great work on audio narration, as well.
This was absolutely delightful! I love the pull between immortality and mortality. Hella and Sarkis were absolutely precious together. And I love the introduction to the Dreaming God Paladins. Also I'm a gnole stan, so this was great. Also, love the casual nonbinary representation.
Jesse Vilinsky did great work on audio narration, as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt
avacadosocks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Confinement, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
sunshine_kait's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Infertility, Vomit, Death, and Gaslighting