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talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pedophilia, Sexual content, War, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Incest, and Grief
Animal attack. Near drowning.mallorypen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I like the concept of the Gracelings, and I really love the characters of Brittleblue and Po. Katana, on the other hand … I wanted her to have a flaw. Being too hard on horses because she wants to get to her urgent, noble missions faster doesn’t count. Nor does being a killer for the man who raised you and has literal royal rule over everyone you’ve ever known, especially when you start a secret crime fighting/humanitarian Council to act against the evil king.
That said, when Katsa forced herself to carry Brittleblue into the mountain pass, it was damn cool and inspiring.
The relationship between Katsa and Po was really well done. I could go on and on about how hot/striking it was that Po have Katsa his most important ring without telling her what it meant … that was really juicy. I really enjoyed how Po dealt with Katsa figuring out his Grace, and the way they figured out their relationship together.
I think the author handled Po’s blindness in a sensitive way; the line where Katsa mourned the fact that he would never look at her in the way she had fallen in love with was poignant and felt very real, even as Po was accepting his blindness and the way his Grace enabled him to see in a new way.
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Child abuse
Minor: Torture
thelilgriffin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Minor: Torture, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
maralaene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Pedophilia and Torture
claudiamacpherson'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Medical content, Ableism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Grief, Misogyny, Vomit, Outing, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Torture
sonambuorion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Torture, and Physical abuse
booksthatburn'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
4.0
It's about loneliness, abuse, and healing, including abuse to children and animals, so please be aware that those are major themes in the book.
The world building is solid, with enough detail to make later revelations feel important. The explanations feel natural, occurring as something happens or Katsa thinks of some detail. This makes it feel like the world is slowly being revealed even though early on it's not new to the protagonist. I like Po, he had a difficult set of things to balance and overall I like how he is with Katsa. His situation towards the end skirts some potentially problematic ableist tropes but manages to not make it seem like his late-acquired disability is what gives him greater control of his powers. YMMV on whether this works, I think it does because of the precise order of events.
Overall I like this a lot and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Animal death, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault
elle_dee'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, and Violence
therobinjoyce's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse
ciaraflorence's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny