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emilywemily6's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Violence, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Body horror
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Animal death, and Medical content
sheebsbooks'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? No
3.5
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Blood, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Stalking
folkofthebook'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
5.0
“Galaxy Stern,” Darlington said, his eyes flashing gold, “I have been crying out to you from the start.”
nothing makes me happier than when the second book lives up to the first book. and when it's even better?? 😩🤌🏼
“But I like this life better.”
“Better than what?”
“Better than what I was living before. Better than a world without magic.”
this is one of those series i read and can't help but feel envious of both the characters and the author. the characters for getting to live this life, and the author for having been able to dream it up.
“Life is cruel. Magic is real. And I’m not ready to die.”
one character that i really came to adore was mercy. i feel like she was all of us readers, wishing so badly to find a way in to live magic and leave the real world behind. tripp was also a very endearing character who brought some lighthearted comic relief in as well. i did not care for hellie after this book, esp bc the babbit rabbit story.
“Fuck off.”
“I did miss you, Stern.”
the agonizing slowburn of alex & darlington is SO DELICIOUS oh my god i just know the pay off is going to be well worth it.
“Come on, Darlington,” she said. “Let's give them hell.”
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Grief
Minor: Rape, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
itsheyfay'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
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Stalking, Vomit, and Gun violence
Minor: Child death, Slavery, Drug use, Racism, and Suicide attempt
rainyghost's review
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gaslighting, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Vomit, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
serena_hien's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gore
notsohopelessromantic'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
The kindling romance between Darlington and Alex is just that. Kindling. If you wanted romance, boy howdy let me tell you it's a slow burn. A very confused, hesitant flame, with a very eager wick, on a willing candle. That might not make sense to you but it does to me.
Anyway, the book was very good. Much like the first where it just seems to be one thing after another, after another. Nonstop misfortune, bad luck, catastrophe. It really makes you wanna tear your hair out. But, to be fair, they did manage to get Darlington back from the Underworld, something I truly did not believe would happen until the 3rd book with the way things were looking. I am grateful to at least have that issue resolved, if only temporarily.
There is most definitely something off about the current Praetor. He knows more than he's letting on, I'm just not sure why. I probably won't know until it's literally spelled out to us in the next book.
I loved the character development on all fronts. Learning that Turner wasn't as straight-laced as we all thought, that Tripp isn't all that harmless or innocent, that Mercy is stronger than she seems. And speaking of Tripp, I do love what was done with his character at the end of the book. That will be interesting to see play out in the next one. Dawes has grown even more as well, becoming less timid, more sure of herself, confident in her abilities; very much the witch Alex saw her to be. I know that there is even more to unpack with Alex and why she's been described as sitting on a throne with a crown on her head, Darlington her faithful servant (and lover 👀). I can't wait for it all to unfold.
The book truly twisted and turned at all of the unexpected, and expected, moments, making this one helluva ride (read). I cannot wait to receive news on the final book in the trilogy and can only hope that I won't have to suffer for very long. Though if Darlington can survive over a year in hell, then I can certainly wait that long to be saved too.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Drug use, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Torture, Cancer, Cursing, and Grief
carolyn_baird_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
caoimhemia'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
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
goodchivesonly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Blood, Stalking, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Police brutality, Animal death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail