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finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Not to be dramatic but this is one of the best things I've read and I feel like a different person than I was an hour ago when I started it.
I don't always retain the details or plotlines of books I read, but I don't think I'll physically be able to to forget this for the rest of my life. Rent free in my head, in a good way and bad way.
I'd like to note that I'm literally sobbing on my bedroom floor as I write this out so take that as you will.
Favourite quote:
I don't always retain the details or plotlines of books I read, but I don't think I'll physically be able to to forget this for the rest of my life. Rent free in my head, in a good way and bad way.
I'd like to note that I'm literally sobbing on my bedroom floor as I write this out so take that as you will.
Favourite quote:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Slavery, Violence, and Toxic relationship
lizziaha's review against another edition
4.5
This short story does put me in the mind of soldiers and poets and kings. And legends, most of all. The conflicting feelings in this were visceral, and it felt like watching a tragedy unfold without any way to stop it from happening. It makes me think about regret and belief, and if i would change anything about my own life if i could do it all over. I would like to reread in a print format sometime in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief
reka111's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.75
I wonder what the songs will say about the Devil now that she is covered in the blood of her own God.
I honestly can't really decide if I liked this or not. Basically, I easily identified with it and liked the narrative, but somehow something seemed to be missing. I had a bit of a Joan of Arc feeling from this book, but that's probably just me.
If you're looking for a quick and nicely written short story, I recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Death
vj_thompson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So much emotion was packed in the 30 pages. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. I felt like I was there standing next to the main character and her squire. The ending, wow wow wow. The ending gave me chills.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Suicide, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, War, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child death, Classism, Gore, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
abicaro17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I had never given a book under 100 pages more than 4 stars. This book deserves it. Not only does the author manage to establish a good story, but she manages to establish character traits and flaws as well! Almost no names or specifics but the weight of the plot balances out any need for specifics. I will be reading all these other novellas and possibly whatever else this author has written. My life was somehow changed by 30 pages!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Classism, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Murder, Torture, and Toxic friendship
peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
"I know him, and in knowing him I love him, and in loving him I cannot do as he wishes."
Never has a shorter story made me this emotional. Also second person prespective, which I love.
Never has a shorter story made me this emotional. Also second person prespective, which I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Body horror, Death, Grief, Violence, Colonisation, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, War, Gore, and Murder
nefariousbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this books absolutely disarmed me, it's so good. so original, so *intense* in all the ways I love
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
pookiee's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
a well done medieval atmosphere, takes less than an hour to devour, and delivers a gut punch using one of my favorite themes:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Child death, Murder, and War
theinkedpath's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ES:
Esta historia corta me dejó llorando y con el corazón tiritando.
Creo que es una narración muy potente y delicada al mismo tiempo, por lo que se muestra la capacidad de Alix E. Harrow para construir historias que te rodean, te abrazan y se quedan contigo.
Creo que voy a leer a esta autora siempre.
EN:
I was captured by this story and, by the end, I was trembling and crying. I could not put it down. This story was weaving with care, mastery in the writing craft and the darkness of legend-type of stories. Creating a complex narrative that expands through few pages while giving characters the flesh and complexity they need while they also had this halo of mystery.
If it could, I would expand this world and stay in it for a little bit more time.
Esta historia corta me dejó llorando y con el corazón tiritando.
Creo que es una narración muy potente y delicada al mismo tiempo, por lo que se muestra la capacidad de Alix E. Harrow para construir historias que te rodean, te abrazan y se quedan contigo.
Creo que voy a leer a esta autora siempre.
EN:
I was captured by this story and, by the end, I was trembling and crying. I could not put it down. This story was weaving with care, mastery in the writing craft and the darkness of legend-type of stories. Creating a complex narrative that expands through few pages while giving characters the flesh and complexity they need while they also had this halo of mystery.
If it could, I would expand this world and stay in it for a little bit more time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, War, and Blood
Moderate: Grief
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
This Joan of Arc-inspired (I can only assume) short story is absolutely superb. The amount of depth, intrigue, characterisation and emotion that Alix E. Harrow packs into just 30 pages is nothing short of astounding. Beautifully written, full of quotable hard-hitting lines, I cannot recommend this enough.
I've seen a few people in their reviews say they wish this had been a full-length novel. I find that I do also wish this, but I also wonder, "Would it have hit so hard if it wasn't so short?" The answer, I think, is no. The fact this is a short story is what makes its power so astonishing.
Read it once through to experience it for the first time. Then read it again to fully understand it. It is excellent. I loved this story and will definitely be reading more of Alix E. Harrow's work in the future.
I've seen a few people in their reviews say they wish this had been a full-length novel. I find that I do also wish this, but I also wonder, "Would it have hit so hard if it wasn't so short?" The answer, I think, is no. The fact this is a short story is what makes its power so astonishing.
Read it once through to experience it for the first time. Then read it again to fully understand it. It is excellent. I loved this story and will definitely be reading more of Alix E. Harrow's work in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and War
Minor: Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Suicide
There are repeated instances of drowning. Two characters repeatedly emotionally manipulate another character to carry out their wishes.