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libellumartinae'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
3.5
You are going to get a bill from my therapist.
Alrightie, I am not going to lie: I was fearful that I wouldn't like the fact that we switched narrator and characters, but oh gods, I admit it with my whole heart: Jean Moreau, I love you. Jeremy Knox, though, you are on thin ice buddy? Because as much as I was eager to see Jean Moreu's stay through the Sunshine Court, I felt like oftentimes the Trojans were far too pushy with him and his recovery and although I get it's a trial and error thing... I still felt a bit uneasy about some choices (with Luke's being the tipping of the iceberg).
Overall, though I enjoyed the Trojans' portrayal, althoguh at some points some parts felt a bit forced. Especially as I felt like this book, aside the first part, was like 'give us nothing, girl' vibe. Overall, I think it was a nice read and got me back in the aftg fandom, although I am definitely looking forward to more (and more heartbreak I am sure)
Graphic: Biphobia, Outing, Sexual assault, Gore, Child abuse, Bullying, Grief, Sexual violence, Murder, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Death, Homophobia, and Kidnapping
sadpendragon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Grief, Sexual harassment, Blood, Biphobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse
c_alexander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Child death, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Trafficking
Minor: Homophobia
iam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It is a good story, but I have to admit it was not what I expected, or wanted, from it.
In comparison to the original trilogy, it is very slow, introspective and focussed on the past. A long time is spent on Jean's (re-)living and remembering and reacting, and maybe even starting to process his trauma and the horrific abuse he suffered at the Moriyamas' hands. It reaches only a couple month's past the end of The King's Men, and doesn't reach past Jean finding that first spark of hope and realizing he really is free of Riko.
It's that what left me feeling really unsatisfied.
Not a lot of questions left over from the original trilogy are answered. Instead, a whole new slew of questions arrise, and very few of those are answered too.
Part of that is Jeremy. He is also a POV character, but less so than Jean. We get glimpses into the personal life, his struggles and hopes, and the issues he has going on too... but his main focus in on Jean. I honestly don't think his POV adds much other than more questions about what's going on with him, just to not get much info other than vague hints, and no closure. Why even open that can of worms when there isn't even an attempt to close it? We could have found out about him from Jean's POV as well.
I guess the issue is that just Jean's POV would have been really bleak, and he wouldn't have paid so much attention to the Trojans, so maybe Jeremy's POV is a blessing in disguise. Still, that was another reason why the book felt really unsatisfying to read.
Overall, this felt much more like a beginning than an ending. I get that it's supposed to be about closure, about closing one chapter of one's life and beginning a new one. But only getting teased with so many threads of it and how it could continued.... I hate that. I want definite happy endings. I won't want all these old and new questions to be left unanswered. If there really is a sequel (can't find any definite source on that) I sure hope they will be answered.
Beyond that, reading this was also heavy. So much focus is on Jean's trauma, and he's got a lot of it. The original trilogy is already heavy on the trigger warnings, but there, due to the characters' personalities, the faster pace, and the constant presence of Exy, there isn't as much in-depth lingering and focus on the horrible abuse. For Jean, it's different. He is much more introspective, and is constantly remembering the horrific things that happened to him. And it's so much worse than what's alluded to in the original trilogy. This made it a very bleak, heavy, sad and uncomfortable read.
The overall direction of the broader picture story about the Ravens, Foxes, Trojans, and Exy as a sport is very unsettling too - Jean is not too concerned with it, so there are not many details, but seeing it from his perspective rather than Neil's makes me antsy.
The Trojans are of course a beam of light in all that darkness, but as I said, the book ends right when Jean finds that first spark of real hope. We don't get to see him heal, we don't get to see him thrive, we don't get to see him fall in love or be loved, we don't get to see him claim his own life for himself. All that good stuff that I want to read about when I read about such an abused character is just omitted. Sure, it's in the future, but... yeah, it's just not satisfying!!
It is still good. Still emotional and heart-breaking but also giving hope. I also want to specifically recommend the author's writing style - it excells at being in a character's head incresibly organically. No exposition is given where a character wouldn't give it. It can be a bit frustrating at times when it's clear the character knows something the reader doesn't, but it also feels rewarding. And it's overally just super fun to read!
Absolutely hoping there will be a sequel answering all the open questions and threads. As a first book to a new story it works amazingly. As a standalone, it's not for me.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Vomit, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Eating disorder and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Murder and Pedophilia
unnamedreptile41's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Trafficking, Medical content, Suicide, Child death, and Vomit
Minor: Suicide attempt, Outing, and Murder
flowerparrish's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Grief, Confinement, Violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
natnat_7'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: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Suicide, Physical abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Body horror
Moderate: Gaslighting, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
pa1nted'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Cursing, and Drug use
Minor: Medical content, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Homophobia
feelingfrazzled's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Confinement, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
apairofducks's review
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Rape