Reviews

On the Wheel by Timandra Whitecastle

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rhiii's review

5.0

This series is amazing. Perfect blend of gritty fantasy, badass characters, and steamy almost romance..? It took me less than a day to cram this book into my head because I literally couldn’t put it down! Please finish the next one! Real soon!

decodethebooks's review against another edition

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4.0

4 stars
★★★★

Well, well, well.
description

What fascinates me about this series and grim/dark fantasy in general is that I can never predict how the story will take shape as easily as other genres. I am always surprised and shocked by events even if I predict it as there is less certainty and safety for the characters and the plot than other genres like YA fantasy. Main characters die, empires and monarchies fall and the hero can lose. Nothing is safe and that excites and frightens me.

description

It starts off with a fractured gang who are traumatised. They is a sense of anger and hopelessness with many of them (except the prince who doesn't care about anyone but himself). Nora especially is 'broken' with a body that is not healed and an anger that sits inside her that is as hot and patient as the sun. Owen has made a choice to save his sister at the expense of himself and Telen gains is autonomy back slowly but is traumatised from losing his freedom and being trapped within his own body. Everyone is hurt, sad and scared that what the future holds and what they lost in joining this quest.

I am kind of mad at Telen for all the secret keeping but feel bad for all the loss of personal autonomy. I do love it when Nora is mad at him and fights him. It is charged atmosphere that makes the reader empathetic to both sides. Telen can never say the right thing and that truly aggravates me in this book. He can be so blind for an all-seeing wiseman.

So the two things I thought were going to happen happened, i.e. :

Spoiler

Owen becoming the Living Blade and Nora becoming the wielding the Blade. Owen not telling Nora breaks my heart and convinced me he wouldn't go through with it even though I knew it had to happen for Nora to wield the blade. THE SHOCK I GOT FROM NORA BEING EMBODIED BY THE WHISPERS AND NOT BEING IN CONTROL OF HER AUTOMY SHOCKED ME BECAUSE SIS WAS NOT EVEN THE WIELDER YET BUT INFLUENCED BY IT. Twin magic is doing too much and needs several seats.

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I immediately downloaded the next book [b:Mother of Slag|41431023|Mother of Slag (The Living Blade, #3)|Timandra Whitecastle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551342727l/41431023._SY75_.jpg|64654103] and I have zero theories on on how Telen and Nora will get out of the situations they got themselves into. Reading the synopsis, Telen going off on an adventure to learn about his mum was no where close to what I would think it would be about.

**Side note in regards to disability rep.

Spoiler

: erasing Nora's injuries, i.e. her face burn that scarred her and subsequently her arm that was severely burnt that would need amputating if she wasn't filled with unexplained Blade magic, is somewhat problematic. As someone with no skin disorders or disabilities I cannot speak for this representation but magic healing from a face burn that hinders her way of life and attitudes around her and an arm that is rendered useless, stuck in a burnt curled in way, are unchangeable disfigurements. I think I knew she would be magically 'cured' of all aliments and injuries but I am disappointed that it still happened. I don't know its not for me to condone or cast judgment about. At least leave the face scar that references the death twin and reduce the arm injury that it can be naturally healed, just over a longer period of time

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TW: death, gore, blood, disregard for personal autonomy, mental illness.

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stephrhodes218's review against another edition

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5.0

Im in complete shock with the cliffhanger in this book. Im also just a complete and total emotional wreck with half of this book. Cant wait to start the next book.

kartiknarayanan's review

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5.0

This series is becoming a classic

The first book was great at character development. This book makes the first pale. It has twists and turns that are difficult to see coming. This is a brilliant book will worth the time.

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