Scan barcode
empire_of_sun_and_nightmares's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
caitie145's review against another edition
5.0
How the hell am I supposed to wait until October for answers to that ending !?
ashlieinpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
a_coop's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
lyakimov's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars.
This was an interesting read, there were some parts that felt really slow and it felt like it took a while to get the story rolling. I enjoyed the plot, but felt like the trials were a little random piece of lore to throw in and there really was no reason for anyone to have those trials instead of execution. Also, it is kind of hard to have a fast-paced, quickly moving story in a book with one sole setting for the entirety of the novel, especially with a setting so drab. I think the author did very well with it though.
I really liked the twist at the end. I did not guess that Kiva was the daughter of the rebel queen that she had been trying to save the entire story, and I think that makes me really interested about what is going to happen in the next books of the series. It really made Kiva's motivations throughout the entire book finally feel like they made sense and the vague-ness of her just being in prison for literally no reason except for being her father's daughter makes so much more sense now. I did immediately guess that Jaren was the crown prince, I could see that coming from far away, but I was too distracted by that twist to notice the laid groundwork for the final twist.
This was an interesting read, there were some parts that felt really slow and it felt like it took a while to get the story rolling. I enjoyed the plot, but felt like the trials were a little random piece of lore to throw in and there really was no reason for anyone to have those trials instead of execution. Also, it is kind of hard to have a fast-paced, quickly moving story in a book with one sole setting for the entirety of the novel, especially with a setting so drab. I think the author did very well with it though.
I really liked the twist at the end. I did not guess that Kiva was the daughter of the rebel queen that she had been trying to save the entire story, and I think that makes me really interested about what is going to happen in the next books of the series. It really made Kiva's motivations throughout the entire book finally feel like they made sense and the vague-ness of her just being in prison for literally no reason except for being her father's daughter makes so much more sense now. I did immediately guess that Jaren was the crown prince, I could see that coming from far away, but I was too distracted by that twist to notice the laid groundwork for the final twist.
iene's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
talknerdybookblog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Representation: POC supporting character with a prosthetic arm, lesbian side character
Mature Themes:
• Drug consumption used in medical practice
• Drug abuse discussed
• Sexual content doesn't surpass kissing, although there's an allusion to other side characters (who the reader never meets) having sex
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Imprisonment of children
• Solitary confinement used as torture
• Sexual harassment
• Attempted sexual assault
• R@pe of side characters discussed
• Physical assault
• Whipping
• Psychological torture
• Grief
• Death of the protagonist's dad recounted
• Murder of protagonist's brother recounted (sword violence)
• Near drowning experience
• Attempted immolation of protagonist
• Parental abuse of a supporting character when the parent is on drugs
• Gore
• Medical trauma
• Near death of child described in detail
Ending:Cliffhanger
Mature Themes:
• Drug consumption used in medical practice
• Drug abuse discussed
• Sexual content doesn't surpass kissing, although there's an allusion to other side characters (who the reader never meets) having sex
Possible Triggers: Yes
• Imprisonment of children
• Solitary confinement used as torture
• Sexual harassment
• Attempted sexual assault
• R@pe of side characters discussed
• Physical assault
• Whipping
• Psychological torture
• Grief
• Death of the protagonist's dad recounted
• Murder of protagonist's brother recounted (sword violence)
• Near drowning experience
• Attempted immolation of protagonist
• Parental abuse of a supporting character when the parent is on drugs
• Gore
• Medical trauma
• Near death of child described in detail
Ending:
clarareadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What? The ending!!?
justjulie36's review against another edition
5.0
The last 50 or so pages turned this from a 4 star to a 5 star read. While I enjoyed reading the first 3/4 of this book, I was completely gobsmacked by the ending. I had to sit in silence for like ten minutes gasping and guffawing. Fantastic ending, good show.