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bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, War, Vomit, Blood, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Xenophobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
cameronreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
I really liked this book! I struggled to get into it a little in the beginning, I think there was something a little off either with the pacing or the initial world building, but by the end I was really enjoying it. I think the characters brought it through for me, I really liked Lysande as a main character and think she provided a really interesting perspective, and I LOVED all of the side characters. I did guess who the traitor was very early, but that’s never really a problem for me in a book because it just makes me feel smart. I think sometimes the scenes felt a little jumpy, and there were times when the writing felt a little clunky and I had to reread a page or passage to fully get what was trying to be conveyed. I did like the plot overall though, and how it cumulated in a not-quite-ending. I liked the main relationship (despite just how much of a slow burn it was) and how they were constantly at each other’s throats until the end, it was very fun. I also loved the friendships between Lysande and Litany as well as her and Cassia. What can I say I love me a female friendship. I also appreciated the portrayal of addiction, though I’ve never experienced it so can’t say with certainty how accurate it is. I liked the world and the different cities (although I think it could have been set up better) and I think the magic system was interesting (although could have been a little more explored nearer the end).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent, War, Torture, and Toxic relationship
marioncromb's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This book was a slog to get though, and especially tedious when the main character was just being horny all the time. Some of the reveals can be seen a mile off and it really wakes you wonder about the intelligence of this supposed scholar that she's oblivious. The reversal of patriarchal man-as-default to woman as default wasnt as progressive as it maybe thought it was, or at least it wasnt noticeably used to explore/point out sexism.
Also i didnt vibe with the writing style, particularly at the start. It felt a bit 'second mentions', like the writer thought good writing was just rephrasing things differently with fancy adjectives (i got particularly annoyed with a sentence that was along the lines of 'the mellifluous voice spoke in honeyed tones', like mellifluous literally means like honey, you've said the same thing twice, no wonder this book was twice as long as it needed to be.
Its not a terrible book but eh
Also i didnt vibe with the writing style, particularly at the start. It felt a bit 'second mentions', like the writer thought good writing was just rephrasing things differently with fancy adjectives (i got particularly annoyed with a sentence that was along the lines of 'the mellifluous voice spoke in honeyed tones', like mellifluous literally means like honey, you've said the same thing twice, no wonder this book was twice as long as it needed to be.
Its not a terrible book but eh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, War, Classism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Genocide
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Vomit
cordiet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This has such complex, and compelling characters. I have never read a book with a main character like Lysande, but she is by far one of my new favorites. Not only is she multidimensional, but all of the side characters also have depth. They all feel like real humans, with real flaws and emotions. The only fault I can find in this book is that many of the twists I could see coming, so I took away from the shock. However it did not make this book any less then fantastic, and I can’t wait to learn more about the world and the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Sexual content
misterwisp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
The way the author writes about "inner world" things like addiction and grief has a lot of impact and resonance. The writing overall feels quite different in an interesting way. Some parts have a real elegance to them. If you like a component of emotional exploration this is definitely worth a try.
It is somewhat slow at times and initially felt hard to get into. There is a big focus on the main character's thoughts and perceptions of things. There is a lot of subtle interpersonal drama, which is broken up by occasional fast paced action.
It proved worth the effort. The ending was great and provided a satisfying payoff of the main story threads leading there. I am left feeling invested in the characters and the world and wishing I had a sequel in my hands already!
Overall it came across as a book of subtlety and understatement in a well done and intriguing way. I can't believe this is a debut novel! Everything in it seems well crafted and thoroughly thought out.
It is somewhat slow at times and initially felt hard to get into. There is a big focus on the main character's thoughts and perceptions of things. There is a lot of subtle interpersonal drama, which is broken up by occasional fast paced action.
It proved worth the effort. The ending was great and provided a satisfying payoff of the main story threads leading there. I am left feeling invested in the characters and the world and wishing I had a sequel in my hands already!
Overall it came across as a book of subtlety and understatement in a well done and intriguing way. I can't believe this is a debut novel! Everything in it seems well crafted and thoroughly thought out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Classism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Death
Minor: Colonisation, Sexual content, War, Xenophobia, Murder, and Violence
totallyshelfaware's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Oh wow, what a TRIP. I haven't been sucked in from page one by a book like that in a while.
This book has it all — drama! politics! questionable choices! morally dubious characters! achingly beautiful writing! characters that burrow their way into your heart! queer rep that feels completely organic to the story!
I'm so glad we're getting a sequel because I definitely want more of this world and its characters. ♥️
This book has it all — drama! politics! questionable choices! morally dubious characters! achingly beautiful writing! characters that burrow their way into your heart! queer rep that feels completely organic to the story!
I'm so glad we're getting a sequel because I definitely want more of this world and its characters. ♥️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, and Sexual content
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