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betsy_spell's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
fthepatriarchy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a good book but it’s very obviously written by a booktok author and is a very stereotypical fantasy. appreciated the bisexual mc and related to her a lot, her struggles w mental health were well written and relatable. will definitely be reading the sequel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Self harm, and Sexual content
ali_k0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There were 2 (count em! 2!) instances in which there was only one bed. Need I say more? (Okay but seriously this is a beautiful book with an amazing plot that does a great job at integrating all your favorite tropes.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual harassment
soniajoy98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
cemeterygay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I adored this book and I think it as an absolutely refreshing take on colonialism in a genre that so heavily promotes and plays into colonial thinking.
Before I get into why I adored this book so deeply, I need to start with the critiques I have the book. This book needed I think just another round of editing there are some issues with repetition that could have been easily fixed with just one more round of edits. I do also wish there had been a tad bit more rep of darker skinned characters in the main cast but that's about it. This book also just needed more character descriptions in general. There was also an antisemitic description in the book that has been removed after speaking to a Jewish reviewer for future editions but is still important to point out.
I think this book does a phenomenal job of portraying the struggles of those who have been forcibly culturally disconnected under colonialism and how colonized people survive under these systems while trying to work to tear them down. I especially adore the lack of judgement given to characters like Keera who did what they needed to survive under colonial systems. I love how the author made a big point of that and very intentionally balances both the harm that has been done and why that harm was done in the first place.
While not a major aspect of the novel, I really enjoyed the romance between Riven and Keera and I really liked that there were genuine conversations about consent in this book that are missing in so many books similar to this. While we only get a quick look at some of these side characters I'm really looking forward to seeing them grown in future books and to learn more about them. I especially adored Nikolai and I am looking forward to seeing more of him.
I adore Keera as a main character and her struggles with colonialism resonated so deeply with me. I was happy to see her stick up for herself consistently and could understand were her choices were coming from. I look forward to seeing more of how she came to the point on colonialism that she was at the beginning of the novel. I think this book definitely focuses more on how Keera moves forward with the understanding the harms of colonialism than how Keera comes to understand the horrors of colonialism which is not necessarily for everyone.
I really like the world Melissa Blair built and I'm looking forward to see more of it but as it exists now we just haven't been able to see to much of it.
The villains in this story are incredibly well-done and instantly inspire the appropriate amount of hatred.
I really liked the way the realities of war and revolution are handled in this book and I enjoyed the plot and pacing as a whole. I also really like the humor in this book and love the interactions between character.
Spoiler for most of the book: I also appreciate the amount of casual queer rep and the rep of non-white characters. I especially appreciate that Keera was allowed to talk about her queerness without it either just being completely forgotten in favor of her relationship with a man. I just love that Keera is allowed to be both unapologetically queer and in a relationship with a man.
If you are looking for a book that tackles the colonialism inherent in SJM books and books similar like that while still featuring a highly skilled woman as a primary protagonist, this is the book for you.
Before I get into why I adored this book so deeply, I need to start with the critiques I have the book. This book needed I think just another round of editing there are some issues with repetition that could have been easily fixed with just one more round of edits. I do also wish there had been a tad bit more rep of darker skinned characters in the main cast but that's about it. This book also just needed more character descriptions in general. There was also an antisemitic description in the book that has been removed after speaking to a Jewish reviewer for future editions but is still important to point out.
I think this book does a phenomenal job of portraying the struggles of those who have been forcibly culturally disconnected under colonialism and how colonized people survive under these systems while trying to work to tear them down. I especially adore the lack of judgement given to characters like Keera who did what they needed to survive under colonial systems. I love how the author made a big point of that and very intentionally balances both the harm that has been done and why that harm was done in the first place.
While not a major aspect of the novel, I really enjoyed the romance
I adore Keera as a main character and her struggles with colonialism resonated so deeply with me. I was happy to see her stick up for herself consistently and could understand were her choices were coming from. I look forward to seeing more of how she came to the point on colonialism that she was at the beginning of the novel. I think this book definitely focuses more on how Keera moves forward with the understanding the harms of colonialism than how Keera comes to understand the horrors of colonialism which is not necessarily for everyone.
I really like the world Melissa Blair built and I'm looking forward to see more of it but as it exists now we just haven't been able to see to much of it.
The villains in this story are incredibly well-done and instantly inspire the appropriate amount of hatred.
I really liked the way the realities of war and revolution are handled in this book and I enjoyed the plot and pacing as a whole. I also really like the humor in this book and love the interactions between character.
Spoiler for most of the book:
If you are looking for a book that tackles the colonialism inherent in SJM books and books similar like that while still featuring a highly skilled woman as a primary protagonist, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
CW: Systemic violence, depressionreadintheclouds'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Self harm
juliarose54's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, and Colonisation
raven_rainbow_crew's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Murder
bookishfaye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Speechless!!!! This book!!!! Was amazing!!!!!
- the raw and real representation of colonialism & the effects of it. Addiction, mental illness, & self harm rawness that was all done with such care and very tastefully!
- an extremely fun romance with all the good tropes (done sooooo well also): enemies to reluctant comrades to will they/won’t they yearning to lovers, knife to the throat moments, one bed, one horse
- the found family group <33
- Keera <33 the love of my mf life
- the world, plot, & characters all were a 5/5 for me and I found all of it to be executed so !!!!!! Well !!!!!!!
- the raw and real representation of colonialism & the effects of it. Addiction, mental illness, & self harm rawness that was all done with such care and very tastefully!
- an extremely fun romance with all the good tropes (done sooooo well also): enemies to reluctant comrades to will they/won’t they yearning to lovers, knife to the throat moments, one bed, one horse
- the found family group <33
- Keera <33 the love of my mf life
- the world, plot, & characters all were a 5/5 for me and I found all of it to be executed so !!!!!! Well !!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Colonisation
kat1105's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Colonisation, and War