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kowhaiii'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
4.5
A Broken Blade was a brilliant debut novel with wonderful world building and memorable characters. I have many unanswered questions in the best and worst ways, and I can't wait for the series to continue! :D
Graphic: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Addiction, Alcohol, and Self harm
Moderate: Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Blood, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Cursing, Genocide, Sexual assault, and Torture
sflory910's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Sexual content
bookgrrl's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Torture
cosmicmo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Alcoholism, and Slavery
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, and Torture
nicolesbookcase's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
This is very evidently a debut novel, and I believe better editing would have significantly helped this book. The writing is, for the most part, good, and the premise is amazing. The tropes and themes and representation in this book are fantastic. I just wish the introduction to all of it had been better laid out.
The flow of the writing was super choppy in the beginning; it was almost hard to read because there was no natural cadence to adjacent lines. This did get much better as the book progressed. I think this choppiness came from the content; there was a LOT of info-dumping in the first 10 or so chapters. In order to get the information needed about this fantasy world into the readers' minds, the main character was put into situations and events occurred that didn't make a lot of logical sense, purely so we could get relevant worldbuilding info. That definitely could have been done better. There was also a lot of repetition of a specific plot point in the beginning, which eventually led to huge character development later on, but it was hammered in way too much.
The characterization of the main character, Keera, in the beginning was all over the place. Keera vacillated between being this deadpan, badass assassin who cares for no one and doesn't give a crap about anything to being a devoted friend desperately trying to help to being a clumsy, giggly girl in front of most men she encountered. I understand that people have layers, facets...and Keera was perhaps all of these things, but it honestly felt like I was reading about two different people; she was a completely different person with each character she interacted with. I needed more synchronicity between these different personalities, and given this is written in first person, that should have been easier. I definitely felt like Keera's character was more cohesive in the second half of the book. After more supporting characters were introduced and plot points became more fleshed out, Keera came into her own more; I could actually buy the things she was saying out loud as things she would actually say. There was also great character development of Keera as the book progressed.
There were plot-holes and inconsistencies throughout this book, which I again think would have benefited significantly from better editing. I'm also still not totally sure on some of the worldbuilding points. What is the difference between Elves and Fae? Still not sure, despite all of the info-dumping in the beginning. Hopefully more to come in the following book; I can see how that could become a relevant plot point in the sequel.
I did really enjoy the premise of the book, and the plot in the second half of the book was tense and exciting! I liked the mystery and intrigue involved in who was who and who was involved in what and the risks being taken, and I am excited to read the next book. I also liked the enemies-to-lovers romance aspect, although I did feel like things were a tad rushed, with the enemy going from hating Keera one second to completely falling for her 3 minutes later. There were lots of tropes I love (including THERE'S ONLY ONE BED and WHO DID THIS TO YOU?). There was the classic romance aspect of boy meets girl and girl can't imagine her life without boy, which I don't love, but that's a romance plot for you.
Overall, this is a debut novel with a great premise, a very interesting fantasy world (although one I wish had been fleshed out more without so much info-dumping), great characters with fantastic development and growth, and a very intriguing ending that draws you in to the sequel, but also a book that could have done with some more content editing in the first half to clear up some plot-holes and inconsistencies, adjust the flow of the writing, and cement some characterizations and worldbuilding! I will definitely be picking up the next book, and I imagine it can only get better from here.
Graphic: Grief, Addiction, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Trafficking
catnaps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Death, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Colonisation, and Violence
caitlin033'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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Alcoholism, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Colonisation
Minor: Death of parent and Torture
tessa_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Genocide
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
6/3/2023
Did I stay up, when I have to work in 6 hours, to finish this book...even though I've already read it? Yes, yes I did. A fantastic book that was even better the second time around! I'm so excited I reread this so when I jump into book 2 [most likely tomorrow after work lol] I'm ready with all the info.
4/25/2022
If you’ve been on Booktok since at least last fall, you know that Melissa Blair had a chokehold on us, as everyone was desperate to read, and find out who wrote, this fantasy. From the moment the first video dropped we were all hooked on solving the mystery.
When the final reveal was announced Booktok was thrilled!
The way Melissa crafted Keera has me in awe. Keera is complex and feels broken, weighed down by the guilt of every innocent she’s been forced to kill. For years, as the King’s “Blade”, she’s been forced to hunt down countless Halflings, like herself, in order to appease the King’s quest to maintain power and control of the kingdom. A task she’s always hated but tries to use the little power she has to help, other halflings when she can.
Having had rebellious thoughts in her youth countless years of being forced to do the King’s bidding have led to Keera feeling hopeless and no longer holding regard for her own life. Every time she closes her eyes she sees visions of the countless people she’s murdered in the name of the King.
This book is so beautifully crafted I cannot wait to find out what happens next. I’m so excited to see that Melissa was given a 3 book contract with a publisher so she’ll be able to continue to craft this amazing story. I’m only sad because with the re-release of this book in August, through Union Square publishing, I’m not sure how long I’ll have to wait until we’re able to devour book two.
If you’re looking for a well-crafted Fantasy with a complex main character, of unknown origin, who will do whatever it takes to protect those under her care…I highly recommend picking this book up. This book was written, and dedicated, to Booktok and has so many tropes that we know and love along with a beautiful story that I can’t wait to delve deeper into!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Torture, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
katrinaslibrary's review against another edition
- 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
At first I had low expectations because I didn’t know what to expect.
The story is centred around a female assassin who is half-Fae and therefore in her society, a slave for the Crown. She has been trained to be a deadly assassin, to capture and kill Halflings like herself.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Self harm, and Slavery
Moderate: Torture, Racism, and Murder