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folkofthebook'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
3.75
“We live in a topsy-turvy world, Alta Renata, where the criminals are honest, and it’s the upright folk you have to be wary of.”
this is a high fantasy that makes its readers work. the worldbuilding is in details and it's up to you to piece it together and figure it out; nothing is spelled out. names and places (and some titles) are in an original language crafted by the writers, so there is a lot to process while reading. it's long and dense, with slow pacing and lengthy descriptions to provide setting as well as background information at many turns.
i've heard this comped as an adult six of crows, which i could potentially see as well as peaky blinders, but as i haven't read or watched either i can't confirm beyond aesthetics.
if you are ok with a book that slows you down to process, this will be the read for you. personally, it was a bit difficult for me to adjust to in the beginning, but once i got to know the main characters better and became familiar with the setting and names i was hooked.
“Fine, then,” she whispered softly. “This is your game? Let’s play.”
unfortunately bc of the length and dense writing, it is a bit sluggish overall. i really enjoyed ren's character and vargo as well. i thought the concept of the cards and some of the magic system and lore were interesting and unique. there was a lot of queer rep and it was very much a norm in this world. the con was exciting and i enjoyed some of the political intrigue, but i do feel the book could have been tightened up. i also was disappointed in the fate of one character and the reveal of the rook.
things that would have additionally helped my reading experience: character art and family lines. i didn't realize until i finished the book that there was a dramatis personae at the end (it was not on the author's website, which does have a pronunciation guide and a few other helpful extras). there's also no character art anywhere, including commissioned by the authors. there's so little description about characters besides their clothing that i really don't have much of an idea what anyone looks like AND there's many characters to keep track of. i think anyone who writes fantasy should also do the basics: a map, main character art (at least 1 commission), and family trees for extensive casts.
i feel invested enough to continue to book 2, but i'm going to read a few other books first. the trilogy overall was raved about by a reviewer i like, so i would like to see it through for myself.
“We don’t kill,” the Rook whispered to the oblivious city. “But we can destroy.”
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Child death, and Vomit
weareinheritors'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? Yes
4.0
I'm really excited to see how the threads that were spun in the final 10% of the book are addressed in the sequel.
Graphic: Classism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Trafficking
Minor: Incest, Rape, and Cannibalism
soniajoy98'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
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Violence, Cursing, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Child death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Police brutality, Slavery, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
strange_little_ranger'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? No
4.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Medical content, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Murder