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emilysmessydesk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I liked the world building in this one: the combination of modern day & magical and how that might look. Cell phones for quick text messages makes communication so much easier!!
Bryce is a spitfire and sassy, and there's a lot more to her character. (Which as per SJM's normal formula, isn't revealed until the very end!) Hunt quickly climbed my list of favorite SJM male characters; he's clever and thoughtful.
However, I really did *not* enjoy the twist with Hunt at the end. That felt like it came out of left field, which I'm sure was the point, but there was no other indicators that something was up with him. I waited for the other shoe to drop; surely this is a test for Bryce, somehow? It's just a set-up to catch someone else red-handed? But no, this was actually legit and now we're down 2 side characters and Hunt has royally fucked up.
Here's one of my complaints: SJM's characters are quick to forgive big lies/betrayals/etc. Way too quickly. That doesn't feel realistic, or logical, or even *right* because there's oftentimes a lot to unpack about those situations. And a lot to communicate between characters, if they even decide to keep the communication lines open! This plot point just felt kind of thrown in there at the last second, to stew distrust/drama between the two main characters if only to keep the other main plot moving along. I wish there had been more to it than that.
I did cry when Lehabah sacrificed herself at the end. It felt very real, and that friendship was true throughout the book despite its moments of flightiness. Bryce's reveal of buying her deed and freeing her! So good, so heartbreaking.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
natashian'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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Violence, Suicide attempt, and War
just_me_abbey'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
colorwriter'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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
natlonelyghost'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
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kyahs'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kshertz's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mabs_grace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Classism
amartin48'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
cady_sass'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
4.5
To think I almost DNFed this after 50 pages!!! Which is why I deduct half a star. The first few chapters are really hard to read, they’re nonsensical, lazy world building and make almost zero sense to the point where I felt compelled to put it down. Some friends convinced me it was worth the push so I started over and pushed through part 1, at which point I absolutely *devoured* the rest of the book. I didn’t guess any of the twists, I fell in love with all the characters, my heart broke and pieced itself back together and broke over and over again. Loved this. ACOTAR who?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism