Scan barcode
harriet_05's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
The first book that broke my heart into millions of pieces and then clued it back together but all the cracks are still there, as painful memories or the best ones. The five stars I gave this book can’t reflect how extraordinarily this book was written, every word was thought out, every action. This book is amazing and I’m at a loss of words. Thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
thevietvegan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
2.5
The first 60% of this book is rough. Info dumps galore, romance trope with a dose of traumatized heroine on her journey to self-actualization.
The plot itself isn't awful, I thought the blend of tech and fantasy was pretty cool.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the writing itself. I have no problem with swear words and explicit subjects, I'm used to that and SJM isn't a stranger to that. This book had swear words and extremely explicitly sexual language during several parts of this book for... no reason? Other than to signal just how sexy or bangable a character is. It was kind of exhausting, like, yes, I understand, you're all hot people who want to bang. Let's move on please.
There were several points during interactions between characters that used such random sexual language to simply state that someone's voice was low and sexy. Swear words peppered into exposition that completely halted the text to put emphasis on something totally not important. It was jarring and distracting. It wasn't so bad in the last 40% of the book but the first 60%. Oof. I haven't been this frustrated with a writing style in a while.
I think Bryce as an abrasive, extremely independent unexpected heroine was cool. Pretty familiar to Aelin and Feyre, but it's a trope I seem to like so ya ok. Same with Hunt. Hunt is a familiar trope of dark, broody character with a murderous past who has had to do some shit to find redemption, that redemption being love and/or friendship. I'm noticing a pattern in SJM's male characters and I liked Rowan, loved Rhys, but am finding the trope repetitive.
Will I continue reading this series? Eh... probably. I'm curious as to what Bryce and Hunt do with their freedom and powers. But this is easily my least favourite of SJM's books so far and I'm a little bummed about that.
The plot itself isn't awful, I thought the blend of tech and fantasy was pretty cool.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the writing itself. I have no problem with swear words and explicit subjects, I'm used to that and SJM isn't a stranger to that. This book had swear words and extremely explicitly sexual language during several parts of this book for... no reason? Other than to signal just how sexy or bangable a character is. It was kind of exhausting, like, yes, I understand, you're all hot people who want to bang. Let's move on please.
There were several points during interactions between characters that used such random sexual language to simply state that someone's voice was low and sexy. Swear words peppered into exposition that completely halted the text to put emphasis on something totally not important. It was jarring and distracting. It wasn't so bad in the last 40% of the book but the first 60%. Oof. I haven't been this frustrated with a writing style in a while.
I think Bryce as an abrasive, extremely independent unexpected heroine was cool. Pretty familiar to Aelin and Feyre, but it's a trope I seem to like so ya ok. Same with Hunt. Hunt is a familiar trope of dark, broody character with a murderous past who has had to do some shit to find redemption, that redemption being love and/or friendship. I'm noticing a pattern in SJM's male characters and I liked Rowan, loved Rhys, but am finding the trope repetitive.
Will I continue reading this series? Eh... probably. I'm curious as to what Bryce and Hunt do with their freedom and powers. But this is easily my least favourite of SJM's books so far and I'm a little bummed about that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
paolina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Put off at first by Maas's writing style, I was eventually sucked into the plot about halfway through. I have a lot of issues with this book, but anythin that can hold my attention right now is worth a few stars. (Issues being tons of info-dumps, Maas calling characters "males" and "females" like a weirdo instead of just using pronouns, every single character being the most badass that ever badassed-if everyone is a badass, then no one is, really-and convenient plot points that cropped up out of nowhere).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty
withyrwyther's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book somehow manages to be fast paced and filled with absolutely nothing at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, and Vomit
Simply put, this book is a mess. The only positive thing it has going for it are that the concepts had the potential to be good, but these were wasted in favor of filler scenes and dick jokes.
More...