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booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The worldbuilding is fine, it's not very complicated because the story invests its detail in the Queen and the two girls, and the people around them. One thing this portrays very well is emotional abuse and manipulation, and the way that a combination of threats plus unpredictable enforcement can be used to break someone down and make everything feel pointless. The story is about whether Cadence will finally have something that it's worth standing up for, and I appreciate how the story shows why she didn't fight for things before. Even if her reasons seem silly or you can imagine yourself doing more in her shoes (some of her fellow characters think they might have done more), the characterization is so well done to explain why she hadn't before, but without excusing what she's done and continues to do.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion and Death of parent
iorelyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, and Torture
caidyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Abortion
callmrsmuise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I find that the story is incredibly sad all the way through. I was getting kind of upset about it for a bit. With zero reprieve from the abuse inflicted on the protagonists I was waiting impatiently for it to end… or for something NOT sad to happen. Additionally, I was a little confused about the character’s motivations for doing certain things. In a way, this made their feelings seem contrived.
Audiobook review: Reading was somewhat monotone with only slight differences in the voices. Again, a nitpick. Audio was well produced.
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
valpuri's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The concept of magic that is sung and a romance between two women that are on opposite sides of a rebellion are what convinced me to pick up this book, but it just didn't really deliver on either of those. There is very little world-building or character development, and the latter half of the book feels very rushed. :( The first half of the book is pretty good and promising... I just wish that there was something more to the end.
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Grief, and Vomit
mushr00mcore's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Homophobia