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aryc'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The characters and plot were addictive. It was easy to read, and it's not like the common enemies to lovers. I really enjoy it how the final chapters were developed, and how my heart was broken so slowly đđ I'll be waiting for the second part.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse
ruth_a's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Religious bigotry, Drug use, Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Grief
kirsty_irwin'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: Blood, Genocide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Outing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Self harm, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
author2223'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Classism, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Addiction, Self harm, Child death, and Police brutality
amarainfaeland's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Death, and Self harm
chasinggrace'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
4.0
Now, there are a few things I would change. In the first 100 pages, the author repeats herself a LOT, with very similar sentence structures and identical descriptions (of a witchâs first bleed, of how Rune played into her Nanâs death, etc.) I found it annoying and it took me out of the story. Secondly, boxing? The way the characters speak and dress and transport themselves, this story takes place in the âpast.â But boxing? With gloves, in a ring? This couldâve easily been a fighting ring or sparring, but boxing took me out of the story as well. It didnât seem to fit.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Classism, Addiction, Body horror, Rape, and Sexual content
jordanog4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gun violence
sdoner23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug abuse
alibubba'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, and Violence
mindsplinters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I just hope we don't go splat. Because this is a pretty strong book and it needs a very strong follow-up! While there were a few hiccups in world-building, the author still made things feel real enough and balanced between familiar and fantasy that my mind could overlook some of the minor gaps in the world logic to submerge into a world that is a mix of post-Revolution France, Regency England, alchemical fairy tales, and derring-do. I love derring-do. I enjoy it even more when the one doing the derring is not completely perfect at it but tries hard and doesn't make the stupid mistakes...
Other than the fact that, well, Rune and her accomplices are teenagers so there willl still be some inherent stupidity. Which is alright because they rarely tip into the kind that makes me eye-roll. Rune herself is an unsteady mess of guilt and bravery and brains and foolishness which works, given her background and all. You can't help but appreciate how she wants to do the best she can while also realizing that, wow, girl, you're unhealthy and probably need a qualified therapist to work through this baggage.
Ditto for Gideon. He gets more depth to him than you would expect in a YA Romantasy, helped by the alternative POV chapters. You can still think he's a bit of an ass but you understand where he is coming from. The fact that he opens up to Rune? Shockingly mature, despite his alleged reasons for it.
While I saw some of the reveals coming, I am pleased to say that there were still some surprises. One of which had me hollering "you dumbass!" at a character. He totally deserved it. I mean, I get it. Morals and all. But, dude, you had one job. (Don't worry. I still love you.)
Now for the real question... What would my magical signature be and what does one do if you're such a dominant rightie that carving casting marks with your left hand leaves you with scars that look like they were done by a drunken kindergartener?
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual violence