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waywardcrow'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
4.75
Because the caste system is so dark, cruel, and twisted and my heart was breaking for those at the bottom of society. It is a reflection of other oppressive systems and colonialism throughout history. This is not an escapist read by any means. Ironically, the next book on my TBR is Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Hopefully reading this has opened up/prepped my mind for that reflection and I won’t get too depressed reading them back to back lol.
Anyways! It was very well written and I loved the use of poetry and storytelling throughout the novel. Not only were the acts of oppression mirrors of our world, but so were the acts of resistance. There’s also a lot of mystery and intrigue, I totally have no idea where things are going. I tend to read a lot of more predictable books (which I don’t mind) but this was a nice change to be genuinely surprised about everything that was happening.
And of course, hip hip hooray for sapphic representation! I was not expecting a world where being LGBT is normalized. But I think we needed it or else this would be an even harder read than it already was. I like the way the romance developed over time, although the romance reader in me yearned for a more angsty portrayal of their internal conflicts as they realized their feelings for one another.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Drug use, Genocide, Police brutality, Colonisation, and Classism
aurora4847'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: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Gore, Racial slurs, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, and War
This book is intense. There is a strong caste system with all the racism and classism that goes along with it. There are 2 public executions described with varying amounts of detail. Multiple characters experience the death of family members (including parents). The magic system is based on blood, so self harm for rituals is common. One caste suffers mutilation as children (process not described, only results). There is police brutality similar to that in the United States. There are flashbacks to child abuse, and multiple characters are involuntarily confined in varying spaces (including solitary confinement). The main character struggles with addiction through the whole story, and there are depictions of drug use, interventions, and withdrawal symptoms.fanboyriot'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
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
crybabybea's review against another edition
It was fine, but the world-building was lackluster despite some really cool ideas. Main characters have really unique struggles that made them interesting. I can't get past the heavy exposition dumping, messy writing, and whiplash tone changes. If I were more interested in the plot I would keep going, but I have no interest in reading a training/trials story. Feels uninspired and overdone. Also there's a borderline incest romance happening and I just can't handle that lol
Might pick it up later but I feel myself actively avoiding reading it so I'm giving up for now.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Torture, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
isopod_lover'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism
briannad4's review
Graphic: Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
ford_defect's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
But anyway, now I'll talk about what I really liked about the book. The blood magic system was super cool. At first, I wasn't sure how much I liked needing to draw runes to fire a gun (since that would be pretty inefficient if you were slow at writing). Though, the longer I thought about it, the more it grew on me. Bloodwerk requires skill and dexterity, so not everyone would be good at it, which is a good challenge for the MCs that didn't know how to bloodwerk before. Secondly, the atmosphere was quite unique and immersive. Especially since the author wrote about the history of the world, too. The character development was also well done (with the exception of what I said about a part of Sylah's progress). I initially hated Anoor and Sylah, but they evolved so much. I was a little disappointed we didn't see more romance between them.
So 3/5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Dysphoria
kayberlyn'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: Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
fairyollie'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
5.0
what I especially love about this book, as a queer disabled adult who uses sign language, is that disability, sexuality, gender, alternate/augmented means of communication, etc., are all simply facets of life. never do I see a book in which a main character - or so many characters - are disabled and it is not a "pity, shame, how sad, I could never, this is gonna advance so-and-so's character arc!", plot point or traumatic backstory. it simply is. there is so much more I wish I could say, but for fear of my big mouth and I spoiling a thing, let me leave you with this: I cannot recommend this book more; it is simply impossible. I beg you, please join me in this raw, open-hearted, desperate, vengeful quest for adventure and justice and give this series a try.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
salemander's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism