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talonsontypewriters's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic
chainingbooks'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
I felt that this was a wonderfully diverse fantasy that doesn't hold back any punches. I was truly impressed at how the author was able to balance three strong female leads, especially when they didn't go the route as setting up chapters as different POVs. While it felt like a majority of the story is told from Sylah's perspective, the characters she interacts with all feel so strong in their own rights.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Sylah as she works to find herself again. She was raised with a large legacy on her shoulders and does end up losing her way. When she gets the renewed energy to take on the empire, I was rooting for her even if I didn't agree with her choices. Her journey shows us that you can find allies in unexpected places, what we know of the world may not be the full truth, and what motivates us may change but if a cause is great enough it is worth fighting for.
Anoor was a character I didn't know that I would come to love. Once I did though, she became the character I wanted to protect more than any of the others (even though she totally doesn't need it!). The arc she follows felt like a true underdog's tale and I couldn't get enough of it. I especially appreciated how her character was able to be open-minded and learn from meeting people from different walks of life than her own.
Last, but DEFINITELY not least, there's Hassa. Hassa is a character I would absolutely trust with my life. In the beginning I thought they were just the reliable friend but as Hassa's role was revealed I was excited each time they came up in the story. It got to the point where I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next big lore reveal from them. There's not much I feel like I can say about their character without spoilers, but I will just say that they are a total badass who is smarter than I will ever hope to be.
While I'm bad at continuing a trilogy, the lore reveals right at the end of this have me wanting to dive right back in. I'll gladly talk with anyone that wants to scream and shout about the last 50 or so pages LOL.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, and Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Kidnapping
dragongirl271'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
4.75
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Child death and Vomit
briannad4's review
Graphic: Drug abuse, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
katerinovaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
2.5 stars because I see the world-building must've been time-consuming, the plot made sense, and there was loads of representation.
Trigger warnings / Tropes
🗡mild sexual content
🗡murder, blood, war, poverty, discrimination,...
🗡drugs (a lot, MC; also drugging other people)
🗡alcohol
🗡cruel punishment of children (physical and psychological)
🗡mention of SA at the end (not MC directly)
🗡death of loved ones
🔮3rd POV
🔮w/w relationship
🔮betrayal
🔮love triangle, jealousy
🔮strong bisexual MC
🔮elements of feminism and marxism
🔮competition (multiple challenges)
🔮appreciation of curly hair and curvy body (fat-shaming mentioned)
🔮zero tension between the characters😔
🔮detailed glossary, map
I'm really proud of myself for finishing it. I read the last 300 pages in a week because I had a deadline and FINALLY there was some plot.
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Slavery, Torture, and Kidnapping
scifi_rat's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
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
britreads'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
I loved Anoor and Sylah's relationship and how they both pushed each other to be better than their original selves. I'm not usually a love triangle person and it is very easy to root for one pairing over the other in here, but I loved the complexity of Sylah's connection with Jond. Hassa was my favorite character and I wish there was more of her in the story. I'm curious to see what role she will play in the sequel.
This world was also unique and evocative.
This novel will linger for a while. There are little character details that I appreciate and it makes me want to start the story again. The story is violent and heavy, so definitely check the content warnings before starting this.
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Grief
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