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kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Confinement
blank_space_forever'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and War
vael'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
My main issue was that I pretty much hated everyone. I did like the friendship between August and Kate and my favourite character was definitely Ilsa. But I realised that I wasn't really attached to anyone or anything in this story because I wasn't sad even though many sad and horrible things happened.
I did really enjoy the philosophical aspect and the thoughts about humanity and what it means to be good or bad and if there even is a clear distinction. I also thought the concept of a war where one side cannot kill any humans on the other side very intriguing.
All in all I would say great plot, great world building and I totally get why people like this book but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was incredibly violent and I was kind of mentally checked out.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness and Kidnapping
wiktoria88'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
matthiasreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
ana24gs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I consider that this book was so much better than the first one, but first the cons that I encounter while reading. At the beginning of the book we were introduced to many characters and it was very tedious to learn their names and find out what their role in the book was so that later they were not relevant (or not very relevant). Not only that, but something happens to Kate, something important, and I feel like I didn't see much of it, they exploited it at the beginning, and then little by little it was seen less. But the rest was fine.
Now I want to talk about the characters and I can only say that I LOVE them, from Kate's new friends to Sloan, the characters were very good. I still believe that Victoria has written better characters, but these characters definitely have a place in my heart. I found Kate's entire arc most interesting, and I admire her for the level of strength and perseverance that she had throughout the book. August, I love you, he is my favorite character in the whole series, he changed a lot and in this book he became much more serious, I also admire him for knowing the situations he is in and for his strength, both physically and mentally. Sloan, you're so damn weird, but I was really scared of you so good for you. Special mention to Riley, it didn't cost me anything to love you with the few moments you had in this book, you seemed beautiful to me.
The plot of the book is also very entertaining, although it took a while to get to it I think it was worth it, but the plot related to Kate seemed much more interesting because it was about internal monsters that you cannot control.
⚠️SPOILERS⚠️
That ending, wow, how painful, I knew that Kate would die (some people describe this book as a reinterpretation of ROMEO AND JULIET, I already knew what I was getting into) but it still hurt a lot when it happened, mostly because she died in the arms of my beautiful August.
Continuing with Kate, I feel that they could exploit much more the monster that she had inside her, Victoria did well in the first part but I wanted much more, I wanted to see more how that monster spoke to her and induced her to be extremely violent. I also would have liked to see a lot more of the friends she made in Prosperity, I really liked her relationship a lot, especially the one she had with Riley, it could have been super strong but unfortunately what happened happened.
When Ilsa died it was so sad, she turned into stardust, and my August saw it, leave my poor boy alone.
I don't have much to say about August I love him and all, but everything that had to happen to his character happened. He became colder and forgot the dreams he had of being a good human, but after all, he discovers that people are complicated and gray and he is ready to navigate the world.
I really thought it was a good book and it kept me completely interested from moment one. Loved it.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and War
creepypiespice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
aromarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
the darkness that permeates this world isn’t just physical, and it doesn’t just live with the monsters of verity but also in the humans responsible for their existence, some humans suffering as a result. every single character breathed a life of their own and while the ending of the first book felt a bit anti-climactic, this one was a rush of adrenaline all in its own, shifting between different perspectives in a war that didn’t rev up its final engine until the last couple of chapters. they were all so well-developed, and i was immediately fascinated with them as soon as i revisited this world, feeling so unlike the dread i had before i finally decided it was time to finish this duology.
while i admit the ending felt a bit,,,off, almost as if there was something missing, that’s a whole grief of its own that has no choice but to create another monster while we’re at it. i highly recommend this duology to the readers who like to see a fantasy so grounded not by magic, but by the horrors and darkness that humanity still stir up to this day.
it’s up to us to shine our own light.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death
becksthewreck'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
4.0
Moderate: Violence