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themiscyra_anna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Terminal illness, Vomit, Body horror, Child abuse, War, Violence, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
killjoycatlady'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
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Child abuse, and Slavery
bellebeaumont95'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Chronic illness, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Cannibalism, Confinement, Gore, Terminal illness, and Violence
tbd24'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
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cancer, Cursing, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Gore
Minor: War, Slavery, Confinement, Torture, and Religious bigotry
_forestofpages'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Body horror, and Cursing
Moderate: Violence, Genocide, and Slavery
Minor: Suicide
kattyenn's review against another edition
0.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Gore, Murder, and Slavery
rbuhrke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Child death, Blood, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Slavery, Medical content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Incest, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Infertility
If the ending of the book was spoiled for you don’t panic. The series is worth it to keep going.crufts'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
2.75
Young Gideon was raised as an indentured servant of the Ninth House, a planet ruled by a despotic, necromantic regime under a distant Emperor. Although she constantly tries to escape, her attempts are foiled by her teachers and by the heir to the House, Harrow.
But everything changes when the Emperor summons representatives of each house to his own planet, demanding they undergo a trial to become "lyctors". Dragged along to the planet by Harrow, Gideon finds herself facing dangers she never imagined...
On the positive side, Gideon is very likeable and sassy as a protagonist. Regarding worldbuilding, it was intriguingly different to the average fantasy novel - it's a kind of scifi/fantasy mixture with the combination of necromancy and space tech. I also enjoyed the variety in the characters' physical appearances. The lesbian representation is a nice bonus, especially as it's the protagonist, although I would warn any hopefuls that
However, the plot felt a little aimless because the protagonist's goals are not kept at the forefront. Gideon begins the book with a desire to escape and join the Imperial Army, but this is rapidly forgotten as she gets kicked around by fate for the first third of the book.
Also, I didn't find this goal terribly compelling in the first place. The entire Empire was depicted as rotten to the core with few redeeming features, so what good would it do to move around to some other place in it? It seemed like the only worthwhile goal Gideon could have would be to destroy the whole system, or else to leave it.
The pacing is also very slow; even by the 40% mark, the mysteries of the lyctor challenge are still largely untouched. I also found the large number of named characters difficult to absorb. Similarly, the necromantic magic system is complicated and largely left unexplained. This made it seem like any kind of magic could theoretically be performed, if it was convenient for the plot.
I also found it hard to reconcile the fact that early in the book,
I think I would have liked there to be more in the story's world that Gideon felt was worth fighting for - more people she wanted to be there to protect, or happy experiences she hoped to have, that kind of thing.
I'm unsure whether to recommend this book. I guess I'll say that if you think it's not for you, it's probably not.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Confinement and Slavery
Body horror, violence, death: It is a book about necromancers, after all. An example of the "body horror" involved isSuicide: The backstory of some minor characters.
Slavery, confinement: Gideon's "indentured servitude" is close to slavery. After a failed escape attempt, she is confined to a few rooms.
kalmia31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Medical trauma, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Chronic illness, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Child death, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cannibalism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Self harm, Cancer, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
hzamrzla'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Gore
Minor: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship