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noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Slavery, abuse, murder, executions, torture, attempted murder, and death of a loved one.
Mentioned: Rape, death of a loved one, and infanticide.
A few months back one of my gaming friends rekindled their love of reading and we started talking books. When they brought up the idea of starting a book club I was all in. A bit apprehensive as I tend to binge through books and have never attempted to tandem read, [other than reading one non-fiction while also reading one fiction book at the same time] I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pace myself for a book club.
Though we agreed we’d have a laid-back, no-pressure, book club I thought it was time to attempt to read multiple fictions books at once. Then I could spread out my Mistborn read while continuing to read other books at the same time. This was also the first time that instead of just highlighting passages, while I read, I decided to also write notes in the margins to keep track of my thoughts while reading. And let me tell you, there are many notes, questions, and highlights throughout my copy. 😅
Having heard amazing things about The Cosmere, the world Sanderson has created, I was excited to jump in.
Throughout the book, we get multiple perspectives, seven if I counted correctly, which I love in fantasy novels. We see two perspectives the most, that of Kelsier and Vin, which gives us a mentor and mentee perspective. I absolutely adored the relationship between Kelsier and Vin, from complete strangers to, [at least from Vin] wary teacher/student, to friends/family. Watching the evolution of their relationship grow, throughout the book, was probably my favorite part, aside from all their bantering.
Like many fantasy stories, we get a lot of deep and heavy topics discussed and the story is full of so many shades of gray when it comes to decisions the crew needs to make. While reading, although I knew the main goal of the journey, I loved how I really couldn’t see, or guess, all the many different directions we took before getting to the end.
While reading every time I finished a section/part I found myself more invested than the last. Throughout the book I found myself going through…I want to say EVERY emotion, furious to giddy, overwhelmed with sadness, and then filled with hope…this book hit so many strong emotions.
My one regret is that I didn’t already have book two on hand to jump directly into upon finishing this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy with amazing world-building, found family, strength in the face of hopelessness, and so much more…I highly recommend diving into this book!
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape, Child death, and Death of parent
boglord'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Genocide
Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Vomit
deezy'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: Death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Classism, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Confinement
caitlinderocker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Slavery, Torture, War, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Genocide, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
kirbylover16's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Vin is practically illiterate, as are most skaa, and it comes off quirky? Especially with Vin and Spook, and that rubs me wrong. The whole free will theme and religious tones are huge turnoffs. (apparently, Sanderson is a Mormon) Vin's mentor Kelsior is supposed to be charming, but he's not. He got worse as the story goes. Maybe I'm biased tho? Every mentor, grandfather/or father figure in media tends to be manipulative.
What made me want to read this book was the idea that the prophetic hero fails and the evil rules, but that's all in the background. The bad guy won centuries ago! We slowly get the hero's journal, but the story would be the same without it. (shorter at least) The better description is a magical heist with politics and slavery thrown in. I enjoyed the romance and sexual tension, but I don't think he met latter.
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Classism, and Slavery
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Torture, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, War, Child death, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Infidelity, and Mental illness
There isn't really any sex/skin, just one brief kiss described, some mentions of rape, whore houses, and underage sex. Vin does run around in boys' clothes and in her undergarments. Mostly for comic effect. Also, mental health/postpartum depression/suicide as Vin's mother kills her baby sibling and herself. Oh, and lots of murder, which we get to see very graphically. A shocking amount of beheading.vigil's review
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Genocide, and War
cognitivedisaster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Death of parent
monica98'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: Child abuse, Sexism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
superstars111'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
4.25
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Bullying, Murder, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Torture, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Gore, and Death of parent
sashafriese's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Blood, Gore, Slavery, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and War