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aysha_blake's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, War, Alcohol, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
katelyn11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Classism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Murder, Drug use, Police brutality, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Misogyny, Stalking, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, and War
jessicaludden's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
*4.5*
“‘Well, if you don’t belong to a place, perhaps we belong to each other? We who belong nowhere?’”
I really liked this and my only “complaint” is that I need more. There is a massive amount of world building in this book, which is necessary because it’s a very complex world. Victoria does a great job including lots of detail and lots of descriptions, almost to the point where it’s too much. I loved the world building don’t get me wrong, but I would’ve traded that for a little more character interaction. I loved the characters and I loved their potential relationships with each other, but I think we should’ve seen more of it. My favorite scenes included these characters having one on one conversations and building that trust between each other. I absolutely loved the scene with Dom and Andre having a heart to heart about the shared grief and survivor’s guilt they’re feeling. Scenes like that are what I felt was missing from this. I would’ve loved to see more Dom and Sorasa, more Sorasa and Corayne, and more Corayne and Andry. I’m okay with it for now because I know we’re going to get more in the rest of the series, but I couldn’t help but feel that part missing from the story. It was also difficult for me to get attached to characters like Sigil, Charlie, and Valtik because they showed up so much later in the story and we didn’t really get a feel for who they are. What surprised me the most was how much I loved the villains, especially their potential little romance occurring. Taristan is such a great villain and Erida is so complex. I love their dynamic and I can’t wait to see them try to take over the world together (and possibly get closer at the same time). Overall I loved the world and loved the characters. I’m not gonna fault this book for what it was lacking because I know there’s more to come and I’m so excited!
Favorite Quotes:
“Corayne knew herself, and while she was her mother’s daughter, she was not her mother’s equal.”
“‘Boys do stupid things to feel like men, no matter how old they are.’”
“The Amhara has great need for those who can pass unseen, and who is more unseen to men than a woman?”
“Andry, afraid of the city ahead. Corayne, afraid of the sword on her back. Dom, afraid of nearly everything.”
“‘If I could, I’d make you a knight right here. You’ve certainly earned it by now.’”
“‘So the realm stands on the brink of destruction. It might have tipped already. And for some reason, you need me to join this…’ He glanced down their line. This time his scrutiny felt like an insult. ‘Merry band of heroes?’”
“He doesn’t belong here with us, as much as he tries to. The end of the world is no place for Andry Trelland. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“He imagined leaving Sarn behind at almost every turn, but found he could not picture her battling a bounty hunter to death, and certainly not over someone as unimportant as Charlon Armont.”
“Mortals are impossible to fathom, especially Sorasa Sarn.”
“An immortal Veder, a Jydi witch, a copper-eyed assassin, a royal squire, a criminal fugitive, and a pirate’s daughter, the Ward’s hope. What a mess we are, Dom thought as Sarn claimed a corner of the room.”
“As in Ascal, Andry was torn between duty and desire. The squire will march and fight and carry on until he drops. Until someone gives him permission to stand back, and be a little less strong.”
“Sarn is still occupied, Valtik is useless, Corayne can barely swing a blade, and Andry is somehow sleeping through everything.”
“‘Even when it isn’t the end of the world, the realm is a dangerous place for women,’ Sorasa added, gesturing between herself and the bounty hunter. Sigil grinned broadly. ‘And so we became dangerous.’”
“No amount of squiring had prepared him for a girl like Corayne.”
“Charlie not so much, but if he is trampled, so be it. His blood isn’t saving the Ward anytime soon.”
“‘Well, if you don’t belong to a place, perhaps we belong to each other? We who belong nowhere?’”
I really liked this and my only “complaint” is that I need more. There is a massive amount of world building in this book, which is necessary because it’s a very complex world. Victoria does a great job including lots of detail and lots of descriptions, almost to the point where it’s too much. I loved the world building don’t get me wrong, but I would’ve traded that for a little more character interaction. I loved the characters and I loved their potential relationships with each other, but I think we should’ve seen more of it. My favorite scenes included these characters having one on one conversations and building that trust between each other. I absolutely loved the scene with Dom and Andre having a heart to heart about the shared grief and survivor’s guilt they’re feeling. Scenes like that are what I felt was missing from this. I would’ve loved to see more Dom and Sorasa, more Sorasa and Corayne, and more Corayne and Andry. I’m okay with it for now because I know we’re going to get more in the rest of the series, but I couldn’t help but feel that part missing from the story. It was also difficult for me to get attached to characters like Sigil, Charlie, and Valtik because they showed up so much later in the story and we didn’t really get a feel for who they are. What surprised me the most was how much I loved the villains, especially their potential little romance occurring. Taristan is such a great villain and Erida is so complex. I love their dynamic and I can’t wait to see them try to take over the world together (and possibly get closer at the same time). Overall I loved the world and loved the characters. I’m not gonna fault this book for what it was lacking because I know there’s more to come and I’m so excited!
Favorite Quotes:
“Corayne knew herself, and while she was her mother’s daughter, she was not her mother’s equal.”
“‘Boys do stupid things to feel like men, no matter how old they are.’”
“The Amhara has great need for those who can pass unseen, and who is more unseen to men than a woman?”
“Andry, afraid of the city ahead. Corayne, afraid of the sword on her back. Dom, afraid of nearly everything.”
“‘If I could, I’d make you a knight right here. You’ve certainly earned it by now.’”
“‘So the realm stands on the brink of destruction. It might have tipped already. And for some reason, you need me to join this…’ He glanced down their line. This time his scrutiny felt like an insult. ‘Merry band of heroes?’”
“He doesn’t belong here with us, as much as he tries to. The end of the world is no place for Andry Trelland. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“He imagined leaving Sarn behind at almost every turn, but found he could not picture her battling a bounty hunter to death, and certainly not over someone as unimportant as Charlon Armont.”
“Mortals are impossible to fathom, especially Sorasa Sarn.”
“An immortal Veder, a Jydi witch, a copper-eyed assassin, a royal squire, a criminal fugitive, and a pirate’s daughter, the Ward’s hope. What a mess we are, Dom thought as Sarn claimed a corner of the room.”
“As in Ascal, Andry was torn between duty and desire. The squire will march and fight and carry on until he drops. Until someone gives him permission to stand back, and be a little less strong.”
“Sarn is still occupied, Valtik is useless, Corayne can barely swing a blade, and Andry is somehow sleeping through everything.”
“‘Even when it isn’t the end of the world, the realm is a dangerous place for women,’ Sorasa added, gesturing between herself and the bounty hunter. Sigil grinned broadly. ‘And so we became dangerous.’”
“No amount of squiring had prepared him for a girl like Corayne.”
“Charlie not so much, but if he is trampled, so be it. His blood isn’t saving the Ward anytime soon.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Cursing, Violence, and Murder
mayaschmerf's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Murder, Grief, Animal death, Death, Cursing, and Blood
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