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hollowspine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bardugo takes on another aspect of fantasy writing, this time taking a fantastical look at the Spanish Golden Age and the interest and fear of the miraculous.
The story is well-paced and readers will have a hard time putting the book down as the main character's fortunes are constantly in flux and danger imminent. The setting and tone will immerse the reader in this time period and leave them searching for non-fiction accounts of some of the historical characters here.
The romance was unoriginal and reminded me of the couples of other books by the author, for readers who have enjoyed the doomed romances of Ninth House and Shadow and Bone this will deliver.
The story is well-paced and readers will have a hard time putting the book down as the main character's fortunes are constantly in flux and danger imminent. The setting and tone will immerse the reader in this time period and leave them searching for non-fiction accounts of some of the historical characters here.
The romance was unoriginal and reminded me of the couples of other books by the author, for readers who have enjoyed the doomed romances of Ninth House and Shadow and Bone this will deliver.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Antisemitism
chezler24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
"Aboltar cazal, aboltar mazal" (A change of scene, a change of fortune!)
I am so excited for this to come out and for more people to read it!
Leigh Bardugo has crafted a rich historical fantasy novel set in Spain in the late 16th century. It is magical realism to a tee. The attention to detail regarding the political and religious events during Spain's Golden Age was sublime and the multiple POVs help add layered depth to social and cultural hierarchies of the time. Luzia Cotado has my heart. I was rooting for her all the way before, during, and after the Torneo; her intrapersonal and extrapersonal growth was fascinating to watch develop. In fact, all of the supporting characters added their own nuances to the events at hand and had carefully crafted personalities and plotlines that wove seamlessly into the larger narrative. (Many with fall for Guillén Santángel. I'm predicting it now.) For the magic system, I loved the aspect of weaving languages together and things being pieced together from various scraps here and there. I think I jotted down almost all of the spells that either Luzia or her Aunt Hualit referenced.
Overall, this book was simply fantastic and deliciously rich. I devoured it, savored it, and wished I could go back and read it again for the first time.
Read an ARC
I am so excited for this to come out and for more people to read it!
Leigh Bardugo has crafted a rich historical fantasy novel set in Spain in the late 16th century. It is magical realism to a tee. The attention to detail regarding the political and religious events during Spain's Golden Age was sublime and the multiple POVs help add layered depth to social and cultural hierarchies of the time. Luzia Cotado has my heart. I was rooting for her all the way before, during, and after the Torneo; her intrapersonal and extrapersonal growth was fascinating to watch develop. In fact, all of the supporting characters added their own nuances to the events at hand and had carefully crafted personalities and plotlines that wove seamlessly into the larger narrative. (Many with fall for Guillén Santángel. I'm predicting it now.) For the magic system, I loved the aspect of weaving languages together and things being pieced together from various scraps here and there. I think I jotted down almost all of the spells that either Luzia or her Aunt Hualit referenced.
Overall, this book was simply fantastic and deliciously rich. I devoured it, savored it, and wished I could go back and read it again for the first time.
Read an ARC
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: War, Torture, Physical abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
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