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hedyharper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
notesurfer's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
mapleptk's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
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
emberise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A book about a girl who just goes along with everything that happens to her. She's kidnapped? she just goes with it. Now she's going to learn to fight, sure. The plot carries her along and she makes no attempt to take agency. In the whole book she seems to make one decision and even that one doesn't feel like a decision so much as 'fate'. Hell, even the guy who kidnaps her only does it because magic tells him to. Everyone in this book is more like a puppet than a character.
catmegz's review against another edition
5.0
One of my all-time favorite books. I re-read it at least once a year.
rlisaacs's review against another edition
4.0
I’m so happy I read this. And I’m so happy I read The Hero and The Crown first and this one second. Technically this one was written first, but chronologically it comes second. And that is the order my brother’s girlfriend, Maddie, told me to read them in.
I liked the first book okay. It was good, and I did enjoy it. But I liked this one so much better. I liked how the kidnapping wasn’t a typical kidnapping, and Harimad didn’t ever react at all the way I thought she would. And I’m so glad she didn’t, cause it probably would’ve ruined the story.
The romance is light, and I would’ve liked a bit more. But it is there, and I do find myself content with how it worked out.
And this bit is just a heads up about one potential downside I saw in this book. It worked for me, cause it loved it. But for those curious, click here:
So yeah, I loved this book. And I knew it would be good because the copy Maddie gave me is worn, falling apart in places, and taped together all around. Evidence that it is a well-worn and well-read book, and so happy I gave it a chance.
I liked the first book okay. It was good, and I did enjoy it. But I liked this one so much better. I liked how the kidnapping wasn’t a typical kidnapping, and Harimad didn’t ever react at all the way I thought she would.
Spoiler
Cause let me tell you, if it was me, I definitely would’ve tried to run away. Kind as they might’ve seemed and hospitable and courteous. I mean, Harimad was basically treated as if she were a royal member of their people. She was never threatened, so I get it. But I would’ve still, in my own head, been like, “This has Stockholm syndrome written all over it. I’m out!”The romance is light, and I would’ve liked a bit more. But it is there, and I do find myself content with how it worked out.
And this bit is just a heads up about one potential downside I saw in this book. It worked for me, cause it loved it. But for those curious, click here:
Spoiler
So, I think I’m using this term correctly. But Harimad is a bit of a Mary Sue character. So if that’s something you hate, this might not be the book for you. But I do believe that sometimes a Mary Sue character can work, and this book was that for me. Harimad catches onto everything that’s thrown at her quickly and with relative ease, but it’s because of her kelar and Aerin. So it’s a destiny sort of thing that’s causing her to become good at all these things. And in fact, we don’t hear about her really struggling to grasp anything until the very end of the book in my opinion. Anyways, just throwing that out there.So yeah, I loved this book. And I knew it would be good because the copy Maddie gave me is worn, falling apart in places, and taped together all around. Evidence that it is a well-worn and well-read book, and so happy I gave it a chance.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
2.5
I like fantasy ... not sure why this one just didn't click for me. So many glowing reviews. Maybe it's me, I'll admit to being a little under the weather while listening. I actually switched to another book for a while, brain fog made this one too complex...SO MANY NAMES (people/places/things) pimchie, torthuk, ilpin, Daria, Istan, Starza, Corlath, I didn't even come close to marking most of the unique words.
I think I followed the basic story ... I'd struggle a bit to give a recap. I just didn't feel a strong storyline, there really wasn't anything pulling me in. After I finished, I read an online summary, just to see if I'd gotten it ... I think so. I'm honestly perplexed. Maybe if I'd read this years ago (so many of the 5* seem to be sentimental) when I was a teen I would have liked it more? Maybe I'll appreciate it more after book club discussion (this was a read for book club).
It was interesting, the library had the audio, and ebook ... but not in Kindle format. I'm a Kindle snob when it comes to e-books. I went with the audio, but had to turn to the ebook as I was struggling ... I dislike reading in Libby. I'm just used to Kindle. It wasn't even available in Kindle to buy on Amazon! I was surprised, I don't know that I've seen a book that has been digitized, but wasn't available in Kindle. I ended up grabbing a physical copy too, because right in chapter 1, there's a memory of Harry's mother saying "I've always liked riding horses and climbing trees and failing into ponds ..." FAILING? I did assume it was meant to be "falling" (and yes, it was that in print). I'll put the book in my Little Free Library after book club though, it's not one I need to keep.
This had a lot of the words I note ... deign, dais, stolid, scant, scowl, roil. No proFanity.
I think I followed the basic story ... I'd struggle a bit to give a recap. I just didn't feel a strong storyline, there really wasn't anything pulling me in. After I finished, I read an online summary, just to see if I'd gotten it ... I think so. I'm honestly perplexed. Maybe if I'd read this years ago (so many of the 5* seem to be sentimental) when I was a teen I would have liked it more? Maybe I'll appreciate it more after book club discussion (this was a read for book club).
It was interesting, the library had the audio, and ebook ... but not in Kindle format. I'm a Kindle snob when it comes to e-books. I went with the audio, but had to turn to the ebook as I was struggling ... I dislike reading in Libby. I'm just used to Kindle. It wasn't even available in Kindle to buy on Amazon! I was surprised, I don't know that I've seen a book that has been digitized, but wasn't available in Kindle. I ended up grabbing a physical copy too, because right in chapter 1, there's a memory of Harry's mother saying "I've always liked riding horses and climbing trees and failing into ponds ..." FAILING? I did assume it was meant to be "falling" (and yes, it was that in print). I'll put the book in my Little Free Library after book club though, it's not one I need to keep.
This had a lot of the words I note ... deign, dais, stolid, scant, scowl, roil. No proFanity.
alidottie's review against another edition
2.0
2 and a half. I don't think I would have read this book if it wasn't for our book group this month. I just could never get excited or interested in it or the characters. It took me FOREVER to read less than 250 pp!! I really like Beauty by the same author, so I was surprised.