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chelseanaylor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
This book was a little slow and I was interested enough to finish it, but it wasn't until the last few chapters that I decided I wanted to continue the story.
I really enjoyed the way this story is propelled by themes of power, personal Identity and responsibility, and justice (and all the grey areas these themes create). The switching POVs are a little rough because the story feels fragmented and it took a loooong time to feel connected to any of the characters. In particular, I could have done without Ranami or Phalue's stories, as they didn't do much to the overall plot, except, when the time came, to propel another character's development. Maybe they'll have a more interesting role in the second book.
Aside from the pacing, the premise of the story is fascinating, though the plot twists were a little overt and lacking nuance for me, it's still an interesting world Stewart built; I hope book 2 has more action and a little less internal monologues about the respective characters woes.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, and Trafficking
Minor: Animal cruelty
alexalily'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: Terminal illness, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Stalking, Gaslighting, Torture, Child abuse, and Medical content
kaziaroo'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
4.5
My only real criticism is that I felt the book would have been better without Ranami and Phalue's POV chapters. Their story had an interesting message and moral dilemma but it just didn't seem to fit and their chapters were quite dull to get through compared to the rest of the book. As a novella on their own, those chapters would have been fine, but I found myself skim-reading them to get back to Jovis, Lin and even Sand. Maybe more will come of Ranami and Phalue in the sequel, but I just couldn't get behind their relationship or find the point of their storyline or its impact of the overall plot.
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Trafficking, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Body horror, and Medical content
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Minor: War
gayghostprince's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Child death, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: War, Blood, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Classism
Minor: Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Trafficking
lucystolethesky's review
- 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: Trafficking, Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, and Trafficking
Minor: Violence, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Incest, and Grief
iamsammie27'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, and Gore
Moderate: Trafficking, Kidnapping, Violence, Gaslighting, and Body horror
Minor: Racism, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death
ok7a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Trafficking
mothie_girlie'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
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Trafficking
Moderate: Blood and Body horror
Minor: Confinement
lavendera_'s review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Gore, Torture, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, and Kidnapping
bibookworm'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
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Body horror and Trafficking