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noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The final prompt for the “Read Your Own Adventure” Tiktok readathon was to read a book that intimidated you…so I chose this one. There’s no real reason this book intimidates me but as it’s been on my shelf a bit and it is on the thick side…I figured it fit the parameters and dove in.
Having first heard about this book last year on Booktok I’ve been excited to read it for a while…especially since, although I’ve heard praise, I’ve never heard any specific details about the story so I had no idea what I was jumping into. I, luckily, follow fantastic Tiktok creators who are good about giving spoiler-free reviews or who warn before diving into any spoiler-like content. When someone gives away the entire story before you’ve had a chance to read it…it takes the joy out of discovering a book’s secrets on your own.
Like many of my favorite fantasies, we follow multiple [5 altogether] people around who seem to have no direct connection…and as the story unfolds further we see how close everything in fact is connected. The primary narrative is that of Lin, the Emperor’s daughter, as she attempts to prove to her father that she should be chosen to take the throne after him.
As we follow Lin we get to know more about the fascinating and complex system that is bone shard magic. We don’t get much in the way of world lore, though there are hints and little details, so I’m hoping we get more in book two to better understand how, and why, bone-shard magic exists.
Overall I really enjoyed the story and look forward to picking up book two to see what more we learn about bone-shard magic and the world it affects. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with equal parts magic and mystery I recommend giving this book a look.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
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
mandkips'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
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Grief and Child death
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
anni_swanilda'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
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Grief, Animal cruelty, and Kidnapping
widdlemun'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
4.25
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, and Hate crime
katymat18'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Grief, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Confinement
hanz's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, and Grief
emilypete17's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
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