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callistag1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Child death
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
jaqylantern's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book had so much potential. To be honest, I think this is more an editor/publisher issue than the author cause the next two books are both longer.
I feel like this came out in the time publishing wanted YA books to be barely more than 300 pages. It also feels this was "let's see how the first book does and go from there" because this feels like it could be a standalone OR you could continue the trilogy.
My biggest issue is really the pacing. This book could have been great with 20-50 more pages. Really let emotions sit and be a big thing- several times Sage got super angry for valid reasons but it passed by the next page. The misunderstanding could have built a bit more and become really tense.
This really could have been great, but I will be donating this.
I feel like this came out in the time publishing wanted YA books to be barely more than 300 pages. It also feels this was "let's see how the first book does and go from there" because this feels like it could be a standalone OR you could continue the trilogy.
My biggest issue is really the pacing. This book could have been great with 20-50 more pages. Really let emotions sit and be a big thing- several times Sage got super angry for valid reasons but it passed by the next page. The misunderstanding could have built a bit more and become really tense.
This really could have been great, but I will be donating this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Violence
jmatsumura's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
undervalued by media. deeply loved by me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
Parts of this book were a lot of fun, and parts of it were very irritating. For the first half or two thirds I was all prepared to describe this book as "a generic fantasy in the best way--four solid stars". Now I'm like, I dunno, I guess it's almost four stars...
I don't have any particular plans to pick up the rest of the series, but I could see the whim striking sometime.
I don't have any particular plans to pick up the rest of the series, but I could see the whim striking sometime.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Grief, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
saoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It's the kind of read that's good enough as a standalone; I wonder why it had other parts unless it consisted of different main characters this time. I do love the short chapters, just like Chef Kisses, but at the same time it was really fast-paced and left no room for the world-building to be easily digested. It was hard reading through the various povs with no clarity as to whose voice was at the moment; it would have been better if from a third standpoint. I'm not a big fan of the characters, as it might be rooted in a less emotional build-up for reader attachment, but overall, it's easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
korok_sapling's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Overall it was an enjoyable book if not necessarily good. It pulls you in almost immediately and keeps you engaged, the plot twists are different and interesting, not overly obvious.
Unfortunately the things I didn’t like about it were too deeply ingrained in the book to ignore. Our main character fall into the “not like other girls” trope, femininity is largely looked down upon for the majority of the book, though I would say that was remedied throughout the second half, just not in a noticeable enough way to seem purposeful. Along with this we are met with the “I’m unattractive because I’m too skinny” trope, this paired with weirdly negative descriptions of larger people was uncomfortable for me. The age gap was also concerning but the way our love interests interacted made it easy to forget, there was little power dynamic.
I will say the book felt enough like every other YA young female lead book to be nostalgic but differed enough to be interesting. Also there were no traitors kissing but I’ll forgive that.
fuck her for killing Charlie though
Unfortunately the things I didn’t like about it were too deeply ingrained in the book to ignore. Our main character fall into the “not like other girls” trope, femininity is largely looked down upon for the majority of the book, though I would say that was remedied throughout the second half, just not in a noticeable enough way to seem purposeful. Along with this we are met with the “I’m unattractive because I’m too skinny” trope, this paired with weirdly negative descriptions of larger people was uncomfortable for me. The age gap was also concerning but the way our love interests interacted made it easy to forget, there was little power dynamic.
I will say the book felt enough like every other YA young female lead book to be nostalgic but differed enough to be interesting. Also there were no traitors kissing but I’ll forgive that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Vomit
bookish_bookerz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The enjoyment I had reading this book was great. I liked every second of it including the settings, characters, and plot. I was looking for a nice read that was not heavy but had something that still interest me and this was the book for me. While reading it, I enjoyed getting to know the characters without being bored of overly detailed descriptions. I think the author did a nice job spreading that information out and learning it when other characters learned it as well. In addition, I enjoyed the romance in this book. It was not a main factor for as much as the premise it was sitting on but I did end up gushing over their romantic development. I felt it was not rushed and enjoyed how the main couple was able to get to know each other (despite circumstances around it). Within this, I think it allowed the main couple to know more about each other but themselves as well while allowing room for more growth to come it the second book. In all of the enjoyment I had, I have no negative things to say about this book, except that it is not the best book I read. However, as stated previously I did enjoy this book and will be continuing it into the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
kart_mac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Vomit
Moderate: Child death
carolibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Sexual assault
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I liked the characters in this book and all the different relationship interactions. I think that is one of the strongest points of the book as the world building is a bit lack luster and plot, whilst enjoyable and had me hooked was nothing new and to write home about.
About the first half of the book is the group of soon to be brides traveling to the capital for with an escort supplied by the military. This part of the book really focuses on Sage and Ash's growing friendship and building up for the second half of the book where most of the espionage, fighting and politics takes place at the forefront.
The second half takes place at Duke D'Amiran's estate, and where Sage is asked by Captain Quinn to help the military escort figure out what is happening as they are missing key pieces of information and are unable to mingle with the Nobles and lower class/servants as easily as she can.
Things I did NOT like about the book:
About the first half of the book is the group of soon to be brides traveling to the capital for with an escort supplied by the military. This part of the book really focuses on Sage and Ash's growing friendship and building up for the second half of the book where most of the espionage, fighting and politics takes place at the forefront.
The second half takes place at Duke D'Amiran's estate, and where Sage is asked by Captain Quinn to help the military escort figure out what is happening as they are missing key pieces of information and are unable to mingle with the Nobles and lower class/servants as easily as she can.
Things I did NOT like about the book:
- When Sage is dressing up nicely she does the stereotypical corsets are uncomfortable and how it is hard to do certain activities in them. Whilst this sets up the "She is not like other girls" trope, corsets in history were not uncomfortable but were instead used for chest support. These lines and ones similar to it came across as a bit of regurgitation about how corsets should feel without looking into it.
- The "Not like Other Girls" trope represents girls who like more stereo typically feminine things in a negative light. From subtext that they are not free or thinking for themselves, and all the girls in the bridal party var one are hostile towards Sage even though she doesn't represent a threat to their marriages.
- Lack/basic character descriptions for everyone which leads to anyone outside of the average white look being written as "darker skin" or so vaguely that you forget that this character is meant to be POC.
- The plot twist that Ash Carter was actually Captain Quinn undercover the whole time. How the plot twist was executed was set up nicely where you start questioning things but can't really figure out what's wrong as you don't have the final pieces, but the plot twist itself left much to be desired.
Personally I liked the idea that a side character in the opening few chapters focusing and meeting the soldiers was who Sage was spending time and falling in love in love with. It felt different from the formula of the two main characters having to be the ones together. It honestly felt really natural and I loved how they interacted together. The plot twist felt shoved in there so it is the two "main/important" characters together and taints everything that came before where they are getting to know each other and the chemistry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and War
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Torture