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svnsn'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
4.0
Now, a bit more elaborately for those who care:
The imbalance between male and female characters really started to annoy me at some point. (Almost) anytime a new powerful character was being introduced it was a man. Now if the book had somehow acknowledged and commented on the magician society being a patriarchial system, that could have been an interesting point (maybe even a plot point for future books) but instead it felt like male was just the default for all the characters and then there were some female characters sprinkled throughout. Most of them, especially the human ones, were somehow weak and/or victims somehow. The powerful players (
Side note, but I was also side eyeing the scene were severe violence was committed against women, described in gruesome detail. It was giving torture corn.
The magic system is also a bit wishy washy. There is no hard magic system which led to Alex abilities conveniently working or not working however it fit the plot. But it honestly didn't bother me too much.
Which leads me to the good parts!
While my criticism stands, I ended up enjoying the book. The plot was fast paced and didn't linger too long on scenes it didn't have to. I found myself pretty much excited throughout the entire book. Even though, as I said, I wish there had been more well developed female characters, I did like the characters a lot.
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
quintopus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Torture, Physical abuse, and Confinement
lzad's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Rape
ottersallthewaydown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Death, Torture, Gaslighting, and Slavery
porkpie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture
hexe_19's review
Graphic: Torture and Slavery
dianaisnotmyrealname's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Torture
tessamcevan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Murder and Slavery
Minor: Bullying and Suicidal thoughts
terriaminute's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed all of the characters, a lot. I can see potential for future books, without any of it being overt.
I was annoyed reading a scene early on (first conversation with Lyle) in which a phrase is repeated three times in four or five pages, something an editor should've flagged. I was afraid there'd be more things like this, but there weren't, so that's good. But the author does have a habit I find irritating: a side character says something, MC has an internal reaction, then the side character continues in the same paragraph with MC's reaction. But the reaction was about the previous thing said. Most people won't notice, but it throws me off, so if you're like me, there's your heads-up.
But seriously, if the blurb intrigues you, give this one a try.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship