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I really enjoyed this book, it was trope heavy in a way that felt very natural for the story. The characters were compelling and well written, and the slight differences in how they narrated really helped with giving them agency. It felt like things were guessable, but a good chunk of the twists still came with shock. The world was built really well and I think it handled the darker themes with both sensitivity and realism.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
I appreciated the themes of found family, the struggle for redemption, and the ever-present question of whether people like this can truly change. There’s also a traitor in their midst, which added some solid tension and mystery.
That said, the pacing felt slow to me. It’s heavy on dialogue and character interaction, light on action, which made it drag in places. I also wasn’t a fan of how much women are demeaned in this world—while it may reflect the society’s culture, I’m hoping that gets explored or challenged more in future books.
There were definitely twists, and I think fans of slow-burn fantasy with morally gray characters will enjoy this one. But for me, it didn’t quite hook me enough to continue the series.
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, War
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Vomit, Police brutality, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
🎧 1st person POV, multiple (6) perspectives/narrators. I really enjoyed everyone's performances.
🌶️ 1.5/5 There are a few vague references to sexual things having happened behind closed doors but there's nothing on page.
🏳️🌈✊ The world of the book appears to be queer normative. 2 of the MMCs are together. The other MCs couple off m/f. The fantasy world is based in East Asian culture.
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
I loved that the characters had complex and unique back stories, I was questioning everyone and their motives the whole time I was reading. The world is expansive but it makes sense! The place this really shows up in the writing, everyone has their own voice!! All six of them! From Aeirie sounding childish and silly to Royo who reads as a more blunt character. Everyone was so unique!! I literally can’t wait to read book 2!!!
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny
Minor: Drug abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War