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emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I felt so thrilled the whole time I was reading this book, the plot centred as it was on a fantastical world with a tragic, mysterious history and old maps with riddles. It really delivered on that aspect, but it ALSO delivered on the characters. I loved that Lucier took the time to build up each character and their relationships with others as it made them feel so real. It also meant I enjoyed more character-driven moments, which I usually dread. Mercedes and Elias were absolute stars, and I really enjoyed their romance. Overall, this book just felt so human and tragic, but it didn't feel super dark and it was paced really well. My main criticism is that we didn't see enough of Mercedes' POV - I think greater inclusion of this would have fleshed the book out more. I can't wait to read more of Reyna's story in the "sequel".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Physical abuse, Child death, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Animal death, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pedophilia, Suicide, Excrement, Confinement, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Genocide
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