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lilifane'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
5.0
The start was very promising, but then there was a lot of world building and getting to know characters for like 30-50% of the book. Enough action and plot twists to keep me interested, but also very few bread crumbs of what I really wanted to read about to make me impatient. The second half is just a wild ride.
It is supposed to be YA and I recognize the typical tropes coming with a YA fantasy books. But most of them have a spin or are resolved in a new way, which I really loved. You expect things to happen, and then they do happen, but in unexpected ways to mess with your head. In fact, I truly believe, the author just wrote this book to mess with my head specifically. Especially with the ending, which makes me question everything I thought I knew about myself.
Anyway, this book also seems a little too brutal for YA? The stakes are definitely higher than usual, and the author isn't afraid of showing it.
The world building is interesting, and the mysteries are intriguing, but what I loved the most were the intense and intimate scenes between the characters. I held my breath so many times I lost count, tbh. Thank goodness, the sequel is coming out next month. Can't wait to get my heart ripped out and trampled on again.
Graphic: Animal death, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, and Violence
mallorypen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
But … it was boring?
The pacing was very odd; in some parts, tons of things happened in quick succession and in others, the story lagged. It also didn’t help that multiple of the narrators were untrustworthy - Will especially - but in a way that made it obvious that the only reason they were was to preserve the twist at the end. And though the twist was interesting, if not altogether unguessable, the fact that Will knew almost at the beginning of the book (and certainly at the midway point) and didn’t “tell” the reader was annoying, not mysterious. His character felt inconsistent - first, he’s being self-sacrificing and doing the right thing despite overwhelming odds - and then he’s utterly convinced of his own downfall into darkness despite himself.
The way Catherine was used in the story - and ultimately fridged - was obnoxious and disappointing. And the queer relationships all seemed insidious, which was doubly disappointing and honestly kind of disgusting.
The concept of the Stewards and Lions were well done, and again, the cast of characters was enjoyable. I don’t know if I’ll keep with the series, though.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death
xiggy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Torture, and Toxic relationship
kal517'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Slavery
Minor: Racism and Animal death
raichou's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Der erste Band sehr viel World building und man hat einiges über die Hauptcharatere gelernt. Ich fand es sehr spannend, auch durch die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven der Charaktere mehr über die Welt zu lernen.
Will selber hat diese Welt selber gerade erst kennen gelernt, daher fand ich es auch nicht zu viel Information auf ein Mal, wenn ihm etwas erklärt wurde.
Ich habe mit vielen gerechnet, aber nicht mit dem Twist am Ende!
Der zweite Band kann nicht früh genug kommen!
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery
khargaotte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
green_amaryllis'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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Blood, Violence, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
turtledonut'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
4.5
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Violence
dreyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Animal death, and Abandonment
jeyjeyyy'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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail