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carolined314's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
Enjoyed this one a lot, and also it really missed the mark with racism allegories and some odd depictions of trauma. I am also soooo tired of the magical orphan saving the day by being fancy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Bullying, Rape, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
lejuletre's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Pregnancy, Rape, and Misogyny
doodeedoda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Child death, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Blood
kapaiai's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is beautifully written.
Very flowery, dreamy prose that matched the title and overall atmosphere of the book.
World-building was very interesting and full of potential. I could not grasp the geography though and I got lost while reading, like what??
The characters were all very enjoyable to read.Even Nero, with his Uchiha Sasuke-esque lack of self confidence. Even Minya, who is some kind of evil, ghost-wielding Detective Conan.
Lazlo was a lovely, sweet protagonist and I rooted for him sincerely. Sarai was also very sweet, and I only wanted good things for her. But y’know… plot and all that.
Has a bit of a bad ending / cliffhanger for the sequel, which I see is equally long.
It is, however, a very SLOW book. It takes its time to take you somewhere, which I didn’t hate. In fact, it matched the tone of the subject matter so I was all for it.
It’s not the kind of book that was like, I can’t stop reading!!! But I got so far in that I was like… “I can probably finish this tonight,” and before I knew it, it’s 15 past midnight and my dog wants me to turn off the lights so he can sleep.
The romance aspect was like, meh. I honestly didn’t need it. I would’ve enjoyed the book just as equally if it was a story of Lazlo learning himself and becoming a “great person”.
That's not too say the romance wasn't a important as a plot device, but I felt like it wasn't really something I focused on personally.
It was insta-love, and it’s only saving grace was that it was… unproblematic? Like, they’re very young and the way they fell in love and clung to each other showed it. (esp Sarai to Lazlo, which understandable. He was the first and only outsider who could see her.)
In fact, I would’ve loved to have seen more of Lazlo and Nero solving alchemic impossibilities together (together???).
Side note: I just want to say that I love that Nero is a Hot Guy, but he's also like "ALCHEMY IS SCIENCE. NOT MAGIC". I don't know. Something about that just tickles me, haha.
Very flowery, dreamy prose that matched the title and overall atmosphere of the book.
World-building was very interesting and full of potential. I could not grasp the geography though and I got lost while reading, like what??
The characters were all very enjoyable to read.
Lazlo was a lovely, sweet protagonist and I rooted for him sincerely. Sarai was also very sweet, and I only wanted good things for her. But y’know… plot and all that.
It is, however, a very SLOW book. It takes its time to take you somewhere, which I didn’t hate. In fact, it matched the tone of the subject matter so I was all for it.
It’s not the kind of book that was like, I can’t stop reading!!! But I got so far in that I was like… “I can probably finish this tonight,” and before I knew it, it’s 15 past midnight and my dog wants me to turn off the lights so he can sleep.
The romance aspect was like, meh. I honestly didn’t need it. I would’ve enjoyed the book just as equally if it was a story of Lazlo learning himself and becoming a “great person”.
That's not too say the romance wasn't a important as a plot device, but I felt like it wasn't really something I focused on personally.
In fact, I would’ve loved to have seen more of Lazlo and Nero solving alchemic impossibilities together (together???).
Side note: I just want to say that I love that Nero is a Hot Guy, but he's also like "ALCHEMY IS SCIENCE. NOT MAGIC". I don't know. Something about that just tickles me, haha.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, Rape, Gaslighting, Classism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault and Child death
c_serpent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am a sucker for a few things. One of them is a story about gods. But a story about a city tormented for 200 years by false gods? That then the Godslayer killed?
Please do tell me more.
I messaged my best friend at one point while reading this book (it's her favorite) and said, "I want to eat this book. Which is WEIRD but it's like it has a flavor." The voice in this novel is a gift. It is funny, moving, poetic, and taught me some new words. Ya girl was a former ~*~ gifted child ~*~ reader and still rates shamefully high on vocabulary quizzes, and I learned words, bruh. That takes some work.
Lazlo is a gift. Sarai is a gift. I would do terrible things in the name of love for Ruza. I want to be Calixte's best friend. I want to kick Thyon in the teeth and if I had words for how much I hate Minya, my mother wouldn't let me use them.
It's hard to find a novel written in poetic voice that doesn't overdo it or make things needlessly obscure. Nothing was needlessly obscure here, and the prose sang. Moreover, I don't trust many people to do omniscient third person, but Taylor pulls it off. It never felt weird or contrived to me. I think I was about 50% of the way through the book before I even realised it was third person omniscient. The twists weren't completely unforeseeable but nor were they so obvious that everything was boring. And I appreciate that kind of foreshadowing.
This book deals with heavy issues (as in literal sex trafficking and the murder of babies), but it does so bearably. This book could have been completely grimdark, and it wasn't, and I love it for that. It is laced through with hope. And even though it ended on a cliff-hanger that made me yell, I know everything will be okay, and that is, I think, one of the most endearing qualities a novel can have.
Two stars have been awarded for the poetic voice, a star has been awarded for Sarai's brave little pacifist soul, a star has been awarded for Eril-Fane's tears, and a star has been awarded to Lazlo and Ruza's banter about mushrooms. Then I took all the stars away and gave them all to Ruza, because wow. What a guy.
Total score: 5/5 stars
Please do tell me more.
I messaged my best friend at one point while reading this book (it's her favorite) and said, "I want to eat this book. Which is WEIRD but it's like it has a flavor." The voice in this novel is a gift. It is funny, moving, poetic, and taught me some new words. Ya girl was a former ~*~ gifted child ~*~ reader and still rates shamefully high on vocabulary quizzes, and I learned words, bruh. That takes some work.
Lazlo is a gift. Sarai is a gift. I would do terrible things in the name of love for Ruza. I want to be Calixte's best friend. I want to kick Thyon in the teeth and if I had words for how much I hate Minya, my mother wouldn't let me use them.
It's hard to find a novel written in poetic voice that doesn't overdo it or make things needlessly obscure. Nothing was needlessly obscure here, and the prose sang. Moreover, I don't trust many people to do omniscient third person, but Taylor pulls it off. It never felt weird or contrived to me. I think I was about 50% of the way through the book before I even realised it was third person omniscient. The twists weren't completely unforeseeable but nor were they so obvious that everything was boring. And I appreciate that kind of foreshadowing.
This book deals with heavy issues (as in literal sex trafficking and the murder of babies), but it does so bearably. This book could have been completely grimdark, and it wasn't, and I love it for that. It is laced through with hope. And even though it ended on a cliff-hanger that made me yell, I know everything will be okay, and that is, I think, one of the most endearing qualities a novel can have.
Two stars have been awarded for the poetic voice, a star has been awarded for Sarai's brave little pacifist soul, a star has been awarded for Eril-Fane's tears, and a star has been awarded to Lazlo and Ruza's banter about mushrooms. Then I took all the stars away and gave them all to Ruza, because wow. What a guy.
Total score: 5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Pregnancy and Confinement
midnightverde's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
This fantasy novel is beautifully written. There are clues throughout the story to the mysteries of the lost city of Weep, yet there are still so many questions. The characters are full of depth and it’s easy to fall in love with many of them (and passionately hate others). There is a cliffhanger at the end of the book and I have to go put the final book of the duology on hold now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Rape, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy
victorious_one's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
lizzy_lisko's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Grief, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Grief, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, and Slavery
maeverose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Things I liked:
The story was fun. The writing is super pretty and atmospheric. So many quotes i wanted to highlight. It was very easy for me to imagine what was being described, and i loved that. I like Lazlo a lot as a character. I like anything to do with dreams so I loved that that was a big part of the story.
Things I didn’t like:
Sarai’s chapters/the citadel chapters felt super repetitive, at least in the beginning. I was often pretty bored during those chapters. As much as I love the writing, it is overwritten at times. I think this book should’ve been about 100 pages shorter, the pacing is very slow for most of it. Also the reveals were pretty predictable but I guess that’s not super surprising for YA. It’s also very instalove. Very mild spoilers for this next part (it doesn’t have to do with the main romance, just side characters): I didn’t like the non consensual kiss played off as funny because it was a girl doing it to a guy. If the roles were reversed I don’t think it would’ve gone down the same… It’s still sexual assault no matter who’s doing it. And then when it happens again later it was still very dubious consent at first. Idk it made me feel gross.
I hate everything about that ending. I hate minya so much. Please tell me she dies a painful death in the next book. And that sparrow is able to bring sarai back to her body with her powers and then sarai and lazlo get to live happily ever after. If that doesn’t happen I’m suing. /j
The story was fun. The writing is super pretty and atmospheric. So many quotes i wanted to highlight. It was very easy for me to imagine what was being described, and i loved that. I like Lazlo a lot as a character. I like anything to do with dreams so I loved that that was a big part of the story.
Things I didn’t like:
Sarai’s chapters/the citadel chapters felt super repetitive, at least in the beginning. I was often pretty bored during those chapters. As much as I love the writing, it is overwritten at times. I think this book should’ve been about 100 pages shorter, the pacing is very slow for most of it. Also the reveals were pretty predictable but I guess that’s not super surprising for YA. It’s also very instalove. Very mild spoilers for this next part (it doesn’t have to do with the main romance, just side characters): I didn’t like the non consensual kiss played off as funny because it was a girl doing it to a guy. If the roles were reversed I don’t think it would’ve gone down the same… It’s still sexual assault no matter who’s doing it. And then when it happens again later it was still very dubious consent at first. Idk it made me feel gross.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Blood, Child death, Death, Rape, Slavery, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Gore, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
There was frequent mention of female fertility and ‘becoming a woman’ once you bleed. Personally it made me uncomfortable, as an afab non binary person with zero desire to ever get pregnant.