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trumpetmark's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
"M" - My 2024 Alphabet Challenge
I wanted to like this, I really did. But FUCK ME am I glad it's over.
I love fantasy, I love romance, I love magic and all that fun stuff. This was dull, boring, overly complicated without explanation, and I struggled through every page.
I don't know why, but the writing style just irked me so badly. I had to reread pages over and over and over to try and absorb what on earth had just been said.
Even now, the plot is
There's this girl, then she's in prison, then she's not, then she's not in the city, then she is, then...erm...grr I don't like the person who raised me, then erm...magic? Girls kissing aaaaand suddenly she's gone and the big bad who we have never met wraps up the book with some gobbledygook after main character can suddenly do memory tricks.
Not a single giblet of mine has been tickled, I cannot explain how much I fucking despised reading every word on every page, I'm sorry!
Normally with a duology I make sure to read the 2nd book, but that would be saved for the day I decide getting my wife to jump on my balls is the equivalent of a fun day out.
I wanted to like this, I really did. But FUCK ME am I glad it's over.
I love fantasy, I love romance, I love magic and all that fun stuff. This was dull, boring, overly complicated without explanation, and I struggled through every page.
I don't know why, but the writing style just irked me so badly. I had to reread pages over and over and over to try and absorb what on earth had just been said.
Even now, the plot is
There's this girl, then she's in prison, then she's not, then she's not in the city, then she is, then...erm...grr I don't like the person who raised me, then erm...magic? Girls kissing aaaaand suddenly she's gone and the big bad who we have never met wraps up the book with some gobbledygook after main character can suddenly do memory tricks.
Not a single giblet of mine has been tickled, I cannot explain how much I fucking despised reading every word on every page, I'm sorry!
Normally with a duology I make sure to read the 2nd book, but that would be saved for the day I decide getting my wife to jump on my balls is the equivalent of a fun day out.
lexa_heda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
halfbloodcity's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not someone who usually writes reviews, I tend to only star a book, and that’s because it’s actually hard for me to put my thoughts into coherent enough sentences. I get too absorbed in the book to actually be able to string words together.
This book however, was such a conflicting read that I felt I actually needed to write a review. It was also my first Marie Rutkoski’s read/book.
In the first few chapters I felt really bored, I was thinking this would be a book I would definitely not enjoy. And suddenly the story would pick up and I’d be like “nice, it’s growing interesting” and then it’d suddenly break. The whole book felt like a rollercoaster of “urgh, I’m bored” and “wow, got interesting”.
There was also the writing. There’s something in the writing style that I’m not a fan off, but I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is. However, at the same time I really liked how the world and the scenery was described. Weird right? How can you appreciate and dislike a writing style at the same time?
In the end I actually quite enjoyed “discovering the world at the same time as Nirrin”, as we see her go through what she thought to be the norm and “how things are” and find out how things actually came to be. However, in the beginning I did feel like I was missing a big part of the context to this world.
Am not sure if I want to give this book 3 or 4 stars, so I’m going to settle with the 3.5 stars. I am really curious about what’s going to happen next, because that end was a bit …
Beware the spoilers
Raven: I was actually fooled for a bit in the beginning, but ended up realising quite quickly how much of a sh*tty person she is. Specially after finding out she’s actually Nirrin’s aunt, but was using her because when she was born her mum (aka Raven’s sister) died, as if it was Nirrin’s fault. And the way she blackmails her to do what she wants and has, as well, a really abusive relationship with her, where she’ll hit first and come bearing gifts after. Which actually leads us to Aden who keeps claiming to love Nirrin and only caring about her wellbeing but in reality just wants her to do the things he thinks are right, but is also lying to her and hiding the truth about Raven from her. Also, how he quickly turns against Nirrin when she says she does not want to be with him.
Sid:She was actually the first character that really made me interested in the story, probably because she’s technically really mysterious, but has you start seeing more of her character it kinda starts being easy to see where the truth and the lies are, how she keeps trying to hide who she really is and in the end still has to leave. I do hope we’ll see more of her in the next book. I did really like the dynamic between her and Nirrin when they started to get to know each other a bit more. Oh, and page 268, that kinda hit me in the face so quick I honestly jumped in my seat.
Possibly weirdly enough, one of my favorite characters whas Morah even though we don’t have much on her and off her in the book. I hope we get to see more of her in the story to come.
This book however, was such a conflicting read that I felt I actually needed to write a review. It was also my first Marie Rutkoski’s read/book.
In the first few chapters I felt really bored, I was thinking this would be a book I would definitely not enjoy. And suddenly the story would pick up and I’d be like “nice, it’s growing interesting” and then it’d suddenly break. The whole book felt like a rollercoaster of “urgh, I’m bored” and “wow, got interesting”.
There was also the writing. There’s something in the writing style that I’m not a fan off, but I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is. However, at the same time I really liked how the world and the scenery was described. Weird right? How can you appreciate and dislike a writing style at the same time?
In the end I actually quite enjoyed “discovering the world at the same time as Nirrin”, as we see her go through what she thought to be the norm and “how things are” and find out how things actually came to be. However, in the beginning I did feel like I was missing a big part of the context to this world.
Am not sure if I want to give this book 3 or 4 stars, so I’m going to settle with the 3.5 stars. I am really curious about what’s going to happen next, because that end was a bit …
Beware the spoilers
Spoiler
Nirrin: She was a complicated character for me. I think it’s hard not to like her but at the same time she can be so annoyingly childish and “blind”. We do see her grow a bit as the book develops and it becomes obvious that she is “ignorant” to the ways of the world because everyone worked to make it like that. It’s actually heartwarming to see how she goes from a person that does and says everything she thinks/knows they want to hear to someone that goes after what she wants, even if it takes so long and she is in denial for most of the book. I spent quite a long time thinking about her “powers” and what they meant/what she could actually do and I was about 50% right. I ended up thinking she’d be the reincarnation of a God (obviously I did not know what had happened to them at the time) to find out that she actually was a half-God. I’m also really curious about her changes in the end, how she gave away her “heart” to give everyone the knowledge they supposedly needed to get a better/different life and lost herself in the process, becoming a soulless person. Am really curious to see how that will change in the next book, if it’ll.Raven: I was actually fooled for a bit in the beginning, but ended up realising quite quickly how much of a sh*tty person she is. Specially after finding out she’s actually Nirrin’s aunt, but was using her because when she was born her mum (aka Raven’s sister) died, as if it was Nirrin’s fault. And the way she blackmails her to do what she wants and has, as well, a really abusive relationship with her, where she’ll hit first and come bearing gifts after. Which actually leads us to Aden who keeps claiming to love Nirrin and only caring about her wellbeing but in reality just wants her to do the things he thinks are right, but is also lying to her and hiding the truth about Raven from her. Also, how he quickly turns against Nirrin when she says she does not want to be with him.
Sid:She was actually the first character that really made me interested in the story, probably because she’s technically really mysterious, but has you start seeing more of her character it kinda starts being easy to see where the truth and the lies are, how she keeps trying to hide who she really is and in the end still has to leave. I do hope we’ll see more of her in the next book. I did really like the dynamic between her and Nirrin when they started to get to know each other a bit more. Oh, and page 268, that kinda hit me in the face so quick I honestly jumped in my seat.
Possibly weirdly enough, one of my favorite characters whas Morah even though we don’t have much on her and off her in the book. I hope we get to see more of her in the story to come.
sunny_r's review against another edition
3.0
I so wanted to like this book, but I simply could not force myself to get all the way through it :(( DNF’d at 50%
halloumiluuseri's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
reading_srsly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
* Class inequality
* Grooming & Manipulation
* Mystery
* LGBTQ+ Romance
In a world where everything is accepted at face value and even the simplest of things are strictly regulated, all it takes is the slightest seed of curiosity to disrupt the careful balance of their society.
The writing was a little tough to get into at first, it’s very simple and short despite being dialogue and conversation heavy. But the story itself is arresting (sometimes quite literally), and the mystery of the world is well woven through the setting and characters. The foreshadowing is heavy to the point the plot is somewhat predictable, but it’s still enjoyable to see it unfold.
Sid is hands down my favorite character. Sid is the quintessential love interest, complete with witty banter and a devil-may-care attitude. She doesn’t hide her plans for the future or her flaws, and the subtle openness without triggering the many thinly veiled alarm bells of some other love interests easily catapults her to memorability. It is worth noting that there is a lot of manipulation and selfishness within just about every relationship of the story, and despite Sid’s levity this is also a pretty heavy read that features childhood trauma and manipulation.
The big thing that drags this book down from five stars is that the ending felt highly unsatisfying. I didn’t need a happily ever after, but after so long languishing in parties and the slow trickle of discovery, it seemed like the author rushed her way through to setting up book two.
This is a thought-provoking book that would be a great book club read. It highlights what happens when people neglect asking questions, the importance of a fresh outsider’s perspective, and the importance of holding on to history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
chaptercharms's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
It took me FAR too long to pick this book up and when I finally did I read it in just a few days. It is an amazing fantasy story with a beautiful f/f love story at it's root that I loved so much.
I've never read The Winner's Trilogy and was a little worried that I would find it difficult to understand the world without having read it, but the world building was brilliant and I had no problems following the story and being immersed in the world. I definitely think I need to read The Winner's Trilogy now and learn even more about it!
Nirrim is a great protagonist, she's not had the best life but she is incredibly selfless and would do anything to help others, even to the point of sacrificing her own happiness and needs. I loved getting to see her grow throughout the story and allow herself to have the things that she wants.
The relationship was beautiful to see unfold throughout the story. I loved their flirting and jokes, their trust in one another and the way they helped each other out. They had a fantastic dynamic right from their first meeting and this was kept up throughout the whole book.
The cliffhanger at the end of the book was incredibly frustrating because I need to read the next book NOW.
It took me FAR too long to pick this book up and when I finally did I read it in just a few days. It is an amazing fantasy story with a beautiful f/f love story at it's root that I loved so much.
I've never read The Winner's Trilogy and was a little worried that I would find it difficult to understand the world without having read it, but the world building was brilliant and I had no problems following the story and being immersed in the world. I definitely think I need to read The Winner's Trilogy now and learn even more about it!
Nirrim is a great protagonist, she's not had the best life but she is incredibly selfless and would do anything to help others, even to the point of sacrificing her own happiness and needs. I loved getting to see her grow throughout the story and allow herself to have the things that she wants.
The relationship was beautiful to see unfold throughout the story. I loved their flirting and jokes, their trust in one another and the way they helped each other out. They had a fantastic dynamic right from their first meeting and this was kept up throughout the whole book.
The cliffhanger at the end of the book was incredibly frustrating because I need to read the next book NOW.