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libraryoflei's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
laneys_library's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
I LOVE IT!!! So much better than first! One of my now favorite books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Violence, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Rape, Torture, Slavery, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
dawnilton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great ending to the series. Every storyline wrapped up really nicely. Wasn’t expecting the direction the story went to- very interesting
KoraandNova ripped my heart out.
KoraandNova ripped my heart out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Rape
lizzie24601's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-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
3.5
A well-done second half of the duology, though not as good as Strange the Dreamer imo. That's mostly bc Lazlo had such an interesting arch and growth in the first book, and in this book he's mostly just spending his time being Sarai's bf and Sarai doesn't really more of an arch than she does in the first book. SOOO much of the Lazlo/Sarai romance scenes could've been cut.
Nevertheless, there is some great character growth here, too - mostly for Minya and Thyon. The new characters were interesting and helped broaden the world. There's a little less adventure and mystery in this book, but Laini Taylor's writing is so good that you're still devouring each page, and it is quite a satisfying ending. (Obsessed withThyon's growth (I was so excited for him to reunite with Lazlo afterward) and with Sarai deciding to become a therapist at the end. Love that for her. )
Nevertheless, there is some great character growth here, too - mostly for Minya and Thyon. The new characters were interesting and helped broaden the world. There's a little less adventure and mystery in this book, but Laini Taylor's writing is so good that you're still devouring each page, and it is quite a satisfying ending. (Obsessed with
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Torture, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Slavery
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This is a story about love in all it’s different kinds of forms throughout life that we might experience – romantic, familial, platonic. It’s also about how people deal with trauma and grief. Especially the generational trauma that comes with family and our ancestry.
It asks some very big questions about what we are as children of our parents. What is our responsibility if they have done very terrible things? it’s really hard to grapple with the fact that you yourself might not be a perpetrator of violence, but that does not mean you were exempt from the effects of the generational violence of those who came before you.
it is such a hard read, so many tears were shed. but it is very worth while to see the story of how love and forgiveness can begin healing.
It asks some very big questions about what we are as children of our parents. What is our responsibility if they have done very terrible things? it’s really hard to grapple with the fact that you yourself might not be a perpetrator of violence, but that does not mean you were exempt from the effects of the generational violence of those who came before you.
it is such a hard read, so many tears were shed. but it is very worth while to see the story of how love and forgiveness can begin healing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Child death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Rape
ellenisntcool'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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape
intoshadows's review
adventurous
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
4.75
The themes at first light, became heavier with each word towards the end a beautiful fantasy story about what the ability to heal or not looks like and something I had hoped to accomplish in my own book for a long time, she has done magnificently here. She created a work that means something and imparts hope and sorrow and all the feelings without focusing too much on the things that created them. Very eloquently done. Both of the books are in my favorites and forever will be on my mind.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
The content warnings are very implied and the R word is mentioned. Thankfully this author does not feel the need to describe any of these incidents. They are easily deduced though. So tread carefully if this is a sensitive subject for you. Big hugs and wishing you all the best.lilifane's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
If I had to describe this book with two words, I would say: Emotional Damage!
I haven't cried this much while reading for a long time. I think I didn't last a single chapter without tears.
Although I think the plot is the weakest point and the pacing is not as well done as in the first book, I still loved it a lot. Personally, I hoped we would focus on the characters and problems still present from book one and maybe a little discovering and adventuring. But it was a lot of talking instead, and then new characters were introduced who brought new problems or rather another layer of the same problems.
Still, I loved the characters with all my heart and even if we didn't see some of them as much, I was glad about every second we got. I was also impressed by how trauma and healing were discussed in the book. These were the main themes in this duology, and they were explored in a very nuanced way.
But beware of triggers. So many hard and dark and triggering topics.
I haven't cried this much while reading for a long time. I think I didn't last a single chapter without tears.
Although I think the plot is the weakest point and the pacing is not as well done as in the first book, I still loved it a lot. Personally, I hoped we would focus on the characters and problems still present from book one and maybe a little discovering and adventuring. But it was a lot of talking instead, and then new characters were introduced who brought new problems or rather another layer of the same problems.
Still, I loved the characters with all my heart and even if we didn't see some of them as much, I was glad about every second we got. I was also impressed by how trauma and healing were discussed in the book. These were the main themes in this duology, and they were explored in a very nuanced way.
But beware of triggers. So many hard and dark and triggering topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Confinement, Violence, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
anneroza's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Slavery, Death of parent, Confinement, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
dlrosebyh's review
adventurous
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
3.5
Lazlo and Sarai are not the same people they were before the disaster. They both struggle to understand their new identities as ghosts and gods, respectively, as dark-minded Minya holds them captive in order to get revenge on Weep.
While Sarai is more powerless than ever, Lazlo must make the impossible decision of whether to save the woman he loves or everyone else. The muse of nightmares, Sarai, has yet to fully realize her potential since sometimes, only the most desperate need can teach us our own depths.
I suppose I liked everything about this sequel, with the exception of the fact that the primary plot didn't really get going until the 30% point. It wasn't as intense as the previous book in the series, but it was still quite enjoyable. I adored the character depth, and the cliffhanger really caught my attention. I truly believed that this was the final installment in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Trafficking, Rape, and Slavery