Scan barcode
iffygeneia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise is really good, but this failed to fully live up to it.
It had some pacing issues, part were super slow and then suddenly ten things happened at once - followed by another slow strech.
Also the main characters are just so very dumb so often. If not for plot armor, they would've died within just a few chapters.
It had some pacing issues, part were super slow and then suddenly ten things happened at once - followed by another slow strech.
Also the main characters are just so very dumb so often. If not for plot armor, they would've died within just a few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Ableism, Hate crime, Death, Blood, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
rensreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
a story where avatar: the last airbender meets the roman gladiator fights? SAY LESS! truly, it had me at atla lol
i cannot describe this in enough detail to truly appease my little goblin brain but i adored this story. everything about it was magnificent! from rotten gods and their rotten pointed officials to the helpless citizens that decide enough is enough when their loved ones are threatened. this was glorious.
also, i’m simply going to assume that ash and madoc originate from places that would classify them being poc. no one is gonna take that from me even if it doesn’t end up being true hehe
that betrayal by you-know-who was done really well. i found it very strange how much she knew about madoc’s ability when it was mostly still a myth in the common person’s eyes so i began to suspect her but definitely not to the extent that she revealed herself to be later when ash and tor infiltrated petros’ fortress.
i adored ash from the get-go. madoc took me a bit to warm up to but once he had, he had me yknow? though i will say, the romance definitely needed a bit more added to it for me to actually believe they love each other and aren’t just infatuated with one another. i hope it’s expanded a little more in the sequel!
and cassia. oh man. the fact she was a child herself when she brought madoc home is kind of insane. she saw a starving child on the temple’s steps, took his hand, said “lets go home” and then BROUGHT HIM HOME with her only explanation to her parents being “he’s my new brother”? *chef’s kiss* she’s the girlboss we deserve!
absolutely a 5 stars read for me (:
i cannot describe this in enough detail to truly appease my little goblin brain but i adored this story. everything about it was magnificent! from rotten gods and their rotten pointed officials to the helpless citizens that decide enough is enough when their loved ones are threatened. this was glorious.
also, i’m simply going to assume that ash and madoc originate from places that would classify them being poc. no one is gonna take that from me even if it doesn’t end up being true hehe
that betrayal by you-know-who was done really well. i found it very strange how much she knew about madoc’s ability when it was mostly still a myth in the common person’s eyes so i began to suspect her but definitely not to the extent that she revealed herself to be later when ash and tor infiltrated petros’ fortress.
i adored ash from the get-go. madoc took me a bit to warm up to but once he had, he had me yknow? though i will say, the romance definitely needed a bit more added to it for me to actually believe they love each other and aren’t just infatuated with one another. i hope it’s expanded a little more in the sequel!
and cassia. oh man. the fact she was a child herself when she brought madoc home is kind of insane. she saw a starving child on the temple’s steps, took his hand, said “lets go home” and then BROUGHT HIM HOME with her only explanation to her parents being “he’s my new brother”? *chef’s kiss* she’s the girlboss we deserve!
absolutely a 5 stars read for me (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, War, Suicide, Death, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Torture, Cursing, Child abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Terminal illness, Confinement, Child death, and Trafficking
the trafficking is in relation to off-screen fights for the gladiators and not inherently sexual. the confinement is never given detail from the one being confined, just the character who is breaking them out. the suicide is by murder but would still be considered a suicide.shockinglyshayreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'm honestly having trouble rating this. First thing, the description of ATLA crossed with Gladiators couldn't be more on point. There were a lot of times I really felt like I was reading the plot from ATLA. The second thing, it was about 150 pages of world building/info dumping. It was too much and dragged. I absolutely LOVE worldbuilding but not that much. Let it flow through out the book, not just all at once in the beginning. The characters were ok. One felt flat while the other felt like a spoiled brat. There were so many sub plots that it felt indecisive. Some of them were predictable, others were nice surprises. There was one body shield moment that I don't feel would have worked how it did based on the power building but I'm not the writers.
Some things I liked were the strong friendships/relationships shown despite the gladiator aspect. One of the character twists was AMAZING. I definitely wasn't expecting that twist. Again. the worldbuilding was amazing and there was a map. I love maps. The power structure was neat but so much ATLA. I would have liked to see more of the different powers but I guess that's probably for other books.
When I think about things separately, I like them but when I put the book together it just doesn't sit well.
Some things I liked were the strong friendships/relationships shown despite the gladiator aspect. One of the character twists was AMAZING. I definitely wasn't expecting that twist. Again. the worldbuilding was amazing and there was a map. I love maps. The power structure was neat but so much ATLA. I would have liked to see more of the different powers but I guess that's probably for other books.
When I think about things separately, I like them but when I put the book together it just doesn't sit well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
More...