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thecolouryes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Drug use, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
thebetterstory's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The characters are likeable enough, although I felt that the author misjudged how many times
There’s an uncomfortable bent to the way the book handles its war on an neighbouring land, too. It does at least seem aware that colonization is bad, but that doesn’t stop the soldiers from being called “heroes” and people who “should be heroes,” both by characters and the narrative. The nods at pacifistic worldviews rarely include a discussion of how the Laneeri have been harmed. In fact, it wasn’t often clear whether the book thought that was the biggest problem, or the fact that the Aeland soldiers sent to war were traumatized. And of course it is people from this other land who get no dialogue, unless you count mad cackling; who use incense and necromancy and have “sky-priests” while the main characters remain somewhere recognizable as England even though it’s never called that. Who have no technology we learn of, unlike this not-England, and who are the only ones mentioned to use torture against POWs during the war and have no rules against harming civilians, including children. In the plot they’ve been wronged, but subtextually they’re framed as villains and terrifying, mysterious forces of violence. I’m not sure the book going And War Is Bad really made up for that. It feels thoughtless rather than deliberate, but doesn’t stop it from being uncomfortable and irritating.
I’ll admit I was going into this book expecting rather a lot, so perhaps I held it to an unfair standard. It was fun, and it did make for a good read on the plane. But I also felt nothing during its big dramatic conclusion. I’m not asking that every work be full of complication and moral complexity, but I need a bit more than this.
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit
kaykayjay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Torture
purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
apocellipse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Torture and War
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Homophobia
20sidedbi'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Classism
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and War
aardwyrm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Suicide and Colonisation
allisonwonderlandreads's review
- 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
4.0
The story draws on many relevant social issues. Classism is a major component here, since lower class witches are shipped off to asylums, whereas the ruling class of mages keeps their power secret, even as they use it to advance their own importance. Imperialism, war, and its traumas are also a large presence here. Miles works as a psychiatrist at a veterans' hospital. Once a prisoner of war himself, Miles' empathy and patients-first attitude make him well-loved by the men he serves. He can't use his magic healing abilities to help for fear of being accused of witchcraft, so he trudges along, filing paperwork, arguing with his boss, and doing his best with limited resources. I really resonated with the way his empathy was trampled on by bureaucracy, politics, and lack of funds.
There was so much to love here. I would say the world-building skews towards social rather than magical detail. I loved the descriptions of bike traffic (including an adrenaline-filled chase scene!), fashion, and technology. There's also a very sweet mlm romance that had a light touch on the story but was still fully realized rather than an afterthought. In addition, a complicated brother/sister relationship left me with a mix of emotions. The layers of mystery and power-grabbing machinations in the story were captivating. I am eager to dive into the rest of the trilogy.
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Torture
purplatypus'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Torture, and Excrement
astudyinfic's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Minor: Domestic abuse and Torture