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weasleys_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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 suck at reviews, sorry in advance.
Took me three months, but I loved this book! This was my first Jay Kristoff book, and to be honest, I wasn't really sure I was liking the writing style in the beginning. I started to change my mind once I got to know the characters more, and actually started to care about the story. The entire book was action packed, and the characters were beautifully written. I can't wait for the next one! I loved everything about this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Sexual content
emilygibbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death of parent
faefolkreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Gore, and Grief
wildflower030's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, and Abandonment
yyooh17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
“Hearts only bruise. They never break”
Well mine certainly feels pretty broken right now. It’s certainly gone through alot TT
I fell in love with ALL the characters, nearly cried a few times and actually cried more than that.
The book intertwines 2 plots, his past at San Michon and years later as a man. These are linked through the 3rd plot which is the present day. The majority of the book is a retelling of the past.
As you read more, previous brief comments begin to make more sense and have a deeper meaning and you gradually understand why Mr MC is the way he is. I’d say try not to gloss over any details because it WILL be relevant later on.
Jay Kristoff appears to have gone to a writers workshop and applied EVERY PIECE OF ADVICE EVER, but better. Anything I could ask for in a book is here.
The illustrations are also gorgeous and really add to the descriptions in the novel.
I will add that there is quite alot of gore, violence and religious horror, however, in my opinion that is a staple of vampire fiction so it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
I fell in love with ALL the characters, nearly cried a few times and actually cried more than that.
The book intertwines 2 plots, his past at San Michon and years later as a man. These are linked through the 3rd plot which is the present day. The majority of the book is a retelling of the past.
As you read more, previous brief comments begin to make more sense and have a deeper meaning and you gradually understand why Mr MC is the way he is. I’d say try not to gloss over any details because it WILL be relevant later on.
Jay Kristoff appears to have gone to a writers workshop and applied EVERY PIECE OF ADVICE EVER, but better. Anything I could ask for in a book is here.
The illustrations are also gorgeous and really add to the descriptions in the novel.
I will add that there is quite alot of gore, violence and religious horror, however, in my opinion that is a staple of vampire fiction so it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Religious bigotry
brightwatcher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
novaleestar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
I loved this book just as much as anticipated! It is a dark, macabre trek through an endless forest full of horrible frights, and I often felt as if I were a phantom being led through a bloody painting. Viseral, beautiful, heart wrenching. Jay Kristoff always does such a good job making me reach out to find the hope he has hidden in the darkest nooks and flaws of his characters. This was no exception, and I can't wait for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Excrement, and Death of parent
phrogonalilypad's review against another edition
It's believed "Woman born" cant kill the big bads... And it's not explained why that's thought... Like even if this is ever proven wrong in the books... de Leóns general attitude towards even the women he "cares" about this far is reading as pretty misogynistic... Like to even name a mare Jezebel, after a biblically evil woman in a biblically coded book... Just seems unnecessary. I know Kristoff likes to be edgy but if this was 100% intentional I at this point don't even want to find the intention... It's just a bit too much for me.
A little less misogyny and I'd probably be hooked tbh
Might pick it up later and try again but... My interest continues to wane unfortunately.
There is some amazing artworks in this book though!
A little less misogyny and I'd probably be hooked tbh
Might pick it up later and try again but... My interest continues to wane unfortunately.
There is some amazing artworks in this book though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Misogyny
seekerxr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
5.0
is there even any words to describe this masterpiece?
i was engaged from the beginning to the very end. there wasn't a single moment of this book where i wasn't on the edge of my seat. it is worth every single bit of its 700-something pages because the story simply couldn't be told in less than that.
the atmosphere? unable to be duplicated. take every hard, dramatic aesthetic of the church and turn it up to eleven. it's blood and silver and hopelessness and battle fury.
the characters were intensely flawed and intensely loveable. no one could have told this story like gabriel did.
i didn't realize this was an incomplete series when i started it (i don't usually read incomplete series) but i am absolutely locked in. i cant wait for the rest of the story.
if you want a grimdark vampire fantasy epic, why aren't you already reading this?
i was engaged from the beginning to the very end. there wasn't a single moment of this book where i wasn't on the edge of my seat. it is worth every single bit of its 700-something pages because the story simply couldn't be told in less than that.
the atmosphere? unable to be duplicated. take every hard, dramatic aesthetic of the church and turn it up to eleven. it's blood and silver and hopelessness and battle fury.
the characters were intensely flawed and intensely loveable. no one could have told this story like gabriel did.
i didn't realize this was an incomplete series when i started it (i don't usually read incomplete series) but i am absolutely locked in. i cant wait for the rest of the story.
if you want a grimdark vampire fantasy epic, why aren't you already reading this?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and War
grets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Slavery