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callistag1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Child death
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, and Death
Minor: Death of parent, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
saoreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
It's the kind of read that's good enough as a standalone; I wonder why it had other parts unless it consisted of different main characters this time. I do love the short chapters, just like Chef Kisses, but at the same time it was really fast-paced and left no room for the world-building to be easily digested. It was hard reading through the various povs with no clarity as to whose voice was at the moment; it would have been better if from a third standpoint. I'm not a big fan of the characters, as it might be rooted in a less emotional build-up for reader attachment, but overall, it's easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
glauxgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had to write a review just to articulate my jumbled feelings! With so many locations, ruling families, and shifting alliances, I felt lost and almost DNF, but pushed through and was mostly glad I stuck with it. My strategy was to basically ignore mentions of any place/player that wasn't a Good Guy, the Traitor, or the People Helping the Traitor be Traitorous.
Speaking of that plot hack, I had a difficult time visualizing anyone aside from Sage. As other reviewers have pointed out, characters are problematically described as shades of "dark," which (racist stereotyping notwithstanding) doesn't tell me much. Who is white and who is POC? I even went to the author's website in hopes of finding some character sketches or creator-approved renderings, but no luck. On the other hand, passages about far less interesting topics, like the cistern, were written in such detail, yet I still couldn't picture them clearly. So I'd press on and hope for more action and dialogue in the next chapter.
I did not see the twist coming; in fact, I had to go back and reread the reveal several times to make sure I was understanding the implications of it, and honestly I'm still not sure I have a handle on it. Granted, I was reading this late into the night, which is a point in the book's favor—I had to know what happened next.
While Sage is a poster child for the "Not Like Other Girls" trope, the rest of the characters kept me invested in the outcome, particularly Casseck, Charlie, and Lady Clare. The encounters between Sage and Ash are some of my favorite moments—sweet and tantalizing (I like the long game in romance).
The final showdown didn't have the payoff I expected after such a long lead-up, andI CANNOT BELIEVE THE AUTHOR DID CHARLIE LIKE THAT , so the ending was frustrating even without an obvious cliffhanger.
I'm going to take a break and read something contemporary before deciding if I'll carry on with the series. As of now, I could go either way.
Speaking of that plot hack, I had a difficult time visualizing anyone aside from Sage. As other reviewers have pointed out, characters are problematically described as shades of "dark," which (racist stereotyping notwithstanding) doesn't tell me much. Who is white and who is POC? I even went to the author's website in hopes of finding some character sketches or creator-approved renderings, but no luck. On the other hand, passages about far less interesting topics, like the cistern, were written in such detail, yet I still couldn't picture them clearly. So I'd press on and hope for more action and dialogue in the next chapter.
I did not see the twist coming; in fact, I had to go back and reread the reveal several times to make sure I was understanding the implications of it, and honestly I'm still not sure I have a handle on it. Granted, I was reading this late into the night, which is a point in the book's favor—I had to know what happened next.
While Sage is a poster child for the "Not Like Other Girls" trope, the rest of the characters kept me invested in the outcome, particularly Casseck, Charlie, and Lady Clare. The encounters between Sage and Ash are some of my favorite moments—sweet and tantalizing (I like the long game in romance).
The final showdown didn't have the payoff I expected after such a long lead-up, and
I'm going to take a break and read something contemporary before deciding if I'll carry on with the series. As of now, I could go either way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
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