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kylieqrada's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia
hayleyvem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Deportation, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment
clarabooksit's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Police brutality, War, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual violence
kennadis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
The story centers on Jasminda, a farmer who has been tending her family's homestead after her mother's death and her father and brother's disappearance. She lives on the edge of the country of Elsira, which is cut off from the neighboring country of Lagrimar by a magical Mantle. Lagrimar is ruled by the True Father, who wishes to cross the mantle and conquer Elsira for his own. As the daughter of a Lagrimarian and an Elsiran, Jasminda lives on the outskirts to avoid the prejudice she receives in the Elsiran cities. When Jasminda rescues an Elsiran soldier hunted by a Lagrimarian regiment and learns that the mantle is close to failing, she gets pulled into a fight for the country and the history of the continental conflict.
Penelope does an excellent job of creating a compelling world with a layered history and folklore. She drops pieces of this folklore at the beginning of each chapter through snippets from folklore texts, which I think did a great job of expanding the world in small snippets. I came to care for Jasminda and the other characters that populate this story through the interweaving perspectives. Though the plot itself wasn't full of twists and turns, I think Penelope did a good job of setting up the different beats. Even though they weren't unexpected, they felt earned.
The piece of this story that I was hoping for more from was the writing itself. It was relatively simple and straightforward in a world that I think could have benefited from more evocative prose. It was clear that Penelope has a good idea of the world and moments that she is creating and I was hoping to be pulled into the world through the prose more than I was. Even so, I am invested in the story and will be continuing on in the series.
Graphic: Hate crime, Medical trauma, Murder, Racism, Xenophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Although I was a bit overwhelmed at first, I was firmly settled into the world by the end of the book. It has a historical vibe with technology like airships, radios, and cars. The book largely avoids info dumps. Each chapter kicks off with an adage from the world's legends, and Jasminda explores an important moment in history, the schism between Elsira and Lagrimar, firsthand through a magical object. I enjoyed how even though the 1920s/30s accoutrements made the world a bit familiar, it still feels fresh and intriguing.
In terms of romance, since that's the main engine for the plot, you can expect a star-crossed, us against the world feel with some open door steam. It's a bit instalove or at least a whirlwind, but the intensity of their experiences together made it slightly less perplexing to me.
I will warn readers that in addition to the fun sexual content on the page, there are some violent near-misses in terms of sexual assault for both leads. There is also copious sexual harassment directed Jasminda's way. Wartime violence extends to the attack of unarmed or underpowered refugees on multiple occasions. It is a hard book in those respects.
While the particular central romance was nice but not amazing for this reader, I feel very invested in the world and its trajectory by the end of this book. Now that world-building is established, I am excited to pick up the sequel and see if its romantic tropes are more to my taste because I think the series has a lot to offer.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, War, and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail