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styleofdress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
For a book praised so much I had expected a more inclusive cast, like at least a *single* two dimensional female character (not even three, I won't even ask for that, just two dimensions)
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
ambientdusk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Bullying, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
jjjreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual violence, Classism, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Animal death, Medical content, Sexual content, Bullying, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Self harm, Slavery, Cursing, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Excrement, and Gun violence
jinjan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
#1 biggest complaint was the lack of content warnings from the author. There are on page scenes of violent and graphic rape. I wish there had been an author's note at the beginning regarding this content.
I also believe that rape for the sake of violence, upping the stakes, and a sad sob story is cruel. In a fantasy world, set outside the bounds of this reality, there needs to be really important reasons for including violent rape scenes and descriptions. The Last Sun fails to make any interesting, relevant, or prudent conversations about rape culture and the effects of sexual assault and violence. For me, it comes across as an insensitive and uncaring author capitalizing on shock, hoping to keep their reader hooked. I hope that Edwards is more careful how this topic is handled in future books.
Moving on, I liked Rune and Brand as a unit. I liked how easily they were able to show affection and care for each other. I'm still not really sure how the whole Companion thing works and I hope Edwards explains that a little better in future books. On that note, I actually wish Edwards did a better job of explaining the world as a whole and the roles that the Arcana play as governance. Is this an alternate Earth? Why are there humans living along side Atlanteans? The history of their society is rich, but it seems to mostly live in the authors head rather than on the pages.
Even though the setting and history of New Atlantis confused me, it didn't really disrupt any of the plot. The story was interesting but the battle scenes dragged, especially the final battle at the compound.
I really enjoyed the side characters. They were interesting and not too over the top. I liked Addam a lot. He's a man who knows what he wants. Cocky but sweet. Idk I haven't read a character or love interest like him in a while. It was refreshing. I loved Quinn. Not much to say there. Max was sweet, I'm curious about his story. I liked that Edwards didn't imply or drag out any kind of adult/minor situation. I was surprised how much I liked Ciaran as well. Even the Tower. It really seems like Edwards has a clear idea for what each character will be in the story moving forward. I like that.
A pet peeve: I hate it when a hero claims their target. for example, "___________ is mine." Cheesy & lame. Why don't you actually fight them & stop wasting your breath? (An opinion I'm sure Brand would appreciate).
A thoroughly fun book. I'll be continuing the series.
oh and after looking over some other reviews, I do agree that there is a glaring issue with a lack of women and non-binary people in the story. For a society that seems to be quite accepting of queerness, there wasn't much diversity beyond mlm relationships. It didn't necessarily bother me, but it stands true nonetheless.
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Minor: Fatphobia
rachratesreads's review
- 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
I won't lie: there is a LOT of heavy stuff in this book, but it is well balanced with humor, found families, and healthy relationships. A big theme in this book is healing from past trauma whilst still trying to move on with life. It also introduces lesser seen trauma arcs, such as male survivors of SA. It's definitely worth the read if that is something you are interested in (and in the right head space for). Heed the content warnings and stay safe, friends.
I do wish I didn't have to dig all over the internet to figure out how graphic sensitive scenes were, which is why I'm gonna put it here (under spoiler text). I know information like this can make or break a book, and no one should have to be blindsided by graphic depictions of sexual violence. These contain spoilers for the book.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Slavery
One recurring side character is suffers from an ED and her body is described when she is first introduced. One of the characters uses the "A" word to describe her when they are speaking later. It's implied that a character (who is a minor) was SA'd by a relative for a few years. This is never said explicitly, the MC just kinda puts the pieces together. The MC was SA'd and suffers from graphic flashbacks. Details about sensitive scenes below:grimdark_dad's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
foxgloveinspace's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Child abuse, Torture, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, and Medical content
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
paula014's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It was so much fun to reread this one! I’m still in love with these characters, with this world, and with where this story is going. I picked up on a bunch of things that I think I either forgot completely or just didn’t notice the first time around! Rereading The Last Sun was like getting a hug from my favorite book. And this is still a solid five stars!
Original Review July 2020:
I loved this so freaking much! Rune and Brand are everything! Their love for each other is so much more then brothers or friends or lovers ever could be. I was in awe of their relationship the entire time I was reading this. I just loved them and I wanted to give them all the hugs.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Rape, Body horror, Gun violence, Death, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Grief, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
micheala's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A fun take on urban fantasy. I LOVED that it had actual adults and not 18-21 year olds as the main characters. I found that the number and style of the fight scenes started to feel a little Action Movie to me. I adored Brand and Rune's interactions, and Quinn is by far my favourite character.
I went into this assuming that Rune and Brand would end up in a relationship and thus started pulling for a poly relationship about half way through, however I believe I was totally wrong and Brand and Rune will not ever become romantically involved and I'm ok with that (I still think that the poly relationship would have been gold)
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Suicide attempt, Grief, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Torture, Violence, Death, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming