Scan barcode
brooketreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I keep bouncing between a three and a four star. It was good, could have been great - it just wasn’t for me.
So many spoilers ahead, I’d turn back if I were you.
Positives:
- the magic system is quite interesting, but I will say I don’t 100% get it.
- Fake Gavin/ current prism. And since I am a sucker for romantasy, I am and will always be rooting for him and Karris.
- Karris - beware she will be on both lists. I thought straight off I was destined to hate her in this series and then immediately was proven wrong. I thought she was such a badass!
- Side characters: Corvan, Ironfist, and Gavin’s mom Felia.
- The scene of them in the scull boat.
- Karris fighting Corvan in the basement of the church.
Negatives:
- Too much references to the female body and boobs (especially Kip) but dang it was everyone like Karris have statues because she is so beautiful that two brothers went to war for her (but also it was really just about which brother was better *cough cough*)
- Then, there is a fat/ “chubby” teen that we get tons of internalized (and sometimes externalized) fat phobia from constantly. I was rooting for Kip early on and this really made me come indifferent about him.
- Gavin Dazen - Dazen Gavin. I’m sorry but at times this was so annoying to follow. Trying to decipher who was like what before and who was like what now. I could follow it but it made my head hurt. I just find the whole thing hard to believe that no one besides the mom knew… especially Karris. So that only added to the annoyance on this topic. Also why did real Gavin need to switch to thinking he is Dazen - like they didn’t switch places. This isn’t Lindsay Lohan in the Parent Trap. Like yes Dazen assumed Gavin’s life but the real Gavin assumed nothing. Anyway…
- Karris - I told you both lists. She didn’t stay consistent for me. Specifically through the middle after her capture/ while she is imprisoned. Maybe that’s more a result of her circumstances rather her - but I don’t feel like how she had been set up that she would be/ allow herself to be captured. That’s just my opinion. She made a come back later, but still would have like a more consistent feel to her all the way through.
- Kip’s mom. I hate her. She was a horrible mom, even horrible to Kip on her death bed, now that note - which I’m still not convinced is from her but anywho. No.
- The pacing. It was fast and then slow and it just kept switching back and forth all the way through.
- I felt like it was too long, definitely could have been cut down in a few places. Like Liv’s whole character in my opinion could have been cut out.
So many spoilers ahead, I’d turn back if I were you.
Positives:
- the magic system is quite interesting, but I will say I don’t 100% get it.
- Fake Gavin/ current prism. And since I am a sucker for romantasy, I am and will always be rooting for him and Karris.
- Karris - beware she will be on both lists. I thought straight off I was destined to hate her in this series and then immediately was proven wrong. I thought she was such a badass!
- Side characters: Corvan, Ironfist, and Gavin’s mom Felia.
- The scene of them in the scull boat.
- Karris fighting Corvan in the basement of the church.
Negatives:
- Too much references to the female body and boobs (especially Kip) but dang it was everyone like Karris have statues because she is so beautiful that two brothers went to war for her (but also it was really just about which brother was better *cough cough*)
- Then, there is a fat/ “chubby” teen that we get tons of internalized (and sometimes externalized) fat phobia from constantly. I was rooting for Kip early on and this really made me come indifferent about him.
- Gavin Dazen - Dazen Gavin. I’m sorry but at times this was so annoying to follow. Trying to decipher who was like what before and who was like what now. I could follow it but it made my head hurt. I just find the whole thing hard to believe that no one besides the mom knew… especially Karris. So that only added to the annoyance on this topic. Also why did real Gavin need to switch to thinking he is Dazen - like they didn’t switch places. This isn’t Lindsay Lohan in the Parent Trap. Like yes Dazen assumed Gavin’s life but the real Gavin assumed nothing. Anyway…
- Karris - I told you both lists. She didn’t stay consistent for me. Specifically through the middle after her capture/ while she is imprisoned. Maybe that’s more a result of her circumstances rather her - but I don’t feel like how she had been set up that she would be/ allow herself to be captured. That’s just my opinion. She made a come back later, but still would have like a more consistent feel to her all the way through.
- Kip’s mom. I hate her. She was a horrible mom, even horrible to Kip on her death bed, now that note - which I’m still not convinced is from her but anywho. No.
- The pacing. It was fast and then slow and it just kept switching back and forth all the way through.
- I felt like it was too long, definitely could have been cut down in a few places. Like Liv’s whole character in my opinion could have been cut out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Death of parent, Murder, Fatphobia, and Sexism
Minor: Vomit
swimfish2005's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Violence, War, Slavery, Fatphobia, Murder, and Cursing
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Violence, War, Death, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Rape
jacquibear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Rape, and Slavery
terrabby's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Uuuh mixed feeling with this one.
Strong points: I have to agree with virtually everyone else here, the magic system is cool af, very original and thoroughly explained. Most of the characters were interesting and well-written, especially Gavin, which is the main reason why I didn't dnf.
Now, onto the weaknesses: This book suffers from male author writing women syndrome and it has quite a few "she breasted tittily" moments. On top of that, it's pretty damn fatphobic for a book with a fat mc. Like, it makes an effort to be explicitely fatphobic at some points.
The writing style was meh, didn't love it, didn't hate it. Too many battle descriptions but that's just personal preference.
Strong points: I have to agree with virtually everyone else here, the magic system is cool af, very original and thoroughly explained. Most of the characters were interesting and well-written, especially Gavin, which is the main reason why I didn't dnf.
Now, onto the weaknesses: This book suffers from male author writing women syndrome and it has quite a few "she breasted tittily" moments. On top of that, it's pretty damn fatphobic for a book with a fat mc. Like, it makes an effort to be explicitely fatphobic at some points.
The writing style was meh, didn't love it, didn't hate it. Too many battle descriptions but that's just personal preference.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Vomit
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Absolutely riveting once we get past the out-spooling of how the magic system works but that goes on way too long.
The world tends towards grimdark but the characters are mostly people you can root for and the author gives us a few properly happy or poignant moments.
Hoping to like the next one even better.
The world tends towards grimdark but the characters are mostly people you can root for and the author gives us a few properly happy or poignant moments.
Hoping to like the next one even better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Vomit, Violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, Blood, Addiction, and Gore
Moderate: Slavery, Sexism, and Racism
More...