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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
*4.75 ⭐️
i had never read anything by cassandra claire before this, which is surprising since she’s a very established and loved author, but i jsut didn’t gravitate towards her other books?? and then on iron flame release date i saw this and read george r. r. martins review and saw it was new adult and bought it. and honestly, so glad i did. because i REALLY enjoyed this!!!!
this was exactly what i wanted. the world building was seamless and i felt like i was really there. granted in my brain it looks a bit more cartoony than it probably should but still, i can completely envision this entire city. also, i really liked the characters. i loveeeee kel and loved his pov and cannot wait for the next book to see how his story continues. also loved a lot of the side characters. tho i must add, conor needs to show some goddamn APPRECIATION. kel has quite literally devoted his LIFE and whole entire existence to conor. he is being led to the slaughter, genuinely trained to die, AND THEY ALL ACT LIKE THATS FINE??? and he gets no credit whatsoever. it made me so mad throughout the whole thing like come tf on. and then also i love conor bc kel loves conor and i love kel so i love conor?? but also i feel like conor just doesn’t love kel as much as kel loves conor and just keeps secrets from him and lies to him especially about like lin and also the whole debt thing which yeah everyone has secrets and deserves privacy except it felt like such a betrayal (esp the whole lin and conor thing) because KEL IS LITERALLY LIVING TO PROTECT U AND THEN DIE FOR YOU like at least show a little respect and maybe care more and don’t be such a brat? like i love him but again, come onnnnnn. quite frankly i just want kel to prosper and kick ass and i want to see him be a mastermind and out-do all these hoes in the next book because he deserves all that.
mainly tho, i want to point out how genius this whole plot is? like i saw some people say that the first 100-200 pages are hard to get through but i didn’t feel that way at all? once i hit page 5 i was sucked in because i went in completely blind not knowing a thing and once i saw the premise of the book coming to life i was fascinated. like it’s just so genius to me? two brothers essentially through their bond living in this insane place but riding inevitably towards destruction and suffering because one lives to die for the other. like that’s GENIUS??? and then add on top of that all the world building and magic system coming to life that’s rlly being set up for the next book (so excited) and the side characters and that’s not even mentioning lin’s whole plot like?????? i am obsessed and cannot wait to see where it goes.
anyway that’s all. will be continuing this series. actually such a captivating plot. LOVE (kel)
i had never read anything by cassandra claire before this, which is surprising since she’s a very established and loved author, but i jsut didn’t gravitate towards her other books?? and then on iron flame release date i saw this and read george r. r. martins review and saw it was new adult and bought it. and honestly, so glad i did. because i REALLY enjoyed this!!!!
this was exactly what i wanted. the world building was seamless and i felt like i was really there. granted in my brain it looks a bit more cartoony than it probably should but still, i can completely envision this entire city. also, i really liked the characters. i loveeeee kel and loved his pov and cannot wait for the next book to see how his story continues. also loved a lot of the side characters. tho i must add, conor needs to show some goddamn APPRECIATION. kel has quite literally devoted his LIFE and whole entire existence to conor. he is being led to the slaughter, genuinely trained to die, AND THEY ALL ACT LIKE THATS FINE??? and he gets no credit whatsoever. it made me so mad throughout the whole thing like come tf on. and then also i love conor bc kel loves conor and i love kel so i love conor?? but also i feel like conor just doesn’t love kel as much as kel loves conor and just keeps secrets from him and lies to him especially about like lin and also the whole debt thing which yeah everyone has secrets and deserves privacy except it felt like such a betrayal (esp the whole lin and conor thing) because KEL IS LITERALLY LIVING TO PROTECT U AND THEN DIE FOR YOU like at least show a little respect and maybe care more and don’t be such a brat? like i love him but again, come onnnnnn. quite frankly i just want kel to prosper and kick ass and i want to see him be a mastermind and out-do all these hoes in the next book because he deserves all that.
mainly tho, i want to point out how genius this whole plot is? like i saw some people say that the first 100-200 pages are hard to get through but i didn’t feel that way at all? once i hit page 5 i was sucked in because i went in completely blind not knowing a thing and once i saw the premise of the book coming to life i was fascinated. like it’s just so genius to me? two brothers essentially through their bond living in this insane place but riding inevitably towards destruction and suffering because one lives to die for the other. like that’s GENIUS??? and then add on top of that all the world building and magic system coming to life that’s rlly being set up for the next book (so excited) and the side characters and that’s not even mentioning lin’s whole plot like?????? i am obsessed and cannot wait to see where it goes.
anyway that’s all. will be continuing this series. actually such a captivating plot. LOVE (kel)
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
this feels like a marriage of my 2 fav fantasy series
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do not understand the hate surrounding this book. This is a good beginning with a strong foundation to an epic fantasy.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
Thank u Cassandra for remaining true to yourself by continuing to put Jewish people in your fantasy books *muah*
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mid range book. I’ll say it won me over by the end. The last 80 pages or so are the best. The beginning was very extremely slow.
I have a few major criticisms about the world building. Obviously Clare was trying to do a lot here, arguably too much. We introduced a variety of countries with no real context and no map to even make them memorable. Also all the nobles, lots of names that weren’t relevant. And while i can appreciate the attempt to bring in different cultures and the research that went into this book, i don’t need to know the names of every special liquor, what its made from and what country it comes from. There seemed to be a plethora of superfluous information that made actual plot points drag. Also, again, different cultures and akin tones which is fantastic, but me personally, i don’t look at someone’s brown hair and blue eyes and think “they’re probably descended from x place!” That just felt over used and unrealistic to me personally.
What i liked though, was a lot. I thought all the main characters were well-rounded and lovable. Kel, Lin and even Conor i like a lot. They have a lot of depth. Also Antonetta, Miriam and Merren are standouts. Kel, bisexual king. And i really love how his relationship with Conor is written. It’s almost queer-platonic. Not romantic but more than friends and not exactly brothers. But i thiught the power dynamic between them is well written. Clare was able to get the confusion of both of them being children when they met and the privilege Conor is born with but can’t seem to fully acknowledge. This was well done in Lin x Conor as well.
I love what’s been set up, i’m very excited to learn who on the Hill is involved with the scheme, i’m hopeful to see more of Merren, and excited to see what Lin has planned. Also? What is up with the king? Obvioualy something, espwcially because…why would the sword catcher stop bwing the swors catcher when theh become king?? Curious…
Will definitely be reading the next one, and i hope the pacing is slightly better.
I have a few major criticisms about the world building. Obviously Clare was trying to do a lot here, arguably too much. We introduced a variety of countries with no real context and no map to even make them memorable. Also all the nobles, lots of names that weren’t relevant. And while i can appreciate the attempt to bring in different cultures and the research that went into this book, i don’t need to know the names of every special liquor, what its made from and what country it comes from. There seemed to be a plethora of superfluous information that made actual plot points drag. Also, again, different cultures and akin tones which is fantastic, but me personally, i don’t look at someone’s brown hair and blue eyes and think “they’re probably descended from x place!” That just felt over used and unrealistic to me personally.
What i liked though, was a lot. I thought all the main characters were well-rounded and lovable. Kel, Lin and even Conor i like a lot. They have a lot of depth. Also Antonetta, Miriam and Merren are standouts. Kel, bisexual king. And i really love how his relationship with Conor is written. It’s almost queer-platonic. Not romantic but more than friends and not exactly brothers. But i thiught the power dynamic between them is well written. Clare was able to get the confusion of both of them being children when they met and the privilege Conor is born with but can’t seem to fully acknowledge. This was well done in Lin x Conor as well.
I love what’s been set up, i’m very excited to learn who on the Hill is involved with the scheme, i’m hopeful to see more of Merren, and excited to see what Lin has planned. Also? What is up with the king? Obvioualy something, espwcially because…why would the sword catcher stop bwing the swors catcher when theh become king?? Curious…
Will definitely be reading the next one, and i hope the pacing is slightly better.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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