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alouette's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
another complex book that it's hard to sort out my feelings for. time for a pros and cons list!
pros
pros
- the diversity!! most of the main cast was bipoc, some were also queer, and zofia (my beloved) was on the autism spectrum. that last one was really awesome to see because rarely have i come across books about characters with ASD in which their mental disability isn't the main focus but rather just a part of their character. loved it.
- banter and character dynamics! their interactions were fun with also plenty of complexities and depth, and i was rooting for them the whole way.
- the whimsy and the magic system! while it was confusing, it was also intriguing. the puzzles they solved + the magical inventions they used were fun to follow in each individual instance, and i liked the illustrations as they made new discoveries. it helped me visualize what was happening and get more immersed.
cons
- confusing worldbuilding. the intertwining of actual history with heavy fantasy elements was interesting, but we were thrown into it with little preamble and even the baseline of the main plot got hard to follow at times. the flowery writing was lovely for my imagination but did not help when trying to understand what was actually going on.
- a lack of character development. now, i don't mean that the characters weren't plenty rounded, just that they weren't dynamic. everything about them was pre-established (again, we're thrown right into this world abruptly) and they've all known each other for years. while this made for some fun dynamics, it meant that i sensed little change in any of them by the end.
- the villian...
he really came out of nowhere and i didn't even understand what the heck his magical blood powers were. when they talked about the stealing of House Kore's ring being an inside job i was expecting some betrayals, not this weirdo... - the ending... quite rushed and disappointing.
tristan deserved so much better in terms of character development and time devoted to him, and then it felt like what happened to him was absolutely brushed past, both the trauma he suffered and then his actual demise. still don't know what the heck was up with the birds, the reveal that he was killing them was super rushed and not explored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Minor: Racism and Sexual content
starshynebrite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good heist, some magic, unique and diverse characters, some really hilarious banter and storytellings, secrets and inner turmoil mwahaha!
This is perfect for fans of flawed characters that somehow make a really great team, falling in love with every single character, CHARACTERS OKAY? I JUST LOVE THEM ALL!
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
micheala's review against another edition
4.75
This is the type of heist novel that I really enjoy. I love when the team is already friends when it starts. We do also have the aspect of the outsider/new to the team with Hypnos, but the other five have already been working together for a while and have formed bonds.
I will say that out of the six main characters, I just didn't really like Enrique all that much. He did grow on me (again) in the last third of the book, however he just wasn't a character that I vibes with. On the other hand, Zofia was probably my favourite character. I loved seeing how she interacted with the different situations and I'm hoping to see more of her POVs in the second book.
Overall I still really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to continue with the trilogy.
I will say that out of the six main characters, I just didn't really like Enrique all that much. He did grow on me (again) in the last third of the book, however he just wasn't a character that I vibes with. On the other hand, Zofia was probably my favourite character. I loved seeing how she interacted with the different situations and I'm hoping to see more of her POVs in the second book.
Overall I still really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to continue with the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Racism, Torture, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Self harm
Minor: Slavery
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