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gabbyeleene's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Suicide
cowardlyteaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
But really, I do think this trilogy is enjoyable for a larger audience than some might have been lead to believe.
This book was a difficult one to rate, I though, because I don't want to like it as much as I do. It was cheesy at times, and dramatic, but we are dramatic, aren't we? 17-year-olds, I mean. I still remain a bit disturbed by the fact that I am older than the main character. Anyway, I actually don't mind it being a bit dramatic. I found it (mostly) engaging instead of distracting, actually, only with the occasional sigh whenever Tessa's brother Nate was brought up.
The story is good, I think. I enjoy a good drug dealer and mad scientist. The creatures as well, though I think some of the features like blue skin were a bit—off or childish, I still enjoy a good werewolf, vampire, and the warlocks are cool, too. And I enjoy many of the characters as well, although I regrettably find Tessa quite cliché.
Then there's the whole thing about Will... We're given the reason behind his dick behaviour in this book, but I'm honestly tired of the «I push people away to protect them» trope. Even if it was given a proper-ish enough reason here, it wasn't really enough for me to excuse it. However, I did like him more towards the end of the book. He's Welsh, though, and I greatly appreciated the little Welsh line put in there. Fi hefyd, Will. Fi hefyd. I especially like his relationship with James...
Or should I say Jem. No, I shouldn't. The nickname sends shivers down my spine. It's horrid. And the same thing applies to «Tessa». And why not throw in «Nate» while we're at it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but t's something horribly American to make up these weird and awkward pet names? Jem? Of all things? I daresay James is a perfectly fine name for a respectable gentleman. Theresa, also MUCH better than Tessa, which every time is mentioned only reminds me of that wretched (donkey???) thing from Winnie the Poo. Tussi, if I'm not mistaken. Will as a shortened version of William is wonderful. It's normal, fine, elegant even. Now, I just remembered that Tessa and Nate are, in fact, American, so I can agree to disagree on that just because of—cultural differences, but Jem? Good God. Just call him James, all of you.
But then there is James, who I adore. He's witty at times, gentle, and together with Will an excellent portrayal of peak male friendship. He is practically married to his best friend, and I respect that. Without stretching it too far, I might compare it to Sam and Frodo.
As a little honourable mention, I want to say that I really liked Gabriel being portrayed with personality. By that I mean that he's realistic, I think. He's kind of like your trademark Draco Malfoy, but I would say better written. Draco is just straight up a dick. Gabriel is a dick as well, but he really did help Theresa to train, and was nice to her, despite her relation to Will. It was unexpected. A pleasant surprise.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the next one.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Incest, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Pregnancy
maggiegirouard'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
bookswithlauren'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kayceeisbookish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol
britwalsh16'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
4.5
I can’t help loving Jem & hoping they find a cure & that he gets a happy ending, but I know how his story will end from reading The Mortal Instruments Series, so it sucks!
Seeing Tessa’s growth after the revelations about her brother from the last book, & the new revelations she has in this book is just so complicated. I’m so sad for her after everything she’s gone through, but I’m also so happy & proud of her with how she’s handling it. I can’t wait to see where her story goes in the next book!
And Will… where to start with Will, his journey this book was a big one, we finally find out why he acts the way he does, & when he finally gets to a good place, the rug just gets pulled out from under him. I feel so bad for him, & I just fell in love with him in this book!! I hope his story gets better in the next book!
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Gaslighting
Minor: Medical content and Fire/Fire injury
katyfayyyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I do live for all these characters and the relationship in this book but I would go for war for my girl Charlotte and how she just loves and care all of them and how they are just her kids. I mean I do love all the women in this book because they just make me feel so gay and I would die for all of them. However, I do think it is really sad that she doesn't think that they all love her and she doesn't think that she good enough for anything and just want to give her a hug and I love her. Like, Jem and Will's friendship god why the fuck did they make me cry when they were talking about how they saved each other and how Jem's death and how they both need and care for each other and also there is nothing straight about Will saying that 'Jem's is his greatest sin.' and how he has only ever let himself love and care for him because he was going to die anyway. It was just so funny when Tessa tells Will that her and Jem were getting married and he said 'my Jem.' When Will and Jem were talking at the end about Tessa and Will is trying to be happy for him because he loves him but it is killing him and it made me want to scream and cry into my pillow because this is going to be the death of me. I forgot how sad this book actually is. Also Will''s whole side plot with the curse and it is just really sad that he has made himself unloveable to protect the people he loves and then when he finally knows he can love people and the one person he wanted to curse breaking for he was just to late and that made me want to scream into my pillow. Even though the really love's Tessa but he loved Tessa and Jem enough to put his happiness aside because they made each other happy and it is just so sad. Also I lived for my girlboss Sophie and how chaotic she was when she attacked Jessie and it was just Will and Tessa taking to fix it and Sophie was having a mild mental breakdown in the corner like they were just so funny and just love how much she loves and care for Charlotte and how her and Tessa are bestie they are just so cute and she is just doing queen shit and always defending Charlotte to anyone and she will hears nothing bad or wrong about her. Also there are just so funny when they were all find out about Tessa and Jem and Gideon was just so uncomfortable and I don't care they can do no wrong. And then to top this book off another queen as arrived and that is Cecily Herondale!!!!I can't lie I don't really care about the plot and i just care more about the characters.
I can't lie I love all the romance in this series and I would die for all of them but I can't lie I will always be a lover of Gideon and Sophie they are just so cute and I love to see my girl being loved and he is so whipped and he just wants to impress her and he's just can't keep his eyes of her, like he just want to impress and they are just really cute and fluffy and they are just so wholesome. I just love how Gideon is already so madly in love with teacher and I can't blame him but she's so in love with him. Also Henry and Charlotte my loves, they are just so so cute especially when Charlotte was hurt and Henry was going crazy and was really upset and when they were just so chaotic and they both thought each other were mad at each other and the both thought that the each person didn't love each other or care about each other and they both thought that they didn't want to get married to each other and Charlotte and Henry are having a child is everything and I would die for them. I do like Jem and Tessa because they are cute especially when he said in Chinese that he loves her and he didn't want to lose her but they just don't have the fire that Will and Tessa have, god Will and Tessa man... I would die for both of them and I just want to give them both a huge but I also want to slapped them for being so dumb like it is so obvious that they love each-other !!! There were just so many moments that just lived for them like he is just so in love with her and it just painful especially the bit when he sacrifices himself to protect to her from the explosion and then Tessa pass out from the shock of seeing Will hurt and the Ball their make out scene the passion the fire, like this fucking men when he unpins her hair and then they just start making out with her. Also I love how she's is trying to convinced herself that she loves Jem more and is not in love with Will and he doesn't really love her.
There is just one thing about this series that annoy me about this book about how much people care that Sophie has a scar and that it is always brought up and I just don't think it something that needs to be bought up as if she is ugly just because she has a scar which she is not and I just think a number of different things that could be brought up and developed more than just the fact that she has a scar on her face and I do think that is what is happening with her romance plot line with Gideon which I love but there is just something about how it is dealt with that is just really unconformable and rubs me the wrong way.
"I am Cecily Herondale, you see. I have come to be trained as a Shadowhunter."-Chapter Twenty-One: Coals Of Fire
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War
tiana_king's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
kriti's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Terminal illness
aklovekorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail