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jaga326's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Self harm
kimmy0__0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this high fantasy book. I was glad I listened to it or I wouldn't have been able to pronounce most of the names. The Ashgar religious parts are almost a fanfic of the Bible. The pacing was slow at the begi ning but there was a lot of world building to do, so I have high hopes for the rest of the series. I need a chart with all the people and their names to keep track!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Medical content
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, and Forced institutionalization
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Alcohol, Rape, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use and Injury/Injury detail
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rich world, with interesting characters, more on the adult end with content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Drug use, Alcohol, and Bullying
rorireads33's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Violence
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That was surprisingly fun.
It is a little too long and info dumpy at the beginning, but I enjoyed it a lot and couldn't put it down in the end. I'm still confused by the very obvious inspirations for the nations in this world. They feel rather cliché and like lazy world building, although the other parts of the world (the history/myths/magic) are really cool and interesting. I'm definitely curious how the mystery regarding the magic and the prophecies will unfold.
I really like the main characters, I'm intrigued (but also a little frustrated) by their dynamics. Even though a few scenes felt weirdly out of character. Curious about some of the side characters, who have a lot of potential, too.
As for the plot... there was a lot of getting to know the characters and the political atmosphere first, and it felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. But it definitely picked up towards the end and held some surprises. It's funny how I expected certain things to happen, but then they happened in a way I wasn't expecting. So that was fun.
What was not fun, was one cruel development at the end. I get why it is there and what it means to the plot. But it involves a child, and I really think it didn't need to be one. Feels like a cheap method to create shock value, tbh.
It is a little too long and info dumpy at the beginning, but I enjoyed it a lot and couldn't put it down in the end. I'm still confused by the very obvious inspirations for the nations in this world. They feel rather cliché and like lazy world building, although the other parts of the world (the history/myths/magic) are really cool and interesting. I'm definitely curious how the mystery regarding the magic and the prophecies will unfold.
I really like the main characters, I'm intrigued (but also a little frustrated) by their dynamics. Even though a few scenes felt weirdly out of character. Curious about some of the side characters, who have a lot of potential, too.
As for the plot... there was a lot of getting to know the characters and the political atmosphere first, and it felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. But it definitely picked up towards the end and held some surprises. It's funny how I expected certain things to happen, but then they happened in a way I wasn't expecting. So that was fun.
What was not fun, was one cruel development at the end. I get why it is there and what it means to the plot. But it involves a child, and I really think it didn't need to be one. Feels like a cheap method to create shock value, tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Drug use, Medical content, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
hanamayfield's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Medical content, Sexual content, Murder, and Physical abuse
wordsofclover's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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? No
4.25
In the city of Castellane, Kel Saren was only 10 years old when he was plucked from an orphanage and brought to the Marivent to transform into a Swordcatcher - a special role in which Kel takes the place of Prince Conor at events that could pose a danger, and potentially die to protect his Prince and best friend if it comes to it. On the other side of the city, we follow Lin who is a physician and a member of a race of people called the Ashkar that tend to be treated badly by others. As political tensions rise within Castellane, Lin's world combines with that of Kel and Conor on several occasions and eventually they all end up in schemes that could change everything.
I really did not know what to expect going into a Cassandra Clare book that had absolutely nothing to do with Shadowhunters, and I'm so glad to report that I truly loved this and I am so impressed with the writing, the character building and the worlds building that has gone into this novel. For someone who has been reading CC books for years, I love being able to see the improvement and the strength in the writing in this book - CC still loves a multifaceted, torn orphan boy and a red-haired heroine but I'm also okay with that!
The pacing of this book is quite slow and this is also something I liked as this world is very vast and how the city is run by its royal family but also the charter houses aka noble families takes time to understand and we see how trade agreements between the charter houses and other kingdoms is a very important one for the running of well, everything. We also really get to know Lin and Kel as our main characters and through them both, we see different sides of Conor as well. They are both characters stuck in between things, people and places and hiding parts of themselves from others at almost every moment in their lives. I actually liked that the 'romance' in this book, if we can call it that as there's very little if it, was not between Kel and Lin which is what I would have guessed but moreso between Lin and Conor, and then Kel and Antonetta. I would also like to mention that I love that this is a fantasy world where being queer is not a big deal - Kel and Conor both seem to be bisexual and its mentioned that having two Kings, or two Queens instead of a hetero relationship is also a normal thing to do. So love that inclusion, and how easy it is to do!
I would have loved more storyline to do with the Ragpicker King and Prosper Beck, and the shadier sides of Castellane but I have a feeling that will all come in book 2, and I'm ready for schemes within schemes and heists. The criminal side of this book definitely gives a mature 'Six of Crows' feel which I think a lot of people will like but we really only get a teaser of it in this book.
I really enjoyed reading this, and really look forward to the next book though the only hard part now is waiting for it!
I really did not know what to expect going into a Cassandra Clare book that had absolutely nothing to do with Shadowhunters, and I'm so glad to report that I truly loved this and I am so impressed with the writing, the character building and the worlds building that has gone into this novel. For someone who has been reading CC books for years, I love being able to see the improvement and the strength in the writing in this book - CC still loves a multifaceted, torn orphan boy and a red-haired heroine but I'm also okay with that!
The pacing of this book is quite slow and this is also something I liked as this world is very vast and how the city is run by its royal family but also the charter houses aka noble families takes time to understand and we see how trade agreements between the charter houses and other kingdoms is a very important one for the running of well, everything. We also really get to know Lin and Kel as our main characters and through them both, we see different sides of Conor as well. They are both characters stuck in between things, people and places and hiding parts of themselves from others at almost every moment in their lives. I actually liked that the 'romance' in this book, if we can call it that as there's very little if it, was not between Kel and Lin which is what I would have guessed but moreso between Lin and Conor, and then Kel and Antonetta. I would also like to mention that I love that this is a fantasy world where being queer is not a big deal - Kel and Conor both seem to be bisexual and its mentioned that having two Kings, or two Queens instead of a hetero relationship is also a normal thing to do. So love that inclusion, and how easy it is to do!
I would have loved more storyline to do with the Ragpicker King and Prosper Beck, and the shadier sides of Castellane but I have a feeling that will all come in book 2, and I'm ready for schemes within schemes and heists. The criminal side of this book definitely gives a mature 'Six of Crows' feel which I think a lot of people will like but we really only get a teaser of it in this book.
I really enjoyed reading this, and really look forward to the next book though the only hard part now is waiting for it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
peeyarlmarie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I NEED THE SECOND BOOK ASAP PLEEEEEASE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Drug use
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Chronic illness, Child death, Violence, Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Religious bigotry
Minor: War and Death of parent