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Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
🇬🇧: What an emotional rollercoaster. I felt all the emotions in this book! First of all, the land building is really great! I immediately got a picture of everything and then the characters... each one is a good addition to the book. All the personalities are so different and yet fit so well into the story. This makes everything fall into place immediately, you really get those "ohwww that's why he did this" moments. Real chef's kisses. I totally get the hype... I can't wait to read iron flame! I need to know where this story continues.
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War
The writing was clunky and repetitive, the author used words whose meanings she clearly didn't understand, and the logistics of what was supposed to be physically happening (especially during battle scenes) were often difficult to follow. The smut wasn't bad, but was outweighed by the endless stream of horny thoughts every single time the two main characters interacted with each other, even when they're supposed to be in dire circumstances or experiencing emotional devastation. The worldbuilding was weak as fuck and seemed to be made up on the spot throughout the book. The way the "war college" works doesn't stand up to even the slightest amount of scrutiny - why would they want to relentlessly kill off all their able-bodied young soldiers when they're at war? Luckily, given the death toll, other than maybe 3 of the main characters, no one has a personality at all; best friends, squad mates, teachers, and family members are basically cardboard cutouts with little to no identity. And while Violet herself is the best-developed of the bunch, it has to be said that her motivations simply aren't there. Other than ~proving people wrong~ once she's there, there is no explanation for why she would commit herself to fighting herself into a violent and early death, when she's given multiple opportunities to go back to the life she always wanted and planned for. She never thinks about the future at all.
All that being said, it was a quick read, and I do wonder where the story is going next. Future books could be good pulp romantasy fun if given the kind of editing they need. My one bit of praise is that I appreciate the hEDS representation, and that she receives accommodations for it. I have literally never seen this aspect of myself reflected in a book before (although I know of another one coming out soon!) and that element was genuinely well done.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War
Minor: Drug use, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail