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renpuspita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So..new characters, new places, new power dynamic, same family focused theme, sisterhood, female rage, over the top fighting between siblings (still fun) and light romance. The romance is SO LIGHT it's more like an afterthought. So if you want to read romantic relationship between Keeley and Caid, you will be disappointed because their romance more like...err..lukewarm? They have sex just once, but if there's no sex that okay too. Didn't affect the story at all. I think Aiken try to focus to so many things, so the romance got sacrificed. For fantasy aspect and action also violence you get plenty, just like your usual Aiken's trademark.
Even The Blacksmith Queen is about Keeley that come to term with her being a queen from the prophecy and face her little sister, Beatrix's betrayal, the end of the story seems like Keeley's journey is not end yet. The next book, Princess Knight will be about Gemma Smythe, another Keeley's sister whom already suspect Beatrix's evilness while Keeley remain oblivious (or choose to oblivious at first and want to protect Beatrix until Beatrix stab her in the stomach). Just like Dragon Kin, I think Keeley's story will be continue in Gemma's book and there will be many new players to introduced.
A good book if you had read Aiken's works before and worth to try if you new to her books. Also recommended if you like your fantasy romance is heavy on fantasy rather than romance
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship and Religious bigotry
noetical'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
wilybooklover's review against another edition
3.5
This is an ongoing series and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger, the story isn't fully resolved at the end.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
sarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
But the book is not good.
None of the characters (except for the villain a bit, I won't spoil who it is but if you can't see the "twist" coming from about page 3 I question if you've ever read a book before) have distinct personalities. They all speak in vaguely Whedon style "quips" with a bunch of misogynistic language piled on for no reason. Characters claim to have specific beliefs but act counter to them all the time (eg. Keeley saying she wants to respect everyone even if she can't understand them and then spending several pages ranting about a religion she doesn't like), every sibling in this book is a hair-trigger for screaming matches or attempted murder no matter how important the things are that are happening around them, two characters are together for almost the whole book and somehow it's still insta love when it happens, and despite the apocalyptic sounding plot there are zero stakes. Everything always magically goes Keeley’s way so you're never worried about her.
Graphic: Animal death and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Rape, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy