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willowbiblio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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I really enjoyed the idea behind this book, but the characters and extremely heavy foreshadowing made this a very low 4 stars for me. I think the magic and the idea of disparate yet connected Londons was inspired. A lot of the plot was hinted at from the early chapters, so nothing felt truly remarkable or surprising. I can see that we're headed for a return of Holland and an unveiling of Lila as a magician. The inner dialogues could have been a lot less descriptive for all POVs.
The lore of how the cultures of each London evolved and diverged was cool. It would have been an interesting move to have this be given to the reader as interludes that were flashbacks to the historical time, setting up potential prequels with new (historical) characters. This would have been more readable than having characters either info dump to themselves or one another- this method always feels sort of forced and awkward. If they've known it their whole lives, why are they explicitly explaining it to themselves/each other now? Sure, it's for the reader's benefit, but this method makes you realize you're reading. This is a general gripe I have with authors who info dump and take the high context route.
I wanted to be more excited about the history/differences between Londons because I think the potential is there for a really engaging story, but it's hard to get up the enthusiasm when every tease spoiled what could have been major reveals.
I'm looking forward to seeing if things get a bit more complex and entertaining in the next book. Definitely also how Schwab uses the whole life-sync brand which feels like it was lifted directly from Cassandra Clare's books but I'll reserve judgment for now.
Graphic: Self harm and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
the_candy_count_ess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
Graphic: Self harm
heini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Graphic: Blood and Torture
Minor: Cannibalism, Self harm, and Sexual harassment
vagorsol'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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, and Sexual assault
lisslovesbooks'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Self harm
readabookortwo'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
4.25
I love how each London is assigned a colour and it's so interesting to compare the connotations of that colour to each London. When you think of grey, it's such a dreary really nothing colour and that matches grey London so well especially compared to the others; it's the dull London that has no magic and its closest to our, real London. Whereas when you think of white it's the colour of purity, safety which when you think of white London, absolutely doesn't represent that but white is also associated with coldness, emptiness which does then match up with white London and I find that so interesting! Black London is obviously the London we know the least about, the cut off London, the one everyone is scared of, it's like a black hole, it holds those connotations of horror, of darkness. Whereas Red London is what I find most interesting where of course red has connotations of love it is thought of as anger, hatred, aggression and war where red London is meant to be the London that's thriving and it is, its where magic is not something to be scared of, the whole city is happy and thriving and yet red London is the one that has caused all other Londons to suffer it's the one that cut itself off and left mostly white London to suffer at the hands of black London and I think that is such an important piece of information and world building to hold onto.
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Contains abduction toojannarae26'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
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Murder
yananhai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Self harm, Violence, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder
beeontoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
baearles'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Self harm
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Torture, Cannibalism, and Cursing