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unwise_samwise's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, and Adult/minor relationship
tired_cicada's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
This was a really good read! There were a lot of times that it took me by surprise! It was well done, though there were times it that the charecters would remember back to events that happened before the novels beginning and will talk about them like the reader already knows what happens. And it will kinda tiptoe around some sensetive topics. Like with context clues you know what happens but it's like they were to scared (?) to just come right out and say "The main character was assaulted." They got away unharmed! But still it clearly scared them like if you are going to bring it up that much you kinda need to let us (the readers) know what's going on. That's not a mystery for us to solve.
The romance was really cute! More than once I had to stop reading for a minute and grin like an idiot! A am a sucker for a good ole hidden identity love story!! And I loved the world building! They way things were shaped around different cultural hierarchies clashing against one another! It was done very well!
That being said... There were a number of times that, from my perspective, it threw in "buzzwords" about inclusivity without really doing anything about it. Like in one bit, one of the underground fighters is rolling their eyes at how a male fighter and a female fighter have been kinda "grouped" together and paired off due to "all that heteronormative crap." But we don't actually ever see a same-sex couple. We DO get canon homosexuals, but nothing beyond that. So I do hope that going into the second book we see more of that beyond dropping some vocab words.
also was anyone else confused in that last confrontation with Moolek? Where he says that the God of Earth had told him to blow up the volcano? Like I double checked and there ISNT a god of earth in this world. There is a GODDESS of earth, but the entire book any time they mentioned her it was with the notion that she is very gentle in nature. So that kinda threw me through a loop. Nothing like disregarding your own lore to shatter your suspension of disbelief. Hope that all gets cleared up in book two! See y'all in 2022!
Overall I really liked it! I mean I finished it in three days! Good and engaging story, interesting dynamics, and a villain I can't WAIT to see get what's coming for him!
The romance was really cute! More than once I had to stop reading for a minute and grin like an idiot! A am a sucker for a good ole hidden identity love story!! And I loved the world building! They way things were shaped around different cultural hierarchies clashing against one another! It was done very well!
That being said... There were a number of times that, from my perspective, it threw in "buzzwords" about inclusivity without really doing anything about it. Like in one bit, one of the underground fighters is rolling their eyes at how a male fighter and a female fighter have been kinda "grouped" together and paired off due to "all that heteronormative crap." But we don't actually ever see a same-sex couple. We DO get canon homosexuals, but nothing beyond that. So I do hope that going into the second book we see more of that beyond dropping some vocab words.
Overall I really liked it! I mean I finished it in three days! Good and engaging story, interesting dynamics, and a villain I can't WAIT to see get what's coming for him!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
offictionandfantasy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Addiction
Minor: Torture, Drug abuse, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
taglharp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
1.5 juvenile stars
This book didn't warrant enough anger to be flat out cast as a 1 star, but only because I skim read most of it (and didn't even miss out on anything! Because the book summarizes things after an event anyway! Forget hand holding, this book carries you all the way through).
My two main issues are the writing (much younger readers might enjoy this, but the mismatch between modern, western colloquialisms + a more ancient "South-Asian inspired" setting is... not for me + the immaturity of the main characters and their relationship with each other when they're both being painted as capable heirs to their own respective thrones... bye) and the poor representation of a South Asian inspired world (you could really tell a white woman wrote it, and no mistake).
Overall, the book lacked depth and nuance. It was very juvenile, certainly not at all memorable and will not be something I wish to continue.
This book didn't warrant enough anger to be flat out cast as a 1 star, but only because I skim read most of it (and didn't even miss out on anything! Because the book summarizes things after an event anyway! Forget hand holding, this book carries you all the way through).
My two main issues are the writing (much younger readers might enjoy this, but the mismatch between modern, western colloquialisms + a more ancient "South-Asian inspired" setting is... not for me + the immaturity of the main characters and their relationship with each other when they're both being painted as capable heirs to their own respective thrones... bye) and the poor representation of a South Asian inspired world (you could really tell a white woman wrote it, and no mistake).
Overall, the book lacked depth and nuance. It was very juvenile, certainly not at all memorable and will not be something I wish to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Violence and Addiction
Minor: Torture
siobhanisreading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture
Many content warnings are briefly mentioned. Attempted sexual assault
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