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thecatconstellation's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Alcohol
letiross's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
jen1804'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
There are parts of this book which felt so reflective for me, the scene with the chamber full of names of the fallen scratched into the walls was haunting. And the overall message of xenophobia throughout this book was deeply harrowing. The way our FMC, Poppy, has the ability to sense others’ feelings and emotions towards her, and the absolute disgust, distrust and hatred she feels just because she was born and raised elsewhere is horrific. Like at one point she gets stoned, and it is AWFUL.
But alongside this incredibly complex plot which keeps you engaged throughout and wanting to learn more about Poppy and her growing abilities, are some fantastically well developed characters. Poppy is so freaking strong, I actually adore her as a FMC. She has such a brilliant personality, unafraid to talk back and unapologetically herself. Casteel is just such a beautiful MMC and I am OBSESSED with their back and forth. Armentrout has created brilliant chemistry between the two of them on the page and I cannot get enough of their constant bickering, flirtatious arguments, Casteel’s dimple smirks and Poppy regularly stabbing Cas because he’s pissed her off, knowing he’ll quickly heal.
And I think the two of them fighting together on the battlefield is one of my fave fantasy couple scenes of all time🙊.
I actually cannot WAIT to find out what happens in the next book because that ENDING!
Satisfactory ending? Yes!
It was the emotion behind the long looks and the seeking touches. The feeling behind the way his arm always tightened around me when we rode together and why he was always messing with my hair. It was the emotion that drove him to draw that line he wouldn’t cross with me. It was why he wouldn’t use compulsion, and it was what allowed him to want to protect me but demanded that he allow me to protect myself. It was how when he was with me, he didn’t think of his kingdom, his brother, or the time he’d been a captive. And it was one of many things forbidden to me as the Maiden. It was love.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and War
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
lacowie'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? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
kateped'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
midnacine'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
ava34_1's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Minor: Abandonment
shejustwantstodance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
montina72's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
- The confusion that is Poppy’s feeling for Cas gets old quick. It’s a cycle of the same 3 feelings for most of the book and it gets boring after the first few times, yes I understand where she’s coming from but the spend 400+ pages mulling over the same things is stretching it. Especially when it doesn’t so much for the development of the plot.
- While the pace is the same as the last book it still feels like it’s dragging, 400+ pages in I felt like there’s been such minimal progress. The book started with a marriage proposal and 400+ pages in they’ve barley moved or made it to the kingdom to deal with this marriage thing, it feels rather slow on emotional development.
- Kieran and his comments on Poppy asking questions gets irritating the third time he does it. Each time she asks something he has to make a comment on it, it’s not as if she’s been sheltered her whole life from the truth and has been fed lies the whole time. And this ‘joke’ running throughout the whole book is that she annoying.
- The most exciting things happen in the last 100 pages, give or take. This whole book could so be cut down to like 400pages instead of 600pages.
- Poppy remains a strong character throughout the whole book. She doesn’t turn meek or into a damsel in distress and that I love. Shes strong and she knows it and she used it. She actually has a brain, which I hate having to say but sadly it’s a trait that way too many female main characters do not have.
- That one scene in chapter 40, why???? It was so out of place and just plain wrong I hated ever second I skipped it.
- The whole book is just repeating itself in different ways and gives the absolute bare minimum on world building or plot development. It was definitely a let down after how good the first book was.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Rape
sarafreddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief