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squinnittowinit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Naomi Novik's story makes poignant remarks on prevalent real-world topics such as classism and privilege, through the lense of a magical society controlled by a fortunate (and greedy) few. She delivers genuine complex emotion as her characters grapple with their anger, their uncertainty, and at the end of the day, their humanity.
4.5 stars because I'm not sure if the author hired a sensitivity consultant or not; there were a couple small moments I didn't feel great about. Additionally, I wasn't sold on the design of the school in this book. Not the literal design, but more the way it was designed and how it's been handled since.
Graphic: Death, Child death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Racism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Sexual content
lisa_m's review against another edition
3.5
The worldbuilding & school in general was interesting and definitely different to anything else I've read. But the thing I enjoyed most we're the friendships. Not just between El & Orion but also between the girls. I love the found family trope and I hope that will become even more important in the next books in the series.
The magic system was also ver interesting. To me the whole book felt like a magical Hunger Games more than Harry Potter (which I've often seen it be compared to).
I listened to it in a day so I was definitely hooked and didn't get bored. I'm interested to see what happens in the following books though and if the message in the end has any real meaning or if it's just in there for the shock value.
Moderate: Classism, Death, and Violence
carmineslamp'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
4.0
Moderate: Death
evbyrd'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Abandonment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Cannibalism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, and Death
thiszetasajerk'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: Murder, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
ladypalutena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It's still a struggle to get through the first few chapters of the book. There's a fine line between "telling" everything and letting your readers stumble around until it clicks, and Novak rides the very edge of that line.
But once the world makes sense, you're still fighting El's personality until halfway through the book, and that's rough.
ORIGINAL REVIEW, 2020:
My First Impression Friday musings were correct: our main character, El (short for Galadriel), is snappy and rude with everyone she comes across, because she holds a giant grudge against the rest of humanity for not helping her when she was young and she encountered her first "mal" - creatures that prey on those with magical abilities. She knows that the only way to survive graduation (when the seniors are left on their own to fight against a horde of mals) is to form alliances with others, but she can't let her inner rage monster stop for just a second to give herself a chance of surviving.
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Death
lucystolethesky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Classism, Bullying, Animal death, and Gore
Minor: Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Bullying, Body horror, Islamophobia, and Cultural appropriation
amandaboyer'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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Child death, Murder, Death, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
annamay1021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Violence and Death
passionatereader78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Classism, Child death, Death, and Vomit
Minor: Pregnancy and Death of parent