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callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, War, Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, and Pregnancy
aysha_blake'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
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Grief, War, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
northern_wind's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death, Blood, and Murder
bethy_joy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Blood, Violence, Torture, Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, War, Dysphoria, Vomit, Grief, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Abandonment, and Cannibalism
maregred'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
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Grief, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Violence, Death, Body horror, Classism, and Child abuse
kayanoelle'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
When I started the book, I was a little shocked by how dark the themes were, it definitely took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Let me tell you, I suffered with them. Everyone is just miserable all the time tbh and I almost started crying like 5 times because everything was so unfair haha.
Wren is an incredible protagonist, I felt like everything she did or thought was SO in character for how she grew up and everything that happened to her.
And Oak… dude, are all the characters in Holly Black’s books destined to despise themselves? ‘Cause it does feel that way.
I don’t know why but this book really took me by surprise, I couldn’t put it down and I love the complexity of the characters, how everyone is morally gray and the fact that I can understand why they all did what they did even though it’s all messy now. How they’re all struggling with themselves while also trying to be a decent person.
And the fantasy setting was lovely as always. (Lovely is probably the wrong word but you know what I mean.)
My only point of criticism is that the story was too fast paced sometimes, they were in one place and then somewhere else two pages later. And the conversations were too short and people kept getting interrupted. But maybe that’s just my personal issue because I do love my dialogue in books. And Oak and Wren and Tiernan and Hyacinth felt like my personal travel buddies haha.
Idk I just want y’all to give this a chance if you’re still considering.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: War and Rape
esadrive's review
- 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
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Blood and Child abuse
anastashamarie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⚠️ Warning: this one has a lot of childhood trauma in it.
❄️ As a character study of Wren and her trauma, this is A+. As an adventure odyssey, it's enjoyable. As a romantic fantasy, I kind of wanted more.
🏰 I wish the romance burned a little slower. I LOVE friends-to-lovers, but I don't think it had the chemistry I was seeking. There was also a surprising about of plot armor, and at times, it felt like the book was rushed, not in terms of pacing (pacing was actually pretty good) but in terms of publication? Like it wasn't as polished as a lot of Holly Black's other plotlines.
🗡️ BUT I love grown-up Oak's arrogance. I double loved the exploration of Wren's trauma and character. I loved getting to see Elfhame again. And, yeah, okay, even for my complaints, I will be anxiously awaiting the next one.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Murder, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts
nebraskanwriter'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Violence, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, War, Body horror, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief
lifeonasofa'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
3.5
Graphic: Torture, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence