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prunechips's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Miscarriage and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Torture and Rape
alyssaarch's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
2.5
adi_greif's review
1.0
Don’t read this, just skip to the third book in the series, Aramaya. This was … girl who fantasizes about a love affair with an evil demon. (Rated PG).
cupiscent's review against another edition
3.0
I'm quite ambivalent about this book. There's plenty about it that I enjoyed egregiously - the "women's politics" court-and-courtesan setting and trappings are precisely my cup of tea, and I loved loved loved Kitten Avignon, who was a complex and intriguing and charismatic lady of business (with a sword, but without the ability to read and write). But I find myself less-than-whelmed with the of-the-Book nature of the religious system, and especially the demons (and I'm not really sure why; this is something I'm quizzing myself on but it seems more subjective than objective, so let's not call that a fault with the book but rather with me). And an unfortunately large percentage of the second half of the book is given over to our heroine resisting the heavily-pressed suit of Virile Sexyman - which has significant story-importance, but was sadly quite tedious to read, especially since he was unpleasant for reasons both of his non-book context (he's quite a '90s love interest) and his behaviour (enough grab-assery, mister). I would note that the heroine's power caused an occasional nose-wrinkle, but overall worked pretty well in the story for me.
So, I really don't know. I feel like this might fit in nicely with those who enjoyed Anne Bishop's Black Jewels, or Kushiel's wossnames - it's very heavy on the magic/desire linkages, especially through sensuality and worldliness - and I found it more fun to read than I did either of those series.
So, I really don't know. I feel like this might fit in nicely with those who enjoyed Anne Bishop's Black Jewels, or Kushiel's wossnames - it's very heavy on the magic/desire linkages, especially through sensuality and worldliness - and I found it more fun to read than I did either of those series.
scarahliz's review
4.0
I had read this series as a teenager and loved it -- and also remembered it as being tantalizingly smutty. I didn't much expect it to hold up, but I got the preview and felt drawn into the story immediately.
It was nowhere near as smutty as I remembered, but it was just as good a fantasy novel. I've been playing dragon age, and the mythology surrounding demons is remarkably similar -- I wonder if one of the game designers was a fan of the series.
Anyway, it was an interesting fantasy filled with fun action, a little bit of coming of age stuff, some feminism, political intrigue, and nifty magic.
I take a star off for the bad editing, silly names, and weird references to western fairy tales and mythology -- that neither the author nor the editor seemed to catch. Eh.
It was nowhere near as smutty as I remembered, but it was just as good a fantasy novel. I've been playing dragon age, and the mythology surrounding demons is remarkably similar -- I wonder if one of the game designers was a fan of the series.
Anyway, it was an interesting fantasy filled with fun action, a little bit of coming of age stuff, some feminism, political intrigue, and nifty magic.
I take a star off for the bad editing, silly names, and weird references to western fairy tales and mythology -- that neither the author nor the editor seemed to catch. Eh.
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