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jessiereads98'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
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this. It’s a complex story with complex characters. I really enjoy the unique magic system with multiple gods coming into play and in conflict with each other. I also appreciate the feminist themes woven beautifully into the story.
I did find the pacing in the first half of the book to be a bit slow and like it took a little long to get to things. It felt at times like the story was meandering and dragging its feet on getting where it was going. The pacing did pick up for a much more satisfying final half-third of the book.
I don’t fully enjoy Priya and Malini’s relationship. The power imbalance and Malini’s constant use of Priya and expecting Priya to always do what is best for her makes me somewhat uncomfortable. While I enjoy the relationship as one that is toxic and compelling and narratively interesting, I am not sure if that is the author’s intention or if I as a reader am meant to simply root for them as star crossed lovers. I understand the idea is for there to be a lot of moral greyness and none of these characters are perfect, nor would I want them to be. However, there are times where I find Malini’s treatment of Priya going past moral greyness to this is just an imbalanced power dynamic of a woman from a lower class being expected to serve one of a higher class and I don’t find it romantic.
Graphic: Body horror, War, Blood, Gore, Murder, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Grief
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Torture, Abandonment, Child death, Cursing, and Kidnapping
karcitis'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: Gore, War, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Murder, Death, Grief, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Classism and Torture
rat_girly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved the development of most of the relationships: Priya & Sima, Bhumika & Jeevan, Ahiranyi vs others, and most of all - Rao & Aditya. Queer, boyhood crush vibes. I found Malini and Priya’s relationship to be heavily out of balance, especially given the coloniser/colonised dynamic, but I think that is the point and will hopefully be rectified in book 3.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, and War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Confinement and Animal death
wordwilderness'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
5.0
Plot & Story Focus
Writing Style
Characters
Series Flow
You’ll Like This Book if You Enjoy…
- Epic fantasy
- Multi-POV books
- A large cast of characters
- Compelling and conflicted relationships
Graphic: Sexism, Abandonment, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Self harm, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
maya_venkatesh36's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Moderate: Vomit and Sexism
lqvekanej'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, and Animal death
alphabetmafiamember'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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Cursing, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, Suicide, Alcoholism, Torture, and Religious bigotry
bibookworm'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: War, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Body horror
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism, War, Violence, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Minor: Torture
saphfics'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: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cursing, Animal death, and Blood