The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
fartbox's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Self harm, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization
chloe_cr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.25
aelynreads's review against another edition
4.0
this is long, but good, but very long.
The characterisation in this is really strong. Despite there being four main characters, plus another three or four major characters that we occasionally get POVs from, I didn't get confused between them at all, which is remarkable. I loved the world building, I loved the mysterious elements to the plot, I loved the twists (despite the predictability) and I just really really enjoyed my time reading this book. My only criticism is the length because this was a hefty book to get through and I did find myself tiring of the story at times.
The characterisation in this is really strong. Despite there being four main characters, plus another three or four major characters that we occasionally get POVs from, I didn't get confused between them at all, which is remarkable. I loved the world building, I loved the mysterious elements to the plot, I loved the twists (despite the predictability) and I just really really enjoyed my time reading this book. My only criticism is the length because this was a hefty book to get through and I did find myself tiring of the story at times.
craftymxlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
It was 5 stars through most of the book, but then the thread that seemed to be shaping up as an awesome morally gray villain origin story turned into "I want to be good, I just don't know how!
bookish_paula's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
aelynreads's review against another edition
4.0
this is long, but good, but very long.
The characterisation in this is really strong. Despite there being four main characters, plus another three or four major characters that we occasionally get POVs from, I didn't get confused between them at all, which is remarkable. I loved the world building, I loved the mysterious elements to the plot, I loved the twists (despite the predictability) and I just really really enjoyed my time reading this book. My only criticism is the length because this was a hefty book to get through and I did find myself tiring of the story at times.
The characterisation in this is really strong. Despite there being four main characters, plus another three or four major characters that we occasionally get POVs from, I didn't get confused between them at all, which is remarkable. I loved the world building, I loved the mysterious elements to the plot, I loved the twists (despite the predictability) and I just really really enjoyed my time reading this book. My only criticism is the length because this was a hefty book to get through and I did find myself tiring of the story at times.
aquaphase's review against another edition
5.0
** This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review **
Sometimes you stumble on a book that hits all the right buttons at just the right time. Boy howdy, The City of Dusk sure did.
Set in the realm of Nexus (a very telling name, no?) in the city of Vaega, The City of Dusk is the story of four noble houses: each with their own divine magic affiliation and abilities. Well, really itâs about the heirs of these houses and their interaction with each other, their deities, and with the impending doom they sense coming.
The gods these houses descended from have shut off the realm that contains Nexus from the other realms of magic. To add a special twist, the Holy King may announce one of the heirs the heir to the crown at any moment.
Yeah, all the makings of some serious grimdark tomfoolery.
Above all The City of Dusk massively excels at a pervasive inner conflict that roils through each and every one of the main characters. Attitudes, allegiances and even relationships sway back and forth, caroming off of every obstacle imaginable. Just when things begin to even out a little bit, some new bit of madness drops in out of the ether and everything is upended. As a plot device, however, it really really adds to the sense of uncertainty that is practically a character in its own right. Ms. Sims deftly weaves together impossible and improbable situations that each of the heirs has to traverse, and, in some cases, there doesnât seem to be a plausible âright answerâ that can be achieved. Itâs absolutely delicious.
This is a series that is going to pain me greatly to have to wait for. This first book isnât even officially âout in the wild,â and Iâm craving the second. This book is definitely bound to be on several of the âbest ofâ lists for 2022. On March 22, make sure you have your copy.
Sometimes you stumble on a book that hits all the right buttons at just the right time. Boy howdy, The City of Dusk sure did.
Set in the realm of Nexus (a very telling name, no?) in the city of Vaega, The City of Dusk is the story of four noble houses: each with their own divine magic affiliation and abilities. Well, really itâs about the heirs of these houses and their interaction with each other, their deities, and with the impending doom they sense coming.
The gods these houses descended from have shut off the realm that contains Nexus from the other realms of magic. To add a special twist, the Holy King may announce one of the heirs the heir to the crown at any moment.
Yeah, all the makings of some serious grimdark tomfoolery.
Above all The City of Dusk massively excels at a pervasive inner conflict that roils through each and every one of the main characters. Attitudes, allegiances and even relationships sway back and forth, caroming off of every obstacle imaginable. Just when things begin to even out a little bit, some new bit of madness drops in out of the ether and everything is upended. As a plot device, however, it really really adds to the sense of uncertainty that is practically a character in its own right. Ms. Sims deftly weaves together impossible and improbable situations that each of the heirs has to traverse, and, in some cases, there doesnât seem to be a plausible âright answerâ that can be achieved. Itâs absolutely delicious.
This is a series that is going to pain me greatly to have to wait for. This first book isnât even officially âout in the wild,â and Iâm craving the second. This book is definitely bound to be on several of the âbest ofâ lists for 2022. On March 22, make sure you have your copy.
kappareads's review against another edition
2.0
I received an eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I really wish NetGalley didn't hold DNFs against your approval rating, because if that was the case, I would've DNFed this book instead of skimming so much, I genuinely feel bad for marking it as "read." Sometimes a book just isn't for me!
Read my attempt at a book review here!
I really wish NetGalley didn't hold DNFs against your approval rating, because if that was the case, I would've DNFed this book instead of skimming so much, I genuinely feel bad for marking it as "read." Sometimes a book just isn't for me!
Read my attempt at a book review here!
shelfofrie's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
The world is definitely interesting, the action when it gets dark its DARK but thereâs still a bit of juvenile character interaction between the main characters, but the last 30% of the book was so action-packed and salvaged the whole journey.Â
mw_rose's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/4
Although there are quite a few characters to differentiate between, I felt like I was able to do so within the first quarter of the book (unlike some other books I've read with more than 2-3 characters). I liked The City of Dusk, but I can't quite put my finger on what made me feel like I was trudging through it. I think the main piece of why I didn't rate it higher was that this book is a MARATHON in length and, although I've seen books that begin a series range between 400 and 500 pages, I felt like a lot of the details in this one moved slowly and maybe weren't as important to the main storyline. Overall, it wasn't until the last 20% of the book that I found myself truly enjoying the action and the plot. Would I read the second in the series? Yes. Will this be a book prominently displayed on my shelves? Probably not.
Although there are quite a few characters to differentiate between, I felt like I was able to do so within the first quarter of the book (unlike some other books I've read with more than 2-3 characters). I liked The City of Dusk, but I can't quite put my finger on what made me feel like I was trudging through it. I think the main piece of why I didn't rate it higher was that this book is a MARATHON in length and, although I've seen books that begin a series range between 400 and 500 pages, I felt like a lot of the details in this one moved slowly and maybe weren't as important to the main storyline. Overall, it wasn't until the last 20% of the book that I found myself truly enjoying the action and the plot. Would I read the second in the series? Yes. Will this be a book prominently displayed on my shelves? Probably not.