Scan barcode
tavetzuigel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
frootlupo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Kay’s prose is beautiful, if not his most refined - with a wonderfully evocative world and soft magic system to back it up. The world really does feel brimming with magic and mysteries just waiting to be discovered!
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
However, the introduction did feel a bit clunky - and having too many pov’s meant that it was quite difficult to really connect with any characters until later in the book (and even then not all of them felt fleshed out).
The book does feature a sexual assault - and while quite brutal, knowing where the series goes, it doesn’t feel needlessly so. It’s written as something horrifying done by someone horrifying - and tries to give the victim as much dignity as possible. But it’s significant enough to deserve mention.
Overall - I believe this was Kay’s first major work, and it shows - but it also shows a ton of promise
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
jpowers89's review against another edition
I just did not like the characters and the plot jumped around so I found myself not caring.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
sflory910's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dark, yet hopeful! Absolutely one of my favorite fantasy book series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, Violence, Suicide, Car accident, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
bonnie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Murder and Rape
elakudark's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
3.0
so, judging by this first book, pretty much every guy in this series should be gay or bi, but i know they won’t be because this is 80s fantasy written by a straight dude.
that particular agony aside, i thought this book was pretty good (aside from the very last chapter, which was so shocking and gratuitous as to knock a whole star off my rating, because seriously, what the hell. big tw for sexual assault).
that particular agony aside, i thought this book was pretty good (aside from the very last chapter, which was so shocking and gratuitous as to knock a whole star off my rating, because seriously, what the hell. big tw for sexual assault).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
racheliswriting's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape and Violence
More...