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gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
This was a good novella that explores a mothers grief, and the fallout that it can take. Entertaining monster hunting action, neat use of gender exploration, a cool fantasy world. I wish that it was more fleshed out, because as a novella it feels slightly rushed. I know that it’s part of a series and I listened on audio, so maybe that’s why I felt like it could have been more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
taylorbarks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
I have strong mixed feelings about this book. The setting is marvelous and the magic system unique, and the presence of trans characters is played out as if we're just normal people-- imagine that.
I had two complaints that prevent me from saying I enjoy this book. The way the main character behaves towards her husband made her deeply unrelatable and unlikable to me; Thennjay was by far my favorite character, and he goes out of his way to be loving and gentle with Mokoya. Without spoiling, her behavior in return left a bad taste in my mouth. That's fine! Characters can do unlikable things. But I wanted to like the viewpoint MC.
The other, smaller issue was that the climax came and went in a heartbeat. The solution to the story's central conflict suddenly occurs to this character, and then with what felt like no resistance at all from the antagonist, she just... does it. It's dealt with in a page or two. It kind of felt like this book just kicked me off a truck in the last few pages.
There's also just a villain who's transphobic, I assume to help code her as a villain, but it's made clear to us in this world that gender isn't enforced or assigned, so it feels remarkably ham-handed.
All that said: I like this world. I like this concept. I like Thennjay and Rider. I don't like Mokoya, with whom I spent most of my time, and that made it hard to care what happened next.
I will read the other books. I'd recommend this to queer friends to support a queer author, but not on the basis of the plot.
I had two complaints that prevent me from saying I enjoy this book. The way the main character behaves towards her husband made her deeply unrelatable and unlikable to me; Thennjay was by far my favorite character, and he goes out of his way to be loving and gentle with Mokoya. Without spoiling, her behavior in return left a bad taste in my mouth. That's fine! Characters can do unlikable things. But I wanted to like the viewpoint MC.
The other, smaller issue was that the climax came and went in a heartbeat. The solution to the story's central conflict suddenly occurs to this character, and then with what felt like no resistance at all from the antagonist, she just... does it. It's dealt with in a page or two. It kind of felt like this book just kicked me off a truck in the last few pages.
There's also just a villain who's transphobic, I assume to help code her as a villain, but it's made clear to us in this world that gender isn't enforced or assigned, so it feels remarkably ham-handed.
All that said: I like this world. I like this concept. I like Thennjay and Rider. I don't like Mokoya, with whom I spent most of my time, and that made it hard to care what happened next.
I will read the other books. I'd recommend this to queer friends to support a queer author, but not on the basis of the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
alexalily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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: Grief
Minor: Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
lilmor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
Some jargon can take a second to catch on to but I also rarely read high fantasy, so that probably won’t be a hindrance to most readers. Story is gripping and addictive. I loved that queerness was an inherent aspect of the universe and thus not a plot point — yes to more queer stories that aren’t just about coming out! Alternate imaginings! I also appreciated that violence, while certainly present, never felt gratuitous. Beautiful, complicated, difficult relationships. Plot was complex, not confusing/overly difficult to keep track of. I cannot wait to read the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gore
orchidd's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, Violence, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
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