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julietem08's review against another edition
4.0
“Maybe they have broken you, but you are a sharper weapon because of it. And it is time to strike.”
what is life? is it a love triangle no, a square no, a bunch of random lines.... absolutely. the first couple chapters had me gasping and the last 50% of the book was just me sobbing in my business class so yea. i will say if violence is not your thing, there is something that happens that is very descriptive and it made me feel like I was there (yes I was crying) so look up trigger warning. this book was also such an amazing buddy read (thanks sammi <3) and my favorite line of the book I cannot share fully but let's just say it said something along the lines of even if he marries you, he'll always wish it was me. so imma just leave you with that! byyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee
what is life? is it a love triangle no, a square no, a bunch of random lines.... absolutely. the first couple chapters had me gasping and the last 50% of the book was just me sobbing in my business class so yea. i will say if violence is not your thing, there is something that happens that is very descriptive and it made me feel like I was there (yes I was crying) so look up trigger warning. this book was also such an amazing buddy read (thanks sammi <3) and my favorite line of the book I cannot share fully but let's just say it said something along the lines of even if he marries you, he'll always wish it was me. so imma just leave you with that! byyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee
ingread27's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book and the world that Laura Sebastian created.
I found the book somewhat slow moving, and very long. I felt like some good editing could’ve cut out some unnecessary scenes and a lot of repetitive comments. There was a lot of over-emphasized regret, and constant reminders of what had happened earlier in the book.
Aside from those relatively minor defects. I did enjoy the book and I look forward to reading the sequel.
I found the book somewhat slow moving, and very long. I felt like some good editing could’ve cut out some unnecessary scenes and a lot of repetitive comments. There was a lot of over-emphasized regret, and constant reminders of what had happened earlier in the book.
Aside from those relatively minor defects. I did enjoy the book and I look forward to reading the sequel.
frankiebookdragon_'s review against another edition
1.0
Le pondría menos estrellas si se pudiera... Tan malditamente aburrido que me llevo a bloqueo lector
pypingpanda's review against another edition
4.0
It was engaging enough that I couldn't put the book down and also unique enough that I couldn't guess the plot. However I did find that it was still predictable at some points. the main character was interesting to read about because of the way we see the inner turmoil from the main character. I am excited to see what comes from the sequel.
thelostb00kmark's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been sitting on my shelf for well over a year, and now I’m angry at myself for not touching it sooner. Very well written, with clever magic system and relatable characters.
kiara_bilyk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
mels_reading_rook's review against another edition
Theodosia is a captive princess of a fallen country. Years ago, the Kalovaxians led by their harsh ruler, the Kaiser, invaded the country, killed their queen, and enslaved the people. Theodosia, now renamed Thora is a prisoner of the Kaiser, under constant threat of punishment, has reached her breaking point. She's tired of being their gilded lapdog while watching her people suffer, and it comes to a head when she is forced to execute someone she admired in the past. Now she's ready for revenge as she organizes a revolution to take down the invading conquerors.
Upon first glance, the premise interested me enough to give the book a try, despite its somewhat cliched nature. After all, I do love a good fantastical adventure. However, from page one, I barely learn about who the main character is. I know what terrible sufferings she's been through, so that makes her broken, scarred, and untrusting of anyone, yet filled with silent strength and a sharp mind from constantly playing the Kaiser's games. By the way, those are all things the main character tells you about yourself rather than shown to you through her actions and narration.
And yet, none of this is properly shown in the story, at least not up to a little more than 30% through it. In fact, she sometimes shows the exact opposite traits of how she describes herself. For example, Theo tells us through dialogue to another character that she doesn't trust others easily anymore, and yet she includes so many people into her inner-circle-secret-revolution fold so fast and without really questioning their loyalty as much as she would if she were really as paranoid as she had self-described. Old childhood friend? Sure, I can buy that if I have to. Then he brings in two more people suddenly and all they get is "Who are you?" and "What's your stake in this?" and that's it? If she were a truly paranoid character, she would probably admonish him for bringing in people without her consultation and even question if he was actually a ploy for another game by the Kaiser to test her loyalty to the Kalovaxians. Not to mention the random slave she decided to trust on a whim to put her in contact with her childhood friend in the first place. Again, she's not paranoid. She's being risky and foolish.
Speaking of that slave girl, it brings me to another point of contention I had with the book - the hypocrisy. Towards that beginning of the story, she killed a Guardian, an important figure among her people, who Theo immediately put together was also apparently her father (what?). She did it to survive, but she realized would put her in contention with her people because they would see her as a traitor to the country. Okay, that's an interesting obstacle for our protagonist to overcome as she rallies together her people for a revolution. But then it turns out, she quickly earns the respect of all her people, including that slave girl who probably saw that execution first-hand, and they all quickly begin to refer to her as "My Queen." What? What happened to the contention from her for killing the Guardian?
For me, the biggest problem I had with the story was with all the unnecessarily detailed and lengthy histories of torture, suffering, and shaming all characters have gone through at the expense of the Kaiser. I understand an author's need to establish how bad the antagonist is, especially in a young adult novel, but the author of this book I felt took it a step too far. Going back to how I didn't really know the characters personality-wise without being told point-blank, I did know and remember them by some major torture or suffering they went through. Theo was constantly whipped bloody, put on shameful display by the Kaiser, and had her very identity taken from her. Theo's maid/slave Hoa had her lips sewed shut, which is opened to feed her every few days before sewing them shut again (don't ask me how that would work logistically). Cress the fake best friend lost her mother at a young age. And so on. I felt like I was being bashed over the head with all the torture and suffering and it really brought down my experience. I don't want to know the characters by their experiences; I want to know them as people.
In the end, I had to put the book down. I couldn't finish it due to the overwhelming depressive feeling I was getting from it, as well as all of the other issues I had with it. Personally, I don't really recommend it.
Upon first glance, the premise interested me enough to give the book a try, despite its somewhat cliched nature. After all, I do love a good fantastical adventure. However, from page one, I barely learn about who the main character is. I know what terrible sufferings she's been through, so that makes her broken, scarred, and untrusting of anyone, yet filled with silent strength and a sharp mind from constantly playing the Kaiser's games. By the way, those are all things the main character tells you about yourself rather than shown to you through her actions and narration.
And yet, none of this is properly shown in the story, at least not up to a little more than 30% through it. In fact, she sometimes shows the exact opposite traits of how she describes herself. For example, Theo tells us through dialogue to another character that she doesn't trust others easily anymore, and yet she includes so many people into her inner-circle-secret-revolution fold so fast and without really questioning their loyalty as much as she would if she were really as paranoid as she had self-described. Old childhood friend? Sure, I can buy that if I have to. Then he brings in two more people suddenly and all they get is "Who are you?" and "What's your stake in this?" and that's it? If she were a truly paranoid character, she would probably admonish him for bringing in people without her consultation and even question if he was actually a ploy for another game by the Kaiser to test her loyalty to the Kalovaxians. Not to mention the random slave she decided to trust on a whim to put her in contact with her childhood friend in the first place. Again, she's not paranoid. She's being risky and foolish.
Speaking of that slave girl, it brings me to another point of contention I had with the book - the hypocrisy. Towards that beginning of the story, she killed a Guardian, an important figure among her people, who Theo immediately put together was also apparently her father (what?). She did it to survive, but she realized would put her in contention with her people because they would see her as a traitor to the country. Okay, that's an interesting obstacle for our protagonist to overcome as she rallies together her people for a revolution. But then it turns out, she quickly earns the respect of all her people, including that slave girl who probably saw that execution first-hand, and they all quickly begin to refer to her as "My Queen." What? What happened to the contention from her for killing the Guardian?
For me, the biggest problem I had with the story was with all the unnecessarily detailed and lengthy histories of torture, suffering, and shaming all characters have gone through at the expense of the Kaiser. I understand an author's need to establish how bad the antagonist is, especially in a young adult novel, but the author of this book I felt took it a step too far. Going back to how I didn't really know the characters personality-wise without being told point-blank, I did know and remember them by some major torture or suffering they went through. Theo was constantly whipped bloody, put on shameful display by the Kaiser, and had her very identity taken from her. Theo's maid/slave Hoa had her lips sewed shut, which is opened to feed her every few days before sewing them shut again (don't ask me how that would work logistically). Cress the fake best friend lost her mother at a young age. And so on. I felt like I was being bashed over the head with all the torture and suffering and it really brought down my experience. I don't want to know the characters by their experiences; I want to know them as people.
In the end, I had to put the book down. I couldn't finish it due to the overwhelming depressive feeling I was getting from it, as well as all of the other issues I had with it. Personally, I don't really recommend it.
joyanna_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
that_one_rebecca's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It pulled me in right away, the characters were very compelling. The story was compelling. I can't wait to start book two. I love that Theo never lost her spark and will continue to fight!
sea_su's review against another edition
4.0
I genuinely enjoyed it, though this book had a lot of repetition (day to day life of Theo) and started to slow down in the middle of the book. The death of Theo's mom was Theo's entire personality at first which is a little over the top because she was 6 years old when it happened, so I don't really think she would remember all that much about her life before then. Granted her mother was killed brutally in front of her, but even she recognized, towards the end of the book, that not even she remembered her mother all that well.
Soren was immediately likeable, which I didn't expect. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.
Soren was immediately likeable, which I didn't expect. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.