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cerilouisereads'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: Violence, Rape, Torture, Sexual assault, and Confinement
calmcozycorner'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
4.0
Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Rape, Torture, War, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
kassidyreads'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: Physical abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
endemictoearth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lots of convenient magic-related things popped up (previously hinted at, but lazily executed), and the villains became even more cartoonish as the story went along (and the
The love story went from 2 to 11 out of nowhere; we definitely needed more moments between Yelena and Valek before they start
There was just 20 pounds of plot in a 5 pound sack in the last part of the book, and all the intrigue and potential that had been built up just evaporated in a tornado of Things Happening Abruptly. Not to mention the clumsy handling of the Commander's
(I will say I liked Ari and Janco, both their relationship and how they remained loyal to Yelena (and that they’ll accompany her to Sitia); they were my favorite characters and I could have read a whole book of them)
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence
maevebillings'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? No
4.5
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Blood, and Transphobia
malima's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
She learns to recognise poisons and to defend herself, she makes some friends, falls in love, finds out she has magic, and gets involved in the country's politics.
Mostly, this book is okay. It's exactly what you'd expect from a YA Fantasy book, nothing less, nothing more. Nothing bad about it, but also nothing special about it.
All the relationships - both platonic and romantic - somewhat lack chemistry, but not to a degree that makes them unbelievable either.
I kept reading because it was an enjoyable enough read and I had no reason to stop, but planned not to continue with the sequel. Luckily, the end does pick up, and once we get to know more about the political plot brewing inside Ixia and Yelena gets involved in it, the plot did catch my interest.
The relationships didn't become any more interesting, though, but the dimension of their political allyship between Yelena and her love interest made me willing to overlook their lack of chemistry towards the end.
There is no way this series will become one of my favourites, but the glimpse we got into the magical and political landscape in Ixia and its neighbour Sitia towards the end, makes me think the series will probably turn out to be in overall an enjoyable, if mediocre, read after all.
Graphic: Torture and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Trafficking and Transphobia
stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Murder, Excrement, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Outing, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction and Suicidal thoughts
msstearns13'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Torture
Minor: Vomit, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Trafficking, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
littlewishling'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Vomit, Child death, and Kidnapping