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exteenawreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So ya, I dunno.
I think the writing was excellent, the world was immersive and thrilling, and the story compelling. The battle scenes are expertly written and many moments are truly exhilarating. The prose is beautiful and poetic, the characters are memorable and unique. I really enjoyed what was basically a randomly generated DND party of diverse folks, forced together and fighting against all odds on a quest to save the broken world. It seems to heavily take inspiration from other media I love like The Witcher and The Last of Us, though that meant I wasn't too surprised by the direction. It was just so painfully obviously written by a man the feminist in me couldn't help but cringe often. And don't get me wrong, I get that the point of showing all of this violence and hatred of women is to highlight it as toxic and wrong. But the way it's written also glorifies it, and the story isn't about fighting the patriarchy - it's about a man out for revenge and glory, his enemy just happens to also be thinly veiled patriarchy and religious zealotry.
Ex: A vampire obsessed with teenage girls and turning them to be his unwilling slaves, literally pulling his carriage all half naked? = Evil, this is a villain, we don't root for him. But the writing itself directs the reader to see these things moreso as acts of great power and strength, and the simple truth of what a man would do if they were infinite and unkillable. This vampire is described very positively as beautiful, strong, something to be respected and feared. Yes he's a villain, but I'm also not convinced the author doesn't sort of revere men like him or at least see this as the average man's ideal. And the many examples of this throughout are hard to ignore.
Overall I did really like it, I just feel a little icky about it. And I truly could have done without the underage kid sexualizing. And the animal deaths :(
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
bookbeetlebabe's review against another edition
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
breezer'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gore, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
kal517's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
straybutterfly'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
vilde_a'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and War
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Outing, and Classism
thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and War
ashwyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
-1 star for the CRINGEY lines from Gabriel, a lot of Gabriel's character seeming to be ripped from Geralt's (the horse, the 'last' of his kind, the kid he picks up, etc...), and the subtle and weird misogyny (lots of rape and weirdly sexual ways female characters die, sexual violence, the way women are talked about and insulted), etc...)
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
rubyredders's review against another edition
3.75
That said the writing is good! The characters aren't all likeable, hell Gabriel the main character took a good while to connect with because man living in a grimdark world and it has not treated him all that kindly - HOWEVER, I did find myself feeling for him after seeing all he's gone through.
The high fantasy elements were well done but I did find myself rolling my eyes at how #Goth it got at times. I didnt hate it though, just noted aha the scene is being set and knew the author was enjoying themselves here. The descriptions of the world helped build a wonderful atmosphere and tension, I coudl really feel the coldness of the world.
The pacing was way stronger in the later book than the start for sure. This book is a hefty 700+ page monster and while I understand the need to set the scene, let the story breathe and characters and world build....I kind of wish the book was cut down a bit? Or maybe even split into another book. There were parts in the middle that felt a bit of a slog and somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. The author has a trilogy planned but seeing the second one is also a Big Ass Book, I can't help but feel like it'd be more enjoyable, not to mention a more comfortable physical read, if there was less of it.
The time skip elements were really well done! I don't always enjoy this but they were clearly marked out and obvious when there was overlap, along with the way the story wove together as you read along these different times in Gabriel's life.
The level of swearing in this took some getting used to - more because of Gabriels attitude than the actual swearing itself. Like ok, buddy we get it you're a tough guy. This is a cold and unfeeling world I know.
The vampire elements definitely play up the horror elements of vampires than are common in modern works but the basic elements are the same. The clan elements were fun as was the
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
anapaula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content