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make_believer's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
philmarie321's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, and War
limiwh's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Gore
roseamongstories's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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
4.5
What a satisfying conclusion (or as the author would put it, beginning to second beginning) to an astounding duology!
The turn of events in this sequel was just *chef's kiss* The unraveling of mysteries and secrets was so organic, nothing felt forced. I was practically breezing through the moments when secrets of the Heart Iron, or Tourmaline, or history of the Automae and the Makers, or even the Sovereign are revealed piece by piece. Nina Varela surely knows how to make the readers want to read more by letting bits and pieces about the story unravel deliciously, all the while holding off on revealing just too much.
But what I really loved the most in this duology is the sapphic romance between Crier and Ayla. Their adoration for each other which they show in subtle yet swoony ways just made my heart soar! Although their romance consists of 90% yearning and 10% acting on that yearning, I was all for it!!!
And if someone tells you things, like the below, how does one not... fall for that?
The turn of events in this sequel was just *chef's kiss* The unraveling of mysteries and secrets was so organic, nothing felt forced. I was practically breezing through the moments when secrets of the Heart Iron, or Tourmaline, or history of the Automae and the Makers, or even the Sovereign are revealed piece by piece. Nina Varela surely knows how to make the readers want to read more by letting bits and pieces about the story unravel deliciously, all the while holding off on revealing just too much.
But what I really loved the most in this duology is the sapphic romance between Crier and Ayla. Their adoration for each other which they show in subtle yet swoony ways just made my heart soar! Although their romance consists of 90% yearning and 10% acting on that yearning, I was all for it!!!
And if someone tells you things, like the below, how does one not... fall for that?
"You keep comparing yourself to a book. That is not how I see you. If I want to learn about you, it's not for ... pleasure, or leisure, or the desired mastery of a subject. I am not trying to learn you like a language. I am trying, Ayla, to learn you like a person. Like people do, with the knowledge that I will never know everything. "
"Because you deserve to be known, in whatever capacity you wish. I am trying to become a person who deserves to know you. I want that. More than anything."
And here's what is probably on of the most well-written, deeply moving profession of love I have come across thus far:
"It's you, the wash of starlight, the old paradox: if the Universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would always end on you. I swear I'd find you in the dark."
JUST READ THIS BOOK FOR ALL THE SAPPHIC YEARNING, PLEASE.
Finally, the way Nina Varela writes to her readers in the Acknowledgements part of her books will always always warm my heart. I will most definitely be on the look out for what she releases next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Gore
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