Scan barcode
licensetoshelbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
This book is dark and atmospheric and it totally sucked me in. The characters are flawed but you can't help but root for them. I loved finding out how all the characters were connected. Check trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Rape
Minor: Violence, War, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Torture, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
ranjanireviewsreads's review against another edition
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
It was only after looking at this book's Goodreads profile, just before writing this review, that I realised how many pages it is. That's the thing with e-ARCs; there are no page numbers if you're less than lucky. Which I was. My Kindle told me I would finish this book in 7 hours and while it did take me that long, I thought, "Oh god, what if this book completely sucks and I waste my Sunday on it?"
Thankfully, this book turned out to be a little gem. It was nothing special or life-changing, but it did give me a little break from reality, something I cherished.
The world here is not super developed but I felt it held enough intrigue to keep me hooked. There were some aspects that I felt could definitely have been explored more - and it wouldn't even have taken much, just a couple of lines of dialogue - but other than these two, the author has a pretty good foundation to expand on, if that is going to happen.
The characters were really fleshed out and while I couldn't connect with them like I have with other characters in the past, I was able to sympathise with them and want them to win. I think Esvar was my favourite, but just because I'm a sucker for tall, mysterious, emotionally damaged (fictional) men. We all have our flaws.
I think what stopped this book from being really good was the distance of the writing. Other good fantasy books that have wrapped me up are always more personal, more willing to yield information both about the world and about the characters. But in this book, while the writing definitely was really good and captivating, it was not enough for me to form a bond with the characters or with the world.
This book was just plain fun. It reminded me of what I love most about fantasy without asking me to get too invested.
We also have a heroine who has had past relationships with both men and women and a world where such relationships are normal. Goals or what? And as if this isn't tempting enough, we have an abuse victim exacting revenge on their abuser and then getting to live freely and to plan out a future. We have women playing major roles in the political sphere of this world, and people who represent all the flaws and beauties of humanity without compromising on either.
TL;DR: A solid book with good writing and good worldbuilding. Queenorm world.
It was only after looking at this book's Goodreads profile, just before writing this review, that I realised how many pages it is. That's the thing with e-ARCs; there are no page numbers if you're less than lucky. Which I was. My Kindle told me I would finish this book in 7 hours and while it did take me that long, I thought, "Oh god, what if this book completely sucks and I waste my Sunday on it?"
Thankfully, this book turned out to be a little gem. It was nothing special or life-changing, but it did give me a little break from reality, something I cherished.
The world here is not super developed but I felt it held enough intrigue to keep me hooked. There were some aspects that I felt could definitely have been explored more - and it wouldn't even have taken much, just a couple of lines of dialogue - but other than these two, the author has a pretty good foundation to expand on, if that is going to happen.
The characters were really fleshed out and while I couldn't connect with them like I have with other characters in the past, I was able to sympathise with them and want them to win. I think Esvar was my favourite, but just because I'm a sucker for tall, mysterious, emotionally damaged (fictional) men. We all have our flaws.
I think what stopped this book from being really good was the distance of the writing. Other good fantasy books that have wrapped me up are always more personal, more willing to yield information both about the world and about the characters. But in this book, while the writing definitely was really good and captivating, it was not enough for me to form a bond with the characters or with the world.
This book was just plain fun. It reminded me of what I love most about fantasy without asking me to get too invested.
We also have a heroine who has had past relationships with both men and women and a world where such relationships are normal. Goals or what? And as if this isn't tempting enough, we have an abuse victim exacting revenge on their abuser and then getting to live freely and to plan out a future. We have women playing major roles in the political sphere of this world, and people who represent all the flaws and beauties of humanity without compromising on either.
TL;DR: A solid book with good writing and good worldbuilding. Queenorm world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Torture, Violence, and Grief
madelinelindy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Evil king, political intrigue, and characters who are desperate to stay morally true despite the ruling tyrant makes this dual pov check all the boxes. The romance subplot could have been better it was very sudden and seemed more of a convince than an actual attraction match.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death, Physical abuse, and Infidelity
glenfleskie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
do not recommend. it's not great , but ok enough to keep me reading. very predictable. worsened by some terrible audiobook narrators. the man has this jerky cadence, and the woman is very strident and mispronounces like one word per page.
also it's too horny, without any actually compelling interpersonal relationships or romance. 2.5 * so Far.
also it's too horny, without any actually compelling interpersonal relationships or romance. 2.5 * so Far.
none of the villains follow well-defined arcs, and are flat. I was proud of how early I guessed who a specific character was though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Genocide and Hate crime
mel91's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
More...