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remaininlullaby's review against another edition
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, War, and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, and Slavery
Minor: Vomit
daja's review against another edition
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Child death, Gore, Murder, Bullying, Colonisation, and Death
olivialesan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Genocide, Death, and Child death
kiwi_00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, Slavery, and War
hameedah_reads'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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Violence, War, and Genocide
librarybookscene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Violence, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Self harm, Colonisation, Blood, and Classism
dingakaa'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
4.5
- It is unclear whether the scars/blisters on Sloane's body are visible or not. She references them frequently but often intimates they're "below the surface." Other times it seems like a literal description of the damage her asé does to her skin. However, if the latter is the case, how do the Lucis not see it and question why this new recruit has new blisters and scars popping up at random times?
- If Celeste was gifted with divination, and Theodus gained that ability from her, why is Sloane now gifted with fire? We got some historical perspectives on Scions and Yorubas early in the book and this should have been included in that. I seem to remember it being a hereditary which would make Sloane's powers unexplained.
- I would have liked more context building with respect to the magic in this story. It's hard to tell exactly how powerful Sloane is and where that power is located within the spectrum of power in this world. When stories want this to be a mystery, it is more clear from the narration. At times, it seems like we shouldn't know how powerful Sloane is and that in itself might become a plot point. At other points, it feels almost assumed thatt she's extremely powerful.
- There was a lot of double-crossing that drove the plot forward in the last 100 pages. That was fun, but I don't quite understand the context within which it happened. The last 50 pages spends a lot of time explaining Sloane's family tree and how we got to this point in the story, but it's unclear what Theodus' motivations are and how the Blades fit into it all. I'm still not sure if the rest of the Blades knew Theodus' plan or not.
- I don't really buy that one month is enough to turn a teenager into a killing machine. Whether physically or with training/talent, it just feels like it's not enough.
- The use of the collar to suppress asé is very interesting. I wonder if Falaye was inspired by the A'dam in Wheel of Time.
- I'm excited for Falaye to build this world and expand the story. If this will become a trilogy, or something more, we're going to need maps. Geography and geopolitical struggle is a huge aspect of this world and being able to visualize the relative locations of major players is important.
Graphic: Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Violence, and Gun violence
The violence in this story is stark and frequent, but it enhances the story instead of detracts from it. Readers should be warned that it includes gun violence, hand-to-hand violence, murder, and gore. There is also ample discussion of fire and killing with fire.clairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, War, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Child death, Blood, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, and Genocide
marareading'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
4.0
Sloane is a Scion. She was given power as a descent of the ancient Orisha Gods. She is now a child soldier and hiding among the enemy. She wants information, and she is just trying to survive. The plot thickens as she learns more and more about this enemy from within. She learns more about this world she is fighting to protect, and the lives of those she is fighting with and is pitted against at the same time.
This book is absolutely brutal, and also amazing. I will be waiting for the sequel. It is an amazing story.
Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and War
dionnesims'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Slavery, and War