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xlaurareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
a badass strong assasin fmc with a tragic past, fighting for her and her sister's life while being enslaved by an enemy gang leader has to fight to stay alive in the mythological world of the dokkaebi because of a crime she didn't want to commit of her own free will. a fun, mysterious, entrancing dokkaebi king who's soft only for her and wants her to play his game of life and death. an incredibly well-crafted, complex and intense world full of magic. sophie kim did an amazing job in her debut novel about lina's story of survial. she crafted an amazing fmc whose drive is her love for her little sister and a wonderful mmc i fell for instantly. i wholly enjoyed lina's story - everything that happened in the now and everything she let us see from her past, and her whole story with rui. i loved rui and lina's dynamics and their complex relationship throughout the book which, who would've thought, ended with them falling for each other. i really enjoyed the whole development of the storyline and the influence of korean mythology which filtered in absolutely natural without having to be explained thoroughly in the beginning of the book (i like it way better as it is because it didn't make the book to boring or complex). the ending was great and i am looking forward to what will happen to lina (and rui) in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Slavery, and Kidnapping
beautifulminutiae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Murder, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual content
cascannotread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rating: 3.5
This was a really fun new fantasy series based on Korean mythology. I actually wished the book incorporated a bit more mythology but it was enjoyable nonetheless, and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
The Last of the Talons follows Shin Lina, allegedly the best assassin in the country/region. I say allegedly because for the most part she felt very unserious and immature for a supposed battle-worn assassin. Some of her so-called “tactics” felt cartoonish and amateurish. Her assassin skills aside, I did enjoy Shin Lina as a character and what of the most interesting parts of her story was her grief. Not to spoil too much but Lina suffers from survivor’s guilt. She starts the story haunted and broken, both physically and mentally and throughout the course of the story she learns to heal and find happiness again.
One thing that confused me about the story was the setting and time period. My e-arc did not have a map and I’m not sure if they added one in the finished copy but I feel it would be really helpful here. I never quite understood the geography and the different countries and regions of the world. At first I assumed the story was in a Joseon-like period but some of the descriptions about the other regions made the story feel like it was more modern.
This was a really fun new fantasy series based on Korean mythology. I actually wished the book incorporated a bit more mythology but it was enjoyable nonetheless, and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.
The Last of the Talons follows Shin Lina, allegedly the best assassin in the country/region. I say allegedly because for the most part she felt very unserious and immature for a supposed battle-worn assassin. Some of her so-called “tactics” felt cartoonish and amateurish. Her assassin skills aside, I did enjoy Shin Lina as a character and what of the most interesting parts of her story was her grief. Not to spoil too much but Lina suffers from survivor’s guilt. She starts the story haunted and broken, both physically and mentally and throughout the course of the story she learns to heal and find happiness again.
One thing that confused me about the story was the setting and time period. My e-arc did not have a map and I’m not sure if they added one in the finished copy but I feel it would be really helpful here. I never quite understood the geography and the different countries and regions of the world. At first I assumed the story was in a Joseon-like period but some of the descriptions about the other regions made the story feel like it was more modern.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, and Blood
cw: substance abuse, gore, death, mutilation, grief, hallucinations, kidnapping, parental deathsabrinalefebvre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook!
A lot of people have been raving about this book so I’m in the minority.
A lot of things didn’t work for me in this audiobook:
1. The Narrator.
Now I actually did somewhat enjoy the narrator. I thought she was really good in demonstrating emotions. But I HATED her voice of Lina’s little sister (forgive me but I’ll be writing the least amount of names possible since I listened to it and therefore have no idea of the spelling)
2. The repetitive use of some words
Ohh, this got on my nerves so bad. It annoyed me to no end when Lina kept repeating words over and over and over, sometimes in a row. If I have to hear (or read) the words « Gods damn » ever again I swear I’ll never read another book again.
3. The Romance
To put it simply, it felt forced. You’re telling me he fell in love with her after less then 2 weeks and he would be willing to do anything for her? I don’t believe you. Besides, how old is she? Lina is drinking in one scene so I’m guessing and adult but she describes herself as malnourished and so skinny you can see her ribs. Ik that can apply to an adult but that description just makes me think of an impoverished child.
4. Shin Lina
She got on my nerves. I did not like her. I didn’t like her internal monologue. Endless I tell you. In general I just didn’t like her.
And for those reasons, + the continuous use of modern swear words even though this is in another world, I’m giving this a 2 ⭐️
A lot of people have been raving about this book so I’m in the minority.
A lot of things didn’t work for me in this audiobook:
1. The Narrator.
Now I actually did somewhat enjoy the narrator. I thought she was really good in demonstrating emotions. But I HATED her voice of Lina’s little sister (forgive me but I’ll be writing the least amount of names possible since I listened to it and therefore have no idea of the spelling)
2. The repetitive use of some words
Ohh, this got on my nerves so bad. It annoyed me to no end when Lina kept repeating words over and over and over, sometimes in a row. If I have to hear (or read) the words « Gods damn » ever again I swear I’ll never read another book again.
3. The Romance
To put it simply, it felt forced. You’re telling me he fell in love with her after less then 2 weeks and he would be willing to do anything for her? I don’t believe you. Besides, how old is she? Lina is drinking in one scene so I’m guessing and adult but she describes herself as malnourished and so skinny you can see her ribs. Ik that can apply to an adult but that description just makes me think of an impoverished child.
4. Shin Lina
She got on my nerves. I did not like her. I didn’t like her internal monologue. Endless I tell you. In general I just didn’t like her.
And for those reasons, + the continuous use of modern swear words even though this is in another world, I’m giving this a 2 ⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
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