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oliverreeds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Grief, Rape, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Misogyny, and Sexism
darkmattersoybean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
abbyschalupa'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: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Suicide
pvbobrien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual violence, and Confinement
maxgdy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Vomit, Body horror, Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
merenguita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Even though the world building has it's flaws it is generaly very enticing and it paints a really good picture of what's possible in this world.
The set up of the conflict is a bit too fast for my taste when it comes to the conflict it self and it's resolution i think it gets a lot better with the pacing.
In general there is some really good representation and that's very gratly appreciated
Graphic: Gore, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Cursing, and Vomit
Moderate: Suicide, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
maple_dove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: slut-shaming There are two sex scenes.courtnoodles's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
- pansexual mc
- lesbian li
- male and female love interests for the mc
- nonbinary ace sc
-
Spoiler
m/f/f polyamorous relationshipPoints taken for:
- Literally everything else
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
danny_thereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual content
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It centers on Rovan, a bloodmage in the city of Thanopolis, who has been hiding her powers ever since her father was killed. When she discovers that her father's death wasn't quite what she thought and her powers are discovered, she is forced to come to the palace to be bound to a shade. As she learns more about the bloodmages and the world that surrounds her, all while also falling for a princess, she begins to question what is going on in the world and how she can free herself.
A.M. Strickland creates a decadent world wrapped up with intriguing characters and a fascinating magic system. Their extravagant writing matches with the gaudy setting, all while creating a captivating story. Two of the things that stand out the most to me are the characters and the writing. Strickland's world comes to life under her lush prose that provides great detail in a world that is dripping with intricacies. Settled down into this world are characters, some that you love, some that you hate, and others that you may not like but still care deeply for. Rovan is a complex and flawed heroine but I never once stopped liking her, even when the story got especially dark. The queer love stories and the polyamory were perfectly matched to the world.
The only hiccup is that there were some moments where the love stories felt like they moved a bit too quickly though this didn't bother me a great deal. Strickland has created such great characters and the bonds of friendship and family are so strong that things moving too quickly only barely caught my attention. This is such a great book though incredibly dark. I will definitely be picking up more of Strickland's writing.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, and Suicide