Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

8 reviews

atamano's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Classism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment

marla_leonce's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I was required to read this book for class, so maybe my rating reflects that. The beginning of this book was very slow and tedious to get through, and the wording here was overdone and unnecessary. The issues of racism and misogyny were often brought up before being forgotten about completely. The characters were also lackluster. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, and Racism

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This was a strong debut, although compared to Zen Cho's later writing that I had the pleasure of reading, was a bit weak. We see a rich intersection between feminism, colonialism and racism in this book, which contrasts with most of these type of fantasy novels usually with a white predominant cast.

Nonetheless, I would have enjoyed more worldbuilding, a faster pace at the beginning and more development for the love story between the main protagonists (as it felt a bit too rushed). I liked the way menstruation was treated in the story, as well as Prunella's power. I would have loved to see more of the familiars and the fairy world. I liked the complicated relationship between Zacharias and Stephen, although I was left disappointed at the fact that Zacharias didn't question him at the end why he didn't also free his parents as well.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Sexism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Slavery, Pregnancy, Hate crime, Genocide, Death of parent, Classism, and Cannibalism

Minor: War and Violence

jelliclecax's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexism, Racism, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

maryannsophia's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

The setting and characters of this book are extremely unique, quirky, and at times bizarre. The style of the world, especially the Fairyland and magical people, definitely takes some getting used to. Overall, it was an interesting story and well-written, with lots of dry wit and blithe humor. But the characters do make decisions that are questionable and, often, creepy.

For one, while Prunella's use of her blood to hatch the familiar eggs makes sense, it felt a little unnecessarily TMI to me... however, one can't really expect anything less than a book that deals in the occult. But the really disturbing aspect was her sacrifice of Nidget to the dragon for her own purposes - and that this betrayal (similar to her mother's own murders, promiscuity, etc) was viewed as acceptable, and even appropriate. Similarly, the book had a rather confused view of religion, heaven, hell, morality, and dealings with spirits.

 
Overall, I found it a fascinating book, but one with large flaws that make it hard to recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical content, Pregnancy, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

griffinthief's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, War, and Suicide

Minor: Pregnancy, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Murder

achingallover's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Slavery

electrumempousa's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Despite the fact that this was a pretty long book with a lot of plot, I felt like it could have been much longer and better explained! A lot of the interesting background aspects weren't well fleshed out so in general it felt like quite a shallow read as a result. However, I am hopeful that the sequel is interesting since I bought them together.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Animal death

Minor: Slavery