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clea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I found it difficult to immerse myself fully into the story until about one third of the book. But then the suspense increased, the stakes got higher and the conflicts intensified, which led to a more engaging read.
My only complaint is that I don't find the villains very intimidating anymore. Most of the time we only hear about the Commandant's cruel actions and we hardly get to experience them. I think this would have added a deeper emotional aspect to the absolutely horrendous things happening in this story.
Especially the Nightbringer lost some of his fearsomeness he had in the first book.
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Torture, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness, Slavery, Sexism, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse
Minor: Confinement
vale_reading'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: Genocide, Gore, Torture, Murder, Child death, War, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit and Terminal illness
slama_llama'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
4.75
The writing style is so smooth and the story flows so freely. This book has definitely brought forth intense reactions- I was crying and screaming and shouting angrily. So many of my annotations and notes is just me yelling at someone, or furiously commenting on something in FULL CAPS; There are so many moments when the plot enraged me (this is not a negative point towards the writing style or the author, it’s just simply how the story plays out).
A dystopian story to the core.
Two books in, there’s a lot that we don’t know, things that need explanations- but it’s well played out and we know all the relevant details till this point that it doesn’t feel like a sloppy attempt at creating mystery.
I’m highly impressed, and despite the anxiety inducing plot, I’m glad I picked it up.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Genocide, and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Slavery, and Terminal illness
ramiel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Imperialism is one hell of a drug. "Mild" are: the emperor is a rapist and makes a lot of threats. Some of the sexual content - such as that between the two main characters - is innocent and not excessively detailed but its there.aargot1's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Torture and Terminal illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
ehmannky's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This sequel does what any good middle-of-a-series book should do, which is provide a compelling and complete story on its own while still adding to the overall mythos. It picks up almost immediately after the first installment, with Elias and Laia on the run from the Martial Empire. Their rescue mission of Laia's brother is complicated when Elias is poisoned and they are forced to work that into their plans. This book also has the much appreciated addition of Helene, Elias' former best friend and now the second most powerful person in the Empire. It really elevates a character that in the first installment was a little flat. Love it, cannot wait to get my hands on the third installment.
Reread: I found myself fascinated by Helene this time around. Just because she is kind of a truly unsympathetic character in that her main goal is to maintain this unjust system that is the Empire. I don't know, something about her inclusion in the narrative adds such a wrinkle to your understanding of the entire mythos of this series. Also, wow, do I hate Keenan so very much.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, and Terminal illness
Minor: Misogyny