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kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Cursing, War, Blood, Murder, and Violence
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Self harm, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, Death, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Vomit, and War
maello'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
3.75
So many downright shocking and epic moments in this book. I think some things were foreshadowed a bit too obviously, but I know some that didn't pick up on any of the foreshadowing at all so that might just be a personal taste.
The ending is a bit out of left field, and feels a bit less like a cliffhanger and a bit more like the rug was swept right out under me. That being said, I do plan on sticking to the series. This book feels good, even if it was a much harder read (despite the width of the book and the page count, there are LOTS of words in this book. It is NOT a quick or particularly easy read) especially with the constant arguing between the two leads.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Torture, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Vomit, Bullying, Drug use, Genocide, Torture, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Medical trauma
torturedreadersdept'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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Suicide, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, War, Murder, and Torture
chasingpages1'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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Grief, Murder, Violence, Gaslighting, War, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Chronic illness, and Classism
Minor: Abandonment, Bullying, Gore, Medical trauma, Genocide, Drug use, Kidnapping, Medical content, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
cturn'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
Graphic: Death, War, Death of parent, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Torture
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Vomit
eberzy'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? It's complicated
4.5
4.25-4.5 stars - for this particular book. It wasn't quite as good as Fourth Wing. Perhaps because of the pacing or length? I just wasn't as engaged.
So 800 pages---sheesh! Readers more than get their money's worth. I would have been absolutely okay if this had been split into two books. This was a giant to get through; however, I enjoyed every minute of it. Shout out to Rebecca for not being a money grabber.
I really enjoyed this book's realism in its relationships and banter. The representation of Andarna as a sassy adolescent was perfect. <I typically don't like the whole miscommunication between romantic interests creating a rift trope, but it was well-done here in the way that both Xaden and Violet were eventually able to admit their wrong doing and sift through emotions like adults. The interactions with other war college groups--infantry and scribes was fun. I think the sub-plot around the professors, especially Nolon, experimenting with venin was awesome. I love that even at this point we don't really understand the intentions there (help us out a little Xaden??), but that the whole thing gives us ideas for what could now happen with Xaden. I also loved the scene where Jack saved Violet. It's a twist that again, sets us up for what could or could not happen with Xaden.>
The couple things I didn't like--a lot of side characters introduced quickly; some of the scenes felt unnecessary (e.g. the castle, the gryphon mountain climb), but I'm hoping they will come into play with upcoming books; and General Sorrengail's savior move felt predictable. It was very similar to the long-lost father coming and saving the day in the ACOTAR series.
<There are a couple of areas of plot that are either holes or I just missed:
-How is no one, even in Aretia, questioning what's going on with Andarna? Why is no one commenting that she all of a sudden grew and changed colors? I thought that absolutely no one knew that dragon youth could bond.
-Why couldn't Xaden tell Violet anything? Why was it always "ask me." I felt like her needing to ask was going to be some sort of plot point...like Xaden is under a curse and can't verbally share things.
-Why was no one overly concerned or interested in talking about the fact that Violet's special knife opened the door to the interrogation room? That seems important, especially considering in book 1 the venin were going after something that seemed to be locked up in the middle of the town.
-How did Ridoc and team help hide Aaric's blistered hand when Basgiath leadership was doing a search? Perhaps this doesn't really matter.
-Why would General Sorrengail make a deal with Xaden and not just one of the head professors at Basgiath to protect Violet?>
<Some random predictions:
-No one really dies after they fall off the parapet. After falling, they are swept up into the venin army (thus why Violet commented that one she saw in battle seemed young, almost her age). Also, just a side note, when we're talking about the Venin, I am picturing the Game of Thrones Ice King and his army.
-Violet's second signet is dream walking or something? That could be why she has all those intense dreams in this book. An alternative is something to do with texts and reading...I mean she has scribe history in her blood supposedly! OR one other option is it has something to do with flexibility/regeneration--thus her muscle condition and Andarna's malformed wings. Plus it seems like she has started healing without Nolon more and more.
-Sloan is going to be key to getting rid of or at least stalling the Venin. Theoretically, she can siphon the energy right out of them.
-Violet is part something...maybe venin? The venin clearly notice something every time they look at her silver portion of hair. And this would cover that part in the scripts about the blood of two or whatever.>
Graphic: War and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, and Death
Minor: Vomit
keelirae113'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
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Blood, Chronic illness, Gore, Grief, Medical content, War, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Body horror, Classism, Child death, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Confinement, and Vomit
Minor: Bullying and Kidnapping
singingshooter's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
It definitely needed some more time in editing. I kinda hope the third book isn’t rushed to be published so that we can get the best book possible.
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Vomit, Death of parent, and War