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axel_p's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Confinement, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, War, Alcohol, Homophobia, Outing, Racism, Biphobia, Body horror, Xenophobia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Slavery, and Violence
alibrarymouse'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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a coming-of-age story that turns everything you expect in a fantasy on its head while exploring all the different types of love.
Elliott is the most abrasive main character, but he isn’t hard to love. He was so likable from the beginning when he admits what the rest of us think: when you have the potential to live in a fantasy story, you have to take it. But instead of being just like any other portal fantasy, Elliott learns life isn’t unicorns and rainbows… in fact, unicorns are kind of jerks.
But the best part of this book was that Brennan admits there are so many ways to love, even when we feel unlovable. Elliott was rude, he had a difficult home life, and he didn’t know how to love the way he thought he should. Yet he found family, friends, and a place to belong while pointing out that violence isn’t always the answer. He explored sexuality and how important it is to value yourself. Love is special, and we should choose love, even if it doesn’t look like what we expected.
The commentary on war, peace, and love were gorgeous; delivered naturally and without seeming contrived. I genuinely liked all of the characters here, and everyone grew up and faced different challenges in their own ways. Dark topics were given their due, but honestly, this was one of the coziest books I’ve ever read while confronting thoughts, emotions, and experiences that everyone has difficulty facing.
Graphic: Gore, Biphobia, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, War, and Violence
tetedump'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
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Violence, and War
zombiezami's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, War, Blood, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Ableism, Medical content, Suicide, Slavery, Misogyny, Cancer, Incest, and Cursing
Neglect, Self-loathingaromarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood, Abandonment, War, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death and Death
sunkissedrose's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
Minor: Murder, Misogyny, Incest, and Death