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rachiem'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, Classism, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Torture, and War
Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, Physical abuse, and Genocide
secondhandbookshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
First of all, the female character isn't underage!!! She is a human competing in a vampire tournament, but at least she's old enough to drink.
This book has revenge, plots, twists, sword fights, love, family, and sorrow.
I enjoyed how each of the characters is different and each has hidden bits that slowly get revealed.
Nothing is ever straight up told, but presented in a lovely way.
I throughly enjoyed the writing style!
And I have already checked our book two, I enjoyed it that much.
Graphic: Cursing and Death
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, and War
Minor: Cursing, Grief, Genocide, Rape, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
metalballwheatley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Genocide
skillyillian'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
5.0
My only complaint is the smut. All this insane sexual tension builds up for most of the book and then they finally boink and just. The use of "wet folds" or "slit" is a hard pass for me. Points for outright saying clit, but immediately revoked for calling a vagina a "slit" bc what the hell, that's just as bad as "gash" imho. The cave scene was divine, like kicking my feet twirling my hair giggling smiling perfection. Loved it. But they got naked and the words got weird and it was a turn off for sure. If I have to read "wet folds" in smut one more time I'm throwing myself into the wet folds of the Mariana trench istg.
But besides that, incredible. I read this in like. Two and a half days, at most three? I literally read 80% of this book in one day. So fuckin good. Five stars despite the wet folds.
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Genocide, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, and Medical content
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
yilliun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Torture
The author provides a content warning at the beginning of the book.kotahlotah'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
booshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Where was this book when I was in all of my previous fantasy book slumps?
The first ~7 chapters were fine enough, it felt like any other fantasy read, really. Jumping in to a new world, learning terms, and just sort of accepting things as they come up. Oh there’s vampires with different types of wings? Ya sure. This big mega vamp wants this rando human child as a pseudo child of his own? Go wild. But once you’re securely in the trials that take place in this book, *you get hooked*. The world is simple but still feels so real with the way Broadbent describes it. It was almost a theme while I was reading; expecting something shallow due to how little this book/author has been talked about in the mainstream until now (thank you booktok), but then being utterly surprised when proven wrong. Each chapter just revealed more and more strings and important details and connections and and and. I am thoroughly amazed.
I know many people are comparing Broadbent’s series and their respective tones to Sarah J Maas’ books, but there really is no better parallel. I’ve yet to read any other books by Broadbent, but there is no doubt I will collect as many as I can get my hands on.
Seriously though, if you are a fan of SJ Maas, give this author a go.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Death, Blood, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Moderate: Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Classism, Genocide, Confinement, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Alcohol, Vomit, and War
that_awkwardbook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, War, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, and Slavery
reneec1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
🌶️🌶️🌶️
*reading order note at bottom
I couldn’t put this book down from the very beginning. It was my favorite read so far this year!
PLOT: The plot reminded me of The Hunger Games or Throne of Glass with the fight-to-the-death trials, while being for an older audience.
CHARACTERS: I loved the characters in this story! Some of the connections between them and their histories could have been fleshed out a little more. I honestly would have been happier with a longer book if it would have given more time for that.
WORLDBUILDING: I can’t say the world of the magic is unique in this book, but the plot was so interesting that I didn’t care.
READING ORDER: On her Instagram, Carissa has a suggested reading order that’s the same as publication order:
1. The Serpent and the Wings of Night
2. Six Scorched Roses
3. The Ashes and the Star Cursed King
4. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror
I read in this order and it worked really well. I’m going to refer to them based on their numbers above.
-1 & 3 are a duology and definitely need to be read in that order.
-2 & 4 are stand alones. They could be read whenever, but there’s more world building in 1 than in these.
-Characters from 2 show up in 3, but it’s not necessary to have read 2 before 3.
-4 is more separated, but looks like it’ll tie into future Crowns of Nyaxia books.
I hope that helps!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Genocide and Torture
milla_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The first quarter while good, felt like many other fantasy books and in some ways it is and a little predictable….HOWEVER…..the way in which the events play out and the emotional roller coaster that Carissa leads you through was something I was not prepared for.
She buried her characters into my heart and then ripped it apart….. I thought this would be good, but it was soooo much better then good.
I have fallen in love with this author and will now go and read everything she has written.
Graphic: Violence, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Genocide
Minor: Trafficking, War, Grief, and Torture