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maregred's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Genocide, Animal cruelty, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Death, Bullying, War, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, and Infidelity
tinyy's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
I could not stop reading this—the last 100 pages are so tense and full of plot that it was impossible to put it down, foregoing things like water and food. Fantastic. Heartbreaking. Reminiscent of the adventures in Lord of the Rings, but much easier to read ;)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Animal cruelty
Minor: Death of parent and Genocide
The genocide tag is minor because it’s only in its beginning stages. Not sure if this counts as a content warning but Rora and her brother very explicitly suffer from PTSDallisonwonderlandreads's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
I LOVE those high-stakes, underdog quest vibes and this book DELIVERS on that front. It has all kinds of good magical adventure goodies: special seeds traded for stardust, an unpredictable, untamed magic forest, and the cure for a spreading, mysterious disease on the line.
The world-building includes shifters, who get three animal forms and can mimic any human, whisperers who can compel animals, and forest walkers who have an affinity for plants. And then there are the giants and the myriad magical creatures that fill the Vale, beautiful and dangerous.
The story has a cast of complex, flawed, easy-to-love characters. At the forefront is shifter Rora. She's a survivor, a spy, and perhaps most of all, a sister. Rora must return to the magic forest that haunts her nightmares, confront her past, and make the trade that can save her best friend's life. She will gain a new understanding of magic and disturbing information about violent, political moves being carried out in secret. Rora will reevaluate her relationships with her brother and dead mother as well as form a new friendship based on mutual trust that might slow-burn its way into something more romancey.
I loved the message about the cost of keeping the peace instead of protecting everyone's rights. There is no neutrality, just willful ignoring of existing inequalities. These facts light a fire in Rora to seek change and take action. I can't wait to see where her story goes next.
Thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out now, so go get your hands on a copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Grief
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