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adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, War
Minor: Rape, Torture, Death of parent
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For being having a generic plot I was enveloped into this book, and even purchased the second book before finishing the first. However, Charlie's death absolutely destroyed any sense of excitement over reading the next book in the series. Especially considering that once it was done, it was barely brought up again! I will eventually get to it, but I won't be reading it immediately following the first as I had planned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parts of this book were a lot of fun, and parts of it were very irritating. For the first half or two thirds I was all prepared to describe this book as "a generic fantasy in the best way--four solid stars". Now I'm like, I dunno, I guess it's almost four stars...
I don't have any particular plans to pick up the rest of the series, but I could see the whim striking sometime.
I don't have any particular plans to pick up the rest of the series, but I could see the whim striking sometime.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall it was an enjoyable book if not necessarily good. It pulls you in almost immediately and keeps you engaged, the plot twists are different and interesting, not overly obvious.
Unfortunately the things I didn’t like about it were too deeply ingrained in the book to ignore. Our main character fall into the “not like other girls” trope, femininity is largely looked down upon for the majority of the book, though I would say that was remedied throughout the second half, just not in a noticeable enough way to seem purposeful. Along with this we are met with the “I’m unattractive because I’m too skinny” trope, this paired with weirdly negative descriptions of larger people was uncomfortable for me. The age gap was also concerning but the way our love interests interacted made it easy to forget, there was little power dynamic.
I will say the book felt enough like every other YA young female lead book to be nostalgic but differed enough to be interesting. Also there were no traitors kissing but I’ll forgive that.
fuck her for killing Charlie though
Unfortunately the things I didn’t like about it were too deeply ingrained in the book to ignore. Our main character fall into the “not like other girls” trope, femininity is largely looked down upon for the majority of the book, though I would say that was remedied throughout the second half, just not in a noticeable enough way to seem purposeful. Along with this we are met with the “I’m unattractive because I’m too skinny” trope, this paired with weirdly negative descriptions of larger people was uncomfortable for me. The age gap was also concerning but the way our love interests interacted made it easy to forget, there was little power dynamic.
I will say the book felt enough like every other YA young female lead book to be nostalgic but differed enough to be interesting. Also there were no traitors kissing but I’ll forgive that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Death of parent