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huldasif's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you like Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows this might be right up your alley. It's not a heist story, but it does have a similar mood and crime lords dealing with bigger crime lords. The story is about Enne, an innocent, sheltered ballerina student who comes to this sin city to look for her missing mother. She meets Levi, a small crime lord with problems of his own, and employs him to help her find her mother. It's a medium paced fantasy, plot-driven but with some character development still. The climax of the book wasn't what I expected it to be and I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have wanted, but it wasn't bad by any means. Just... different and not as climactic as it could have been had the author gone a different route, but it was still interesting. The book was actually full of surprises, twists and turns, only a few that I saw coming. There was never a dull moment. This is a first in a trilogy though and you really feel it. Although stuff is resolved, there are several things left unexplored or not explored enough. So you kind of have to know going in that this isn't one of those trilogies where the first book can sort of stand alone and you have the option to keep on going. You are going to feel in the end that you need the next book to be fulfilled. I liked it enough to keep on going. In fact, I liked it better than Six of Crows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, and Rape
aoifeonpaper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
I LOVED this world! How had I never heard of these books before I stumbled across them on Audible?!
It was dark and Dickensian, and struck me as something between Six of Crows and The Infernal Devices - if a little more mature than either series.
It's told in dual POV through the eyes of Enne, a newcomer to the City of Sin, and Levi, a clever and respected gang leader. Debutante heroine Enne has one of my favourite character arcs I've ever read in a YA fantasy. Levi was such a refreshing change of pace from the usual broken and mysterious bad boys - he's a three dimensional person with genuine warmth, strength, and fears. And, if he broods, it's with good reason.
The magic system was a bit different without becoming hard to follow, and the aesthetic of the debauched but seductive City of Sin was so vivid it was almost a character in itself.
I'm normally someone who needs a bit of romance to stay engaged in a story, but I didn't even realise until after I'd finished the book that this was a SERIOUS slow burn, with just the barest hint of romance.
Absolutely a 5 star read for me! I can't wait to pick up book 2.
It was dark and Dickensian, and struck me as something between Six of Crows and The Infernal Devices - if a little more mature than either series.
It's told in dual POV through the eyes of Enne, a newcomer to the City of Sin, and Levi, a clever and respected gang leader. Debutante heroine Enne has one of my favourite character arcs I've ever read in a YA fantasy. Levi was such a refreshing change of pace from the usual broken and mysterious bad boys - he's a three dimensional person with genuine warmth, strength, and fears. And, if he broods, it's with good reason.
The magic system was a bit different without becoming hard to follow, and the aesthetic of the debauched but seductive City of Sin was so vivid it was almost a character in itself.
I'm normally someone who needs a bit of romance to stay engaged in a story, but I didn't even realise until after I'd finished the book that this was a SERIOUS slow burn, with just the barest hint of romance.
Absolutely a 5 star read for me! I can't wait to pick up book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
Reference is made to an adult male character grooming young girls - the character is obviously an antagonist and his behaviour is reviled by the protagonistlifegivesyoulemons's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, and Rape
li_ar_t's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence
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