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saricostanzo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Confinement, Physical abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Kidnapping, and Violence
cataloguekitty'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
4.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.
This book has problems - serious problems. I am not entirely sure how the questionable relationship at the heart of this book could have been given the Best Romance award for 2020, just as I am also not entirely sure why I read it, but here we are: people love this book and I've read it, just barely.
I cannot say that this book is bad in the slightest; it was entertaining, the world it was set in was complex and interesting, Poppy was a very likeable character, and (once we got through half of the book) we got a lot of action - plot-wise and otherwise. However, this is where my issues stem from. This romance was cringy at best and abusive and manipulative at worst. I really started to hate Poppy when her emotions oscillated between love and hate, loyalty and betrayal. After being so blatantly lied to and used, I would not put up with any boy, no matter how pretty his eyes were and how nice he smelled. I'm sorry if that isn't romantic.
I am also so over the abused yet strong main character in YA / New Adult fantasy novels. Having as much power and spirit as Poppy did would be near impossible in the abusive environment she was in and, if she truly was as powerful as the novel suggests, surely she would have stood up for herself sooner. In addition to that, who can forget about the whole pure Maiden side plot (yes, side plot because - let's be honest - the smut is the main plot)? I am not a fan; constant discussions of "naughty" acts, being "inappropriate" and just sexual relationships, in general, do not a fantasy novel make, though they certainly make the word count.
Now, I know that my mediocre experience is an anomaly here. If a dark, dystopian fantasy with a huge emphasis on romance, death and all your typical tropes (vampires, werewolves, a mysterious dark prince from another land, etc.) sounds like a good time for you, this book is worth a shot. Armentrout's writing is very readable due to its almost stream-of-consciousness quality with a sprinkling of very quotable lines throughout is nothing to complain about. I may give her other series a shot for this reason; I just hope there will be no mention of "honeydew", that was a choice.
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
macgarae's review
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Child death, and Blood
colinjames'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
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
hvw17'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, and Toxic relationship
sami_leigh'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? Yes
5.0
🗡 First is a series of 7, with a spin-off series (neither are complete)
🗡 Fantasy
🗡 Easy to follow World Building
🗡 Forbidden romance
🗡 Enemies to lovers
🗡 Forced proximity
🗡 Tension and BANTER 👌🏻
🗡 Nickname
🗡 Sex positive, consent culture
🗡 Strong female lead with a lot of personal growth (Poppy serves BDE from day 1 🙌🏻)
🗡 Well established secondary characters
🗡 For fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses 🥀
⚠️ Childhood trauma, death of a parent, grief, violence, torture, injury detail, emotional abuse and captivity, toxic relationships.
🌶🌶🌶
“With my sword and with my life, I vow to keep you safe, Penellaphe,” he spoke, voice deep and smooth, reminding me of rich, decadent chocolate. “From this moment until the last moment, I am yours.”
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Minor: War, Grief, and Death of parent
kaylamoran's review against another edition
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Death
marisa_n'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, and Genocide
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and War
taryn_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Death of parent, and Slavery