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hybridhavoc's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- 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? No
4.0
Overall I think this is a pretty good book. The structure gave me some pause part-way through, but only really because I'm so used to books that do the "Part 1/2/3" structure but are just delineating the three acts of their story. This book doesn't do that, and the parts are more akin to episodes of a mini-series.
I was also initially a little thrown off by wildly different tones in the book, but it turned out that there were pretty decent in-world reasons for this.On surge days the entire tone shifts into a sort of animated Disney movie sort of feel. Otherwise, outside of the surge days, this book's vibe reminds me a lot of Nettle & Bone.
That actually makes sense. Saint Death's Daughter and Nettle & Bone are both firmly fantastical fantasy. Nettle & Bone was likened to a modern fairy tale and I would agree with that. Saint Death's Daughter feels like it's walking a similar path to me.
If you're a fan of epic fantasy or Sanderson fantasy and you come into this book with that expectation, you may be disappointed.
My only issues with the book are:
I was also initially a little thrown off by wildly different tones in the book, but it turned out that there were pretty decent in-world reasons for this.
That actually makes sense. Saint Death's Daughter and Nettle & Bone are both firmly fantastical fantasy. Nettle & Bone was likened to a modern fairy tale and I would agree with that. Saint Death's Daughter feels like it's walking a similar path to me.
If you're a fan of epic fantasy or Sanderson fantasy and you come into this book with that expectation, you may be disappointed.
My only issues with the book are:
- The structure thing I've already mentioned, which stopped being a real issue once I reoriented.
- Action and tension are often paused for exploring a character's feelings/thoughts or touching moments.
- The ending felt a bit unsatisfactory.
Yes, Miscellaneous saved the day but granting mercy and being banished just wasn't what I wanted there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Animal death, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Torture, Bullying, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Death, Cursing, and Murder
displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This is one of those very weird books that you're probably going to either love or hate. I personally loved it. But I don't even know where to begin with describing it. It's got violence and necromancy and assassins and revenge and shapeshifters and a magic puppy and a festival where almost everyone cross-dresses and a fire deity and politics and theology... There's family, by blood and marriage and choice.
If you like books with rich world building, complicated characters and relationships, and you can handle the massive pile of trigger warnings, go ahead and give this book a try.
If you like books with rich world building, complicated characters and relationships, and you can handle the massive pile of trigger warnings, go ahead and give this book a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Slavery and Death of parent
Animal cruelty/violence against animals:
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