You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
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
TW: sexual assault.
This was a good read. I wanted to keep reading it in my spare time. I wanted to know what happened. But it’s a dark dark book. It was slow at the beginning. But the later part of the book everything picked up. One thing that put a damper on this book for me personally was the causally to which r*pe was used and talked about. It felt like it was normalized. While I know it was supposed to be conveying the normalcy of r*pe at Blackcliff, there didn’t seem to be much sensitivity to it. Which made it come across as normalized in general. Highly doubt that’s what the author was going for, but that’s how it came off to me. Otherwise, really enjoyed this grim story and I am excited to read the second book.
This was a good read. I wanted to keep reading it in my spare time. I wanted to know what happened. But it’s a dark dark book. It was slow at the beginning. But the later part of the book everything picked up. One thing that put a damper on this book for me personally was the causally to which r*pe was used and talked about. It felt like it was normalized. While I know it was supposed to be conveying the normalcy of r*pe at Blackcliff, there didn’t seem to be much sensitivity to it. Which made it come across as normalized in general. Highly doubt that’s what the author was going for, but that’s how it came off to me. Otherwise, really enjoyed this grim story and I am excited to read the second book.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Lorde’s songs “If She could see me now”, “Hammer”, “Favorite Daughter”, and “David” and Florence & the Machine’s “Everybody Scream” perfectly encapsulate this series
adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
No
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book. It did have some heavy moments (torture, violence, murder, etc.), and it definitely made me upset multiple times, but that isn't all bad lol Also, please keep in mind I listened to the audiobook so any misspellings of things like names are due to that
Now, our FMC, Laia, she is incredibly naive. While this was frustrating at times (like, come on girl, USE YOUR BRAIN!!), I did feel this was consistent with her character and upbringing. Basically, she had this annoying trait but it isn't a ding against the book because she's clearly *supposed* to be annoying like that. She is also your typical FMC: sooooo pretty, but she doesn't know it. She's curvy and all the guys can't stop looking at her 🙄 This was made especially annoying when clearly there are two men who fall for her and she falls for too. She doesn't really have time to get to know either of them, nor they her, so it felt to much like instalove which is a terrible trope in books
With the plot, I'm not gonna lie... I kept kind of zoning out when it came to the trials. They were... unnecessarily barbaric. I mean, I guess it fits in with the type of world this is, but I hated it. Also, I hate the augers (idk how it's spelled). I don't care if they had "good reasons," they're the villains in my eyes. Manipulative and just plain evil, but are regarded as good. At least the commadant (sp?) is evil and regarded as evil. Because of that, I feel like I hate them more than her! 😠
But overall, the book kept me engaged and wanting to come back to it. It was a good story, and I'd like to see what happens next. I definitely plan to continue this series!
Now, our FMC, Laia, she is incredibly naive. While this was frustrating at times (like, come on girl, USE YOUR BRAIN!!), I did feel this was consistent with her character and upbringing. Basically, she had this annoying trait but it isn't a ding against the book because she's clearly *supposed* to be annoying like that. She is also your typical FMC: sooooo pretty, but she doesn't know it. She's curvy and all the guys can't stop looking at her 🙄 This was made especially annoying when clearly there are two men who fall for her and she falls for too. She doesn't really have time to get to know either of them, nor they her, so it felt to much like instalove which is a terrible trope in books
With the plot, I'm not gonna lie... I kept kind of zoning out when it came to the trials. They were... unnecessarily barbaric. I mean, I guess it fits in with the type of world this is, but I hated it. Also, I hate the augers (idk how it's spelled). I don't care if they had "good reasons," they're the villains in my eyes. Manipulative and just plain evil, but are regarded as good. At least the commadant (sp?) is evil and regarded as evil. Because of that, I feel like I hate them more than her! 😠
But overall, the book kept me engaged and wanting to come back to it. It was a good story, and I'd like to see what happens next. I definitely plan to continue this series!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 ⭐️ i have no words for how amazing this was - the characters were so complex (literally fell in love with all of them, and that made it hurt more) and there’s deep world lore, an intriguing plot, and suspense. so beautifully written, too!
forever rooting for laia and elias <3
forever rooting for laia and elias <3
Well it’s very YA, I’ll say that. Very Hunger Games meets Divergent. Totally predictable, stereotypical characters, comically evil villains, simple writing.
But I did still enjoy it — the plot is action packed and each chapter ends with a mini cliffhanger so you want to keep reading through. I also liked the dystopian setting & world building.
But I did still enjoy it — the plot is action packed and each chapter ends with a mini cliffhanger so you want to keep reading through. I also liked the dystopian setting & world building.