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A review by angaramiel
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed this book.
But
I enjoyed all the characters except for Bryce. And not because of the choices she made, etc. It was actually that she felt like two different characters.There was a point in the book that I wondered if, with getting the second piece of magic, she had actually taken on another's essence and therefore actually had two personalities inside her. Her character was sooo different that I truly believed that we would end up with her needing to exorcize herself of another soul.
This book felt weird for many reasons, but most of them revolved around Bryce/not-Bryce.
Overall, this book was fun.
Now, for an apparently controversial opinion - I am deeply saddened by the fandom's hate for Tharion, because it means these people would hate someone like who I was during my worst depression. The kind that came about from a mistake, oh now everyone is disappointed in me, how do I get out of this? Might as well just wallow here in a stupor in this life I don't really want. Oh, a way out? I'll take it. Oh but now I've disappointed more people. I fucked up. Why can't I stop making mistakes? My friends would be better off without me and all my mistakes. Leave. Why do they care? Now they're in this mess because of me. Implode. I keep trying to leave as everyone would have been better if me and my mistakes were never here in the first place.
I know I was hateful during that time. I lost many friends, either through my leaving or others giving up on me and my "stupid actions." So many are saying they didn't see him as depressed, just someone who loved himself too much. But, as I was reading his arc and his thoughts, I literally noted in my journal that this would be a content warning: suicidal thoughts, because I recognized his exact thoughts. All with the same mask of arrogance on the outside. "Because of me. Because of me. Because of me."
This is an ugly side of depression. I am so glad that Ithan fought for him, as undeserving as it may have seemed. I am glad Bryce claimed him, for no reason other than Tharion existed. That's reason enough.
But
I enjoyed all the characters except for Bryce. And not because of the choices she made, etc. It was actually that she felt like two different characters.
This book felt weird for many reasons, but most of them revolved around Bryce/not-Bryce.
Overall, this book was fun.
Now, for an apparently controversial opinion - I am deeply saddened by the fandom's hate for Tharion, because it means these people would hate someone like who I was during my worst depression. The kind that came about from a mistake, oh now everyone is disappointed in me, how do I get out of this? Might as well just wallow here in a stupor in this life I don't really want. Oh, a way out? I'll take it. Oh but now I've disappointed more people. I fucked up. Why can't I stop making mistakes? My friends would be better off without me and all my mistakes. Leave. Why do they care? Now they're in this mess because of me. Implode. I keep trying to leave as everyone would have been better if me and my mistakes were never here in the first place.
I know I was hateful during that time. I lost many friends, either through my leaving or others giving up on me and my "stupid actions." So many are saying they didn't see him as depressed, just someone who loved himself too much. But, as I was reading his arc and his thoughts, I literally noted in my journal that this would be a content warning: suicidal thoughts, because I recognized his exact thoughts. All with the same mask of arrogance on the outside. "Because of me. Because of me. Because of me."
This is an ugly side of depression. I am so glad that Ithan fought for him, as undeserving as it may have seemed. I am glad Bryce claimed him, for no reason other than Tharion existed. That's reason enough.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts