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vereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault
lydiazwag's review against another edition
Main plot was dull and unengaging. Romance was also dull as well as really toxic and gross. 17 year old mentee who has basically been kidnapped by hundreds of years old emotionally abusive, cold wizard mentor who basically kidnapped her. And you're telling me they're falling in love?? No, ew! Also, he's boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
icy1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I definitely had fun reading this book, which is why I'm giving it a high rating. That being said, I did have issues with it. Novik has very beautiful prose throughout the book, and I love her use of elaborate metaphors and imagery to describe things. However, I think she sometimes gets so into writing all these metaphors for magic and whatnot that it takes over the actual narrative. There were many points in the book with paragraphs and paragraphs of metaphors that I forgot what was actually going on.
I really like the plot for the most part in this book. I think the villain is very unique and is unlike any other fantasy I've ever read. I do think near the middle of the book once they left the tower the story started to drag a little. I think their time spent in the kingdom could've been shortened and still convey everything that needed conveyed for the narrative.
My biggest gripe with this book is the "romance" (if you can even call it that). First of all, the main character is 17 and the love interest is 100-something. Now, I get that aging is different for the main characters, and in this world it seems like in this world that 17 year olds are basically already treated as adults anyway. But I do wish the main character was at least a bit older for my own peace of mind.
Second of all, there really is no love or romance between the two characters. It's just lust. I literally had to put the book down and roll my eyes at the two (and there's really only two in the whole book) romance scenes between the two characters because it just came out of nowhere at felt like an afterthought for the author. I wish the characters (especially love interest guy, not saying because of spoilers) got more character development throughout the novel. That would've been nice in general, but it also would've helped readers see why the main character fell for the love interest. Honestly, it would've made more sense based on what I did see if she just ended up with Kasia instead.
I really like the plot for the most part in this book. I think the villain is very unique and is unlike any other fantasy I've ever read. I do think near the middle of the book once they left the tower the story started to drag a little. I think their time spent in the kingdom could've been shortened and still convey everything that needed conveyed for the narrative.
My biggest gripe with this book is the "romance" (if you can even call it that). First of all, the main character is 17 and the love interest is 100-something. Now, I get that aging is different for the main characters, and in this world it seems like in this world that 17 year olds are basically already treated as adults anyway. But I do wish the main character was at least a bit older for my own peace of mind.
Second of all, there really is no love or romance between the two characters. It's just lust. I literally had to put the book down and roll my eyes at the two (and there's really only two in the whole book) romance scenes between the two characters because it just came out of nowhere at felt like an afterthought for the author. I wish the characters (especially love interest guy, not saying because of spoilers) got more character development throughout the novel. That would've been nice in general, but it also would've helped readers see why the main character fell for the love interest. Honestly, it would've made more sense based on what I did see if she just ended up with Kasia instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
milesofsmiles's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Contrary to some of the content warnings, there is no pedophilia in this book. It's an adult minor situation. She is 17 and he's hundreds of years old but with the looks of a man closer to her age.
I like to think this was modeled around medieval times and back then it was more acceptable, definitely not okay now. It's a dark fantasy with swords, poor villages, kings and queens, wizards and witches, complete with a young maiden in a tower.
I like to think this was modeled around medieval times and back then it was more acceptable, definitely not okay now. It's a dark fantasy with swords, poor villages, kings and queens, wizards and witches, complete with a young maiden in a tower.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
elanuruysal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
lightsandwaves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
makemestagger's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The first 4 chapters were a little hard for me to get into, but I was hooked after that. There were several plot twists and I didn't see any of them coming! The romance wasn't a subplot to the political/magical intrigue so keep that in mind if you're a fan of romantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
sara_lee's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Vomit
thelalilulelo's review against another edition
Right in the middle it felt like the pace fell off the cliff. Her prepping to go to the city felt so much like the book was starting over, I just decided that was enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
timbsy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, and Classism
Minor: Slavery and Vomit