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blewballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
This was okay. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for (mostly based on the cover) and I think my expectations were a little too high. This read like a YA book to me, which is fine, but I think my biggest hang-up was that I never really liked Aelis and the book is entrenched in her experiences and thoughts.
I found Aelis self absorbed and entitled, and while some characters responded positively to her more abrasive approach to people, I thought she was unnecessarily rude. She did have some moments where she was more reasonable after insulting people, but it felt to me like there was a lot of room for character improvement that doesn't seem to be coming because she mostly didn't face any consequences for her attitude.
I didn't find the residents of Lone Pine particularly interesting either, and her interactions with them take up the bulk of the first half of the book. I did like the love interest (who plays a very minor role and is absent for most of the story) and the huntsman/guide she works with for a portion of the second half of the book. I also thought the plot mysteries were fairly intriguing, and they are what mostly got me through to the end.
The audiobook narrator was good, I think they matched the energy the author intended.
Not sure if I will continue with the series or not, I had a physical copy of this book and I might just donate it.
I found Aelis self absorbed and entitled, and while some characters responded positively to her more abrasive approach to people, I thought she was unnecessarily rude. She did have some moments where she was more reasonable after insulting people, but it felt to me like there was a lot of room for character improvement that doesn't seem to be coming because she mostly didn't face any consequences for her attitude.
I didn't find the residents of Lone Pine particularly interesting either, and her interactions with them take up the bulk of the first half of the book. I did like the love interest (who plays a very minor role and is absent for most of the story) and the huntsman/guide she works with for a portion of the second half of the book. I also thought the plot mysteries were fairly intriguing, and they are what mostly got me through to the end.
The audiobook narrator was good, I think they matched the energy the author intended.
Not sure if I will continue with the series or not, I had a physical copy of this book and I might just donate it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, and Sexism
nostoat's review against another edition
5.0
I just enjoyed this so much. Fun pacing, fun ideas, great main character with delightful side characters. This first book feels like a set of dominos that don't immediately obviously fall in a line, and then boom the pattern becomes clear. I'm mad that I avoided reading this for so long, because it is my shit so much. Reminded me in some ways of the Paladin romance books by T. Kingfisher (but with significantly less romance).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
I’m so glad I ended up liking this a lot! The first half was a little slow, and I didn’t start vibing with Aelis until a while into the book. But once we met Tun and started getting into Necromancy stuff, I was hooked. Will definitely be continuing in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Gore, and Sexism
littlechaton's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism and War
lbelow's review
adventurous
4.0
This book started out slow and for a good chunk of it, I had no idea what the plot was going to be. It's thanks to the voice, I think, that I kept reading and once the pace picked up, I couldn't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
clarabooksit's review
It didn’t draw me in. The world-building is too slim. It felt very episodic in a way that didn’t flow for me and I didn’t like the main character or how she seemed to accomplish everything (accept making people like her but she’s not trying to do that) despite it being her first job ever. It felt a little too easy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism
Minor: War
agrandreflection's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
annaonthepage's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail