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andehubs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, and Pregnancy
ktmcd26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
The relationship between the main characters felt extremely rushed and incomplete. Their kingdoms were supposedly archenemies, but they served on a shared council that other races in the kingdom refuse to take part in. There was dramatic backstory mentioned a couple times, but never explained or shown. I feel like this one story could have been compelling and emotionally interesting if it happened over the course of multiple books.
I found the main female character extremely frustrating. She was continually described in one manner, but there was never any depiction of it in her actions. She is also extremely impulsive, but her recklessness is never reflected on. There is actually no reflection (by herself or others); she can just do no wrong. Some of her decisions are however justified from repeated and horrific abuse.
The world itself is also not well built. There are many moving parts and none are fully explained. The history of the different races and their mutual perceptions are barely touched, but required context for the political aspects of the book. There is an appendix at the back which somehow answered none of the questions that I had.
I also feel this book needed another round of editing from a grammar standpoint. I often found myself re-reading sentences multiple times because the sentence structure was weird, but below are a few examples that I think were just wrong.
“… she said as he pulled back to see his face” (should be her face) p 420 Kindle page white addition
“… angered flowed from her into the phoenix‘s” (should her be possessive or should phoenix’s not be) p 435 Kindle page white addition
All that being said, the ending is interesting and is making me consider reading the next book in the series. It is the only reason it isn’t a one star.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Incest and Rape
melon22's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
unknown_fae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
tanazja_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Gaslighting
vicktorea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape
the writing, editing and plot were terrible and lacklustre. The charterers, magic/world building had potential, the smut was really good.ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
mary_beth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape
booksshelved's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape