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georgiemay7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I also wish they wouldn’t put all the intrigue into the second book. I want a full story in this one please.
If you’re considering this book, consider instead ACOTAR, Prison Healer, or Lightlark.
The smut was decent though.
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Gore, Rape, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
anastaciaknits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Minor twist st the end.
Too dark for me to continue this series. I would’ve DNFd if I realized book was part of a series.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical trauma and Death of parent
cornyylynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, and Abandonment
petrichorcandles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Kidnapping
picklelady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Still quite enjoyable.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
unicornofthesea's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
msalexnicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I could not put it down and finished it fast.
The writing is excellent, the story is excellent, the characters are fun.
The only reason I knocked off .25 stars if that the ending felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Expect:
-training
-trials
-mystery
-mouthy FMC
-broody men
-fae
-magic
Overall 4.75/5 stars
Spice 1.5/5
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, and Lesbophobia
rdaacvhiesl'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
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
jenniferfowler09's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
bananathemuffin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The attempts at foreshadowing and an unreliable narrator were certainly an attempt. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be a reveal and I'm getting worked up over nothing, but everyone is just so secretive throughout this book, and the ending was certainly written like it was supposed to be an "Aha!" moment. But it was so obvious from the very beginning who Lor is supposed to be, despite her claiming she has no clue what anyone is talking about.
Flat and predictable, the plot barrels on ahead despite the many many holes it has. Why must we hold trails for the choosing of the Sun Queen? Why must the trials be deadly? Why can't we just stick a bunch of women in front of the Mirror until it picks somebody? Nobody knows! That's just the way things are, DUH!!
And I don't think I've ever read a book where the FMC's POV is in first person, present tense, while the MMC's POV is third person, past tense. Certainly another choice on the author's part. I've read my fair share of books that swap between first and third person for the different characters' chapters, but shouldn't we be sticking to the same timely narrative? Unless we're looking at a flashback or something? I thought mayyybe the reveal would be that Nadir's chapters happened a long time ago and Lor is the only one in the present, but nope. Just sloppy writing. There's scene where their POVs are back to back of the same event, and it was still like that there as well. A narrator was recalling his side of the story, and Lor was telling us her side as it was happing. I found it jarring, to say the least.
Was this book the worst thing I've ever read? No absolutely not. Was it just a clash of the plots of SJM's entire writing collective and The Selection series? Absolutely yes. And do I have the next book sitting on my holds shelf? For now, but that's subject to change seeing as I have a projected several months wait. I may change my mind between now and then.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail