plumpaperbacks's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
4.5
The best sequel—and conclusion—that H.E. Edgmon possibly could’ve given us.
While the whole book was entertaining, the second half was especially thrilling, with many a revelation and plot twist keeping me on my toes. I love that the final showdown included a handful of chapters narrated by various side characters, thus giving us more insight into all that occurred. It really rounded things out, allowing for more detail without risk of the conflict being stretched on for too long. And the ending itself was lovely, so hopeful and honestly just perfect. ❤️
(My potential new ship—Briar/[A Newly Single Side Character]—might not have sailed, and I can see why, but I feel like it could still happen at some point in the future… Here’s to hoping.)
Also, I just want to say that I listened to this duology on audio, and I’m convinced I enjoyed the story more for it. Dani Martineck is a seriously talented narrator, and they did an incredible job with these books. While Wyatt’s chaotic gay inner monologue is hilarious in every format, this one absolutely takes the cake. I’ve never reached the end of an audiobook and wanted more, from it specifically, until now. If I reread, I’m coming back to the audiobooks; if you can get your hands on them, I highly recommend doing so; and if Dani has done any other books, I’m about to go look for them.
Representation:
While the whole book was entertaining, the second half was especially thrilling, with many a revelation and plot twist keeping me on my toes. I love that the final showdown included a handful of chapters narrated by various side characters, thus giving us more insight into all that occurred. It really rounded things out, allowing for more detail without risk of the conflict being stretched on for too long. And the ending itself was lovely, so hopeful and honestly just perfect. ❤️
(My potential new ship—Briar/[A Newly Single Side Character]—might not have sailed, and I can see why, but I feel like it could still happen at some point in the future… Here’s to hoping.)
Also, I just want to say that I listened to this duology on audio, and I’m convinced I enjoyed the story more for it. Dani Martineck is a seriously talented narrator, and they did an incredible job with these books. While Wyatt’s chaotic gay inner monologue is hilarious in every format, this one absolutely takes the cake. I’ve never reached the end of an audiobook and wanted more, from it specifically, until now. If I reread, I’m coming back to the audiobooks; if you can get your hands on them, I highly recommend doing so; and if Dani has done any other books, I’m about to go look for them.
Representation:
- gay trans (FTM) protagonist
- Black queer demisexual love interest
- fat indigenous biromantic asexual side character
- nonbinary lesbian side character (they/them)
- various queer side characters & side characters of color (includes a Black character that uses a wheelchair)
- achillean couple (m/m)
- MMF side throuple
- minor sapphic side couple (f/f)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Body horror, Death, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Cannibalism
All things tagged graphic are explicitly on-page, especially in the second half of the book. Most of the rest—excluding animal death and vomit—are only discussed, in varying capacities. Sexual harassment is in regards to a minor, sexual assault to an adult, though none is on-page. Some cannibalism is done by a side character, though again, none is on-page. Racism and transphobia are also discussed, as is gender dysphoria, but the first two are always challenged.dododenise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’m so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I loved the premise of the first book but as that was resolved, I was scared that this book, which is about this world and politics, would not be interesting to me. Now I read this book in two days.
The thing is, I was so interested I ended up missing some bits. The entire time there is this sense of time pressure and a lot is happening at the same time, representative of how the characters feel. There were moments of breathers but they weren’t enough for me. These characters are so strong and I would have loved it if they had gotten more and calmer moments to exist together. Especially Wyatt and Emyr’s relationship could feel static and stuck in place because the plot got in the way of them developing.
The only reason why I feel like I missed out on these parts is because I was so engaged. The world building was rich and diverse.
The thing is, I was so interested I ended up missing some bits. The entire time there is this sense of time pressure and a lot is happening at the same time, representative of how the characters feel. There were moments of breathers but they weren’t enough for me. These characters are so strong and I would have loved it if they had gotten more and calmer moments to exist together. Especially Wyatt and Emyr’s relationship could feel static and stuck in place because the plot got in the way of them developing.
The only reason why I feel like I missed out on these parts is because I was so engaged. The world building was rich and diverse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Animal cruelty, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
itsapaxycab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Edgamon provides a unique and wonderful trans boy perspective and voice in this fantasy duology. So many characters, even the secondary ones, have time and energy put into their stories, and it creates a beautiful narrative. There is noticeable growth in the MC’s in a way that you can feel and follow. While I wish the book was longer, and there was more development towards *cough* certain areas/locations, the book as a whole, it’s story and message, are too beautiful to discount.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Car accident
Moderate: Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Transphobia
rachaeltobindodd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
I enjoyed the book. I don’t think I was quite in the right mood for it but oh well. The narrator is sarcastic which makes for a great audiobook. It felt like a middle book in a trilogy but I got the sense at the end that it was finishing a duology. But I’d be happy to get more stories especially if they are adventures in Faery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
ashton_n's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Stunning as always. A happy ending but not in the way you would expect. There’s always more work to be done but we can celebrate the present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: War, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: (provided by author) violence, murder, descriptions of blood and gore, body horror, panic attacks, dissociation, discussions of infanticide, cannibalism mention, off page rape, child sexual abuse mention, animal death, gender dysphoria, discussions of homophobia/transphobia, discussions of racism
The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon is book two in The Witch King series. This book was just as good as the first one! For a book that covers a lot of intense and serious themes, Edgmon has done an excellent job of not making the story too heavy.
We pick up with Wyatt where the last book left off. Emyr has abolished and dismantled the Guard, and is now trying to navigate how to get more equality for the witches among the Fae. Our gang learns pretty quickly that systematic oppression doesn't just go away over night, nor does the generations of learned bigotry go away so easily. Wyatt and Emyr try to get the other Fae kingdoms to follow their lead and abolish their own Guard and implement equality for Witches.
Wyatt gets some much needed character growth this book. As much as I love that angsty little goblin, he tends to be a self centered, sarcastic asshole. He and Briar get into it, and he gets a reality check. Wyatt also finally gets a handle on his powers, but I do wish we had spent more time on that. I felt like he figured it out too quickly without trying too hard. I love the revelations the inhabitants of Faery bring! Turns out the witches aren't an accident of nature (just like queer people aren't an accident), but instead were created to compliment and balance out the Fae magic. Fae magic takes away, while Witch magic brings it back.
Edgmon has created a dynamic world with amazing and diverse characters, and tackles some difficult topics with grace and enough dry humor and sarcasm to make the story feel lighter. I don't think this series is getting another book, but I would love one just about Faery. Just read this queer, angsty book.
The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon is book two in The Witch King series. This book was just as good as the first one! For a book that covers a lot of intense and serious themes, Edgmon has done an excellent job of not making the story too heavy.
We pick up with Wyatt where the last book left off. Emyr has abolished and dismantled the Guard, and is now trying to navigate how to get more equality for the witches among the Fae. Our gang learns pretty quickly that systematic oppression doesn't just go away over night, nor does the generations of learned bigotry go away so easily. Wyatt and Emyr try to get the other Fae kingdoms to follow their lead and abolish their own Guard and implement equality for Witches.
Wyatt gets some much needed character growth this book. As much as I love that angsty little goblin, he tends to be a self centered, sarcastic asshole. He and Briar get into it, and he gets a reality check. Wyatt also finally gets a handle on his powers, but I do wish we had spent more time on that. I felt like he figured it out too quickly without trying too hard. I love the revelations the inhabitants of Faery bring! Turns out the witches aren't an accident of nature (just like queer people aren't an accident), but instead were created to compliment and balance out the Fae magic. Fae magic takes away, while Witch magic brings it back.
Edgmon has created a dynamic world with amazing and diverse characters, and tackles some difficult topics with grace and enough dry humor and sarcasm to make the story feel lighter. I don't think this series is getting another book, but I would love one just about Faery. Just read this queer, angsty book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Cannibalism, Transphobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
pagesofnay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gore, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Cursing, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, and War
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Animal cruelty
instalovewithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
This book. Holy fucking shit.
This book made me feel bonkers but also made me feel seen. I absolutely love this book. The characters, the REPRESENTATION! THE NARRATORS.
This book is filled with darkness but at the same time there is constant humor and jokes, and just absolutely brilliant. I just can't. I don't know if I will be able to write a review to do this justice - but yeah. I am going out tomorrow to hopefully purchase a physical copy.
This book made me feel bonkers but also made me feel seen. I absolutely love this book. The characters, the REPRESENTATION! THE NARRATORS.
This book is filled with darkness but at the same time there is constant humor and jokes, and just absolutely brilliant. I just can't. I don't know if I will be able to write a review to do this justice - but yeah. I am going out tomorrow to hopefully purchase a physical copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Death, Transphobia, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Vomit
bookwormbi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
okay go off kings (or I guess not, since "kingdom" isn't really the right word for Asalin in these books.) truly Edgmon took these books and created such an expansive, beautiful, interesting fantasy concept. literally never reading fantasy that doesn't take structural inequity into account again this is so much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cursing, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Vomit