katrinarose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Slavery, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Classism, Blood, and Cursing
lady_sharp's review against another edition
Graphic: Torture, War, Religious bigotry, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Ableism
mazomazli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
- constant obsession with beauty equaling goodness and fat phobia (only when the main character loses weight and magically takes on someone else’s appearance is she pretty) and the other evil queen would never be beautiful. How tragic to be ugly I suppose.
- one of the most graphic homophobia scenes I’ve ever read. A gay church member is castrated and his wound is left to get infected. There was no reason to put this in. There’s no commentary it’s just to show how evil the new church leader is
- graphic rape and constant sexual assault. Graphic domestic violence in full detail. Repeatedly.
- graphic self harm that is also deeply concerning because it seems the main character is always reopening her wounds by the slightest movements. There was no need to describe her start into it.
- bizarre portrayal of a woman with albinism being magical and wicked and very sexual…?! That was deeply uncomfortable and I think ableist
- stereotypical orientalism with describing a neighboring king of having a harem with 20+ wives and how the main character was offered to be the highest rank
- improper “seizure” care where they held down the MC and put things in her mouth - huge no’s
- slavery is used as a casual tool
And so much more.
Jonathan deserved better than to meet an end of self sacrifice.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Torture, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Classism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Rape, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Blood, Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Vomit, War, Ableism, Abortion, Dysphoria, Animal death, and Racism
greymalkin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
However... Kelsea. Sigh. I had so enjoyed in the previous book that she was naïve but not the usual impetuous YA heroine who refuses to listen to smart people or learn from her mistakes. Alas that is all gone now.
Spoiler
Kelsea seems determined to make up for lost time by making incredibly stupid mistakes and decisions over and over and over again. She never once learns from her mistakes and hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people die.I also am increasingly uncomfortable with the author's internalized misogyny and obsession with rape. You'd think that this is a book that celebrates the power of women but it's on the surface. The author/book constantly rapes and brutalizes the female characters, and makes them insecure and fragile and obsessed with their appearance or babies to the detriment of their ability to function or think clearly. The competent, reasonable people are all men with the exception of a young girl (who was sexually and emotionally abused by her father) and that girl's mother (who is mostly reduced to role of tired nursemaid in this book instead of the fascinating prickly brave woman she was written as in the first book). And Lily. Lily is horrifically abused and yet she decides to do something incredibly brave and turns out to be extremely smart and skilled.
I also really disliked Kelsea's non-consensual having sex with Penn. Ugh. She's his Queen and his direct employee/servant as close guard. The power dynamic is absolutely not at all allowing him to have a real choice in the matter despite her "I'm not Queen now" whispers. The whole thing was really distasteful to me. And I was already not really happy about where they went with Penn even before they started having sex. All of a sudden he's in love with her and has to go visit a prostitute or someone to get jacked off regularly so he can be around the person he loves without being aroused all the time I guess? Wow, okay. That's... something. He's not a teenager, does he have no bodily control? I was hoping that the real reason he'd refused her was that he was gay. They even talked about it right after he refuses her the first time and it would have been a really nice way for that situation to be negotiated. And Mace should have pulled him off of close guard duty right away. He says that it's something that happens a lot with close guards. That totally makes sense. But it also can't possibly have been a situation where it turns out well often enough that he'd tolerate it. It seems like such a security weakness.
I'm uncomfortable with the inclusion of self-harm as a way for Kelsea to deal with things. That is a very real issue and Kelsea is hiding it and forcing the only person who knows (Penn) to not talk about it (gee, doesn't that tell her anything about how much he can't consent to sex with her even if he is in love with her?). It is modeling a very troubling coping mechanism in a way that makes it seem acceptable, and I worry about that. The book/author makes it clear that drugging yourself against the pain of an abusive husband and shitty oppressive world is not acceptable so I know this book/author can let readers know when something is not a healthy coping strategy.
The whole magic/sapphires/suddenly Kelsea can do anything she needs to do to solve the plot problem at the time (deus ex... sapphires?) was annoying. Kelsea never needed to compromise or listen to her advisors or learn from her mistakes because she could simply heal the dying or blow up bridges or escape into a convenient vision or telepathically violate people and learn their deepest secrets or paralyze people or ... sigh. I didn't hate it because I'm hoping there's a good reason it works like that, but it feels like really lazy writing in this book.
I did really like learning more about the Crossing and finally getting payoff for all the "modern world" hints that were sprinkled throughout the first book. I didn't find the switch to the "modern America" jarring or unexpected, it was fun, and with Kelsea being so intolerable, I honestly enjoyed those sections more, even with Lily being so brutalized.
I'm reading the third one but only for Lily. And Aisa, my ferocious stabby girl.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Murder and War
Minor: Child abuse
cmbohn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, War, Self harm, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury
kalmia31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, War, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Blood, Hate crime, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Trafficking
Moderate: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Infertility, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, and Slavery
nabecker13's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Rape, Child abuse, War, Misogyny, Slavery, Physical abuse, Incest, Gun violence, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Violence, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Racism
erinlilym's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
aklovekorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
discoverelysian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I certainly did not love the first book but since I joined a challenge to finish the dusty pile of my physical books, I feel obligated to see the end of Kelsea’s story.
And here we are, halfway to the end.
There was not much development between both of my feelings towards this trilogy and Kelsea’s characterization. You could argue with me that her character indeed developed, she has changed, and bla bla bla. But for me, she’s the same old Kelsea who still worrying about her look.
I thought that is the worst thing that could happen but no, this book is getting weirder as Kelsea’s fugues took her three centuries backward—pre-Crossing era—into the life of Lily Mayhew. I get why Lily is important but the fact remains that I got bored every time I need to go to the past instead of focusing on what’s happening in the present time.
I know Lazarus would agree with me.
This book is not all bad. We have Aisa—Andalie’s daugther—who is more fitted to be Queen. She’s brave, smart, and logical. I’m proud of what she accomplished and looking forward to her story in the final book!
There is also Father Tyler. He is under so much pressure, has seen the worst but his faith and courage save him.
I also wanted to mention Ewen because he deserves the world and Pen, my heart goes out to you, my friend. Both of them are good men and I hope they survived this bleak and dangerous world.
As the story progressed, the mystery around Kelsea’s father certainly got more of my attention. I have some theories but I doubt I can guess it right. I’m afraid when it will be revealed, the truth will shock me senseless.
So many secrets were slowly being unveiled yet there are so many more hidden. I just wish all the answers and the truth will be laid out in the final book.
The Invasion of the Tearling was not as good as I wanted it to be. Nothing impressive with the characters, especially Kelsea. I felt nothing towards her except frustration towards her silliness sometimes. The blending of dystopia, fantasy, and time turner were not seamless and it often left me bored.
The mystery, the unanswered questions are the things that kept me going. I will finish this series with a disappointing ending in mind. Just in case it’s true then the fall would not hurt as much.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse