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swally2005'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? Yes
5.0
Gabriel's story jumps back-and-forth between different time periods in his life, as well as back to his present reality; so at first, this can be quite overwhelming as you still don't really understand what's going on, but you get used to it and things start making sense as the story goes on. The world-building in this book is excellent, and the storytelling format is quite engrossing once you get past the initial confusion. This book also uses many French words, and some of them may be hard to figure out the meaning of, based on context alone, so be prepared to have to look up a few. This can be more than a little challenging to do if you are listening to this via audiobook (which I was), as you kind of have to guess on spelling.
Speaking of the audiobook, I'm not sure if this was just on my version, or if this issue was present across all audiobook platforms, but I borrowed this from my library through Libby, and there were several instances in this book where the audio would cut off part of the sentence. It became annoying after about the 10th time it happened, so I tracked down the e-book in Kindle Unlimited just to see how much I was missing, and was able to verify that it was usually just the first word or two of the sentence, so it's nothing major, but it was annoying nonetheless, and was an issue that was prevalent all throughout the recording.
Minor audio issue aside, I am very much looking forward to continuing on with Gabriel's tale in the next book, as he does not finish telling it yet.
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
faehistory's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Some of the bigger twists you can perhaps see coming if you have read a lot of fantasy because they fit the narrative conventions of this kind of book but are still well executed and some do take you by surprise.
There is a really interesting thorough line about the difference between faith and organised religion which ties into Gabriel's main arc.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Classism
chaptermaggot'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Rape, Torture, Pregnancy, and Classism
rubyredders's review against another edition
3.75
That said the writing is good! The characters aren't all likeable, hell Gabriel the main character took a good while to connect with because man living in a grimdark world and it has not treated him all that kindly - HOWEVER, I did find myself feeling for him after seeing all he's gone through.
The high fantasy elements were well done but I did find myself rolling my eyes at how #Goth it got at times. I didnt hate it though, just noted aha the scene is being set and knew the author was enjoying themselves here. The descriptions of the world helped build a wonderful atmosphere and tension, I coudl really feel the coldness of the world.
The pacing was way stronger in the later book than the start for sure. This book is a hefty 700+ page monster and while I understand the need to set the scene, let the story breathe and characters and world build....I kind of wish the book was cut down a bit? Or maybe even split into another book. There were parts in the middle that felt a bit of a slog and somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. The author has a trilogy planned but seeing the second one is also a Big Ass Book, I can't help but feel like it'd be more enjoyable, not to mention a more comfortable physical read, if there was less of it.
The time skip elements were really well done! I don't always enjoy this but they were clearly marked out and obvious when there was overlap, along with the way the story wove together as you read along these different times in Gabriel's life.
The level of swearing in this took some getting used to - more because of Gabriels attitude than the actual swearing itself. Like ok, buddy we get it you're a tough guy. This is a cold and unfeeling world I know.
The vampire elements definitely play up the horror elements of vampires than are common in modern works but the basic elements are the same. The clan elements were fun as was the
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
laraloops's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think at the end of the day this book was just not my cup of tea and not what I was feeling up to reading. Like an good shonen anime that just didn't click with me. I do think though that the length of the book really dragged, it took me longer than usual to finish it and 700+ pages just felt like too much. The blurb at the end of the book that I mistakenly read without realizing it was the next book did get me interested to see how the second book goes so when it's available at my library I'll probably finish it as well.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Rape
laneylane573's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
aladybug19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
booksalacarte'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
susanatherly'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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, and Vomit
pacifickat's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
"We'd fought side by side [...], and like I said, there's a bond between men who have placed their lives in a brother's hands and asked that brother to do the same. But there's fanaticism, too. There's faith unbridled and minds unquestioning, the soldier at the order of his commander, the faithful at the word of their priest. [...] My brother trusted me not so much as once he had."
Ok, so first off, my big beef with Kristoff as a writer:
He seems to have ripped off major elements of other writers and creators, such as
Do readers who adore this book simply not recognize all the glaringly obvious borrowed plot elements, or do they enjoy the references and not mind that it makes the storyline easy to anticipate? I felt like this blunted what probably should have been the most surprising plot twists, and saw several big reveals coming a mile away, somewhat gobsmacked the author would so directly pull from other books and media. When I described some of these overlaps with other works to my husband, he asked if I thought the book was partially written by AI. (I don't believe it was, but that would exlpain the number of things pulled from existing sources.)
I also didn't really like how sanguimancy was never really explained other than it fixes a lot of problems in a pinch in the story. Feels very convenient, a very squishy element of the magic system.
Now, on to things I liked:
In the end, I still very much enjoyed the audiobook. The audio narrator did a brilliant job bringing the characters to life with various distinct accents and voice intonations. I honestly probably would have given up on the book otherwise due to all of the seeming copy/paste from works of other creators and the subsequent predictability of the storyline.
I know the author doesn't like the term, but the story is grimdark through and through, meaning no good and noble deed goes unpunished. I like what this kind of story says about those who do good in a bleak world in spite of great personal cost. Kindness and mercy are only extended at great risk. I think this is one of the most compelling things about EotV. Allowing oneself to love takes the greatest sort of courage.
I liked how Kristoff used this dark and bloody setting to explore ideas about faith, fate, fidelity, fanaticism, family, friendship, and the stubborn endurance of hope. (I know, that last one should have started with F as well.) There are elements of the One Faith, the book's thinly veiled version of Christianity, that are just as dark and frightening as the impending vampire invasion: a torturous inquisition, corporal punishments, acts of violence in the name of blind faith, fidelity to the cruel teachings and practices of church leaders, fanatical interpretations of scriptures and prophecies, and an underlying religious lore that makes sacrificing individuals for the sake of the whole an acceptable and honorable wager (in the pattern of the Christ figure they call the Redeemer). This is a world of characters caught between a rock and a hard place, each deciding what to do in the face of their humanity becoming a liability. What will they hope in? What hill will they die on? Who/what will they sacrifice for redemption? This is where the book is at its best.
The best action sequence imo was
I wish that
Anyways, that's my meandering review on this 27+ hour listen. I will likely listen to book 2 next month.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Classism
Religious trauma, religious fanaticism, clergy abuse, fridged female characers, biting, eyeball injuries