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a_picky_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of the best romances I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Romance aside, Elizabeth Lim’s writing never fails to move me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
shadow_cat94's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
The first section - out of 3 - is a type of sewing contest that she enters to fulfill her lifelong dream. There are hints that there is more information in this world than we and Maia are given. Periodicall y there are writing mistakes such as movements not lining up with the previous action making it feel like the author forgot what they had just written previously, but it was easy to forget after that section of the scene has passed.
After she is given her quest to complete the 3 dresses of the goddess (the primary plot of this story) which kicks off section 2. This is where the major problems started popping up for me: the magic system is not ever very well defined other than us knowing that Maia's and Edan's are from different sources and there are different magical beings. Edan has magic limitations, but we don't know much about enchanters, his power limitation (caps) or magic in general in this world. When something magic related happens it feels like it is constantly asking me to be in a sense of suspended-belief because I know practically nothing and when Edan or Maia "wins" ir feels like a no-brainer because I don't know what they CAN'T do.
Section 3 is fairly short in comparison to the others and it wraps up the dress plot while continuing the magic plot for the next book. Maybe my concern about the magic worlbuilding will be addressed in the second book, but I'm not invested enough to read the second book. I enjoyed Edan's character and his flaws/character arc, but Maia didn't feel like she grew much. Her biggest flaw was that she was lost in grief over her dead family members, but in the end found happiness in love while still seeing her remaining family happy without magic? That doesn't sound like much to me nor did it address the grief as it was taken from her without choice. She didn't feel compelling compared to someone enslaved fighting against their master to help an almost stranger to survive then continuing a life of enslavement for life to save someone they love (something that was originally impossible/improbable).
After she is given her quest to complete the 3 dresses of the goddess (the primary plot of this story) which kicks off section 2. This is where the major problems started popping up for me: the magic system is not ever very well defined other than us knowing that Maia's and Edan's are from different sources and there are different magical beings. Edan has magic limitations, but we don't know much about enchanters, his power limitation (caps) or magic in general in this world. When something magic related happens it feels like it is constantly asking me to be in a sense of suspended-belief because I know practically nothing and when Edan or Maia "wins" ir feels like a no-brainer because I don't know what they CAN'T do.
Section 3 is fairly short in comparison to the others and it wraps up the dress plot while continuing the magic plot for the next book. Maybe my concern about the magic worlbuilding will be addressed in the second book, but I'm not invested enough to read the second book. I enjoyed Edan's character and his flaws/character arc, but Maia didn't feel like she grew much. Her biggest flaw was that she was lost in grief over her dead family members, but in the end found happiness in love while still seeing her remaining family happy without magic? That doesn't sound like much to me nor did it address the grief as it was taken from her without choice. She didn't feel compelling compared to someone enslaved fighting against their master to help an almost stranger to survive then continuing a life of enslavement for life to save someone they love (something that was originally impossible/improbable).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Slavery, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
aarustin's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
kaneebli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and War
estock36's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, and War
Minor: Death and Death of parent
vivelarevolution's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
I loved this book when I was younger and I wanted to love it now. I mean, come on, magic and sewing and spinning and knitting! What could be more up my alley?
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Unfortunately I found the ableism to be absolutely intolerable and the love interest to be frustratingly sexist. I hated how the main character pushed her disabled brother into taking "one step every day" while she was off on her adventure as if that isn't an incredibly fucked up thing to encourage a disabled person to do, and I hated that she (poorly) faked his disability in order to pretend to be him. I stopped reading when she got drunk and strange men goaded her love interest (who she was not in a relationship with yet) into kissing her and she kissed him on the cheek to attempt to satisfy this request without making herself uncomfortable and then he kissed her anyway. Like, what the hell? Also, I assume that her love interest is also a teenager, but there were some weird references to him maybe being immortal that made me wonder. I can't remember my first reading well enough to say for certain whether or not this relationship was straight up pedophilic.
Also, this is one of my more minor gripes, but why have the main character come out as a gay man while going out of your way to establish that her love interest knew her gender the entire time and therefore nothing about that relationship is actually queer? It's not funny or cute, it's just weird.
Also, introducing a whole (fake, but still) ethnic group as "barbarians" and then having the main character meet some and learn "they're not all barbarians"? That's sick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: War
lags2much's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really like the story but the pace is painfully slow. I wish the story were told in half the time. I’m very curious to learn how everything resolves but I’m kind of dreading the time commitment to get through the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Slavery and Torture
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
I didn’t dislike the romance but I did wish it was more of a slowburn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
justabnotherreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and War
sofieishere's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail