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cpratreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
3.25
I liked this book, but the pacing was so so strange. It was hard to grasp the depth of the story, relationships, and characters sometimes because it was always hard to tell how much time had passed. That being said, I hit a point in the book where I couldn't really put it down so I will read the next few in the series for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
caseyjayner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So good! Hard to follow some of the items and terms because you learn bits about them as you go. Dystopian and violent but with magic and creatures. Im not a huge fantasy reader so my best explanation is mix of hunger games and Harry Potter but a bit more adult
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
prettylightsandcitynights's review against another edition
Felt like there was a lot of scrambled thinking or steps being jumped without a lot of explanation. I couldn't connect with the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death and Sexual assault
limeta's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Honestly this book will always have my heart. The main female character Paige is so similar to me. I understand her in the way that ablot people don't.
When I was little I also didn't know where I belonged, because I was different from other kids, now that I'm older I embrase it and I turned it into something good.
I can't wait to pick up the second book, and this book will be rereaded again, again and again.
When I was little I also didn't know where I belonged, because I was different from other kids, now that I'm older I embrase it and I turned it into something good.
I can't wait to pick up the second book, and this book will be rereaded again, again and again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hayreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.75
Another great work by Samantha Shannon. The middle was admittedly a bit slow, but I was always interested in what was happening. Very different from Priory, but a great read nonetheless. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Kidnapping
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I enjoyed the Priory of the Orange Tree and wanted to read more of Samantha’s work, with these series being released with an author preferred text, I decided to jump right in. I enjoyed this book, and it was a perfect start to the series, I just wanted more again.
The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against unnaturalness in Europe. In London, Paige Mahoney holds a high rank in the criminal underworld. The right hand of the ruthless White Binder, Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare and formidable kind of clairvoyant. Under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing. When Paige is arrested for murder, she meets the mysterious founders of Scion, who have designs on her uncommon abilities. If she is to survive and escape, Paige must use every skill at her disposal and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.
I usually struggle with fantasy books due to the world building and the characters and the terminology. But like The Priory of the Orange Tree, I didn’t struggle with this book. It was like slowly sinking into a marshmallow and I loved it. I’ve started to love how big these books are and how the author structure these books. I love the slow burn that happens in this book and how you can see that the characters aren’t trying to trust each other but they need to trust each other to survive. I loved the love story brewing and how Paige went from being this scared and timid young girl to a kick ass woman who stood her ground and is leading the rebellion.
Just like The Priory of the Orange Tree, the only thing that stopped this being a five-star read for me was every big reveal and big twist was sort of anti-climax, I was just waiting for the reaction to be Holy Mother of Mary and it just didn’t happen, it was just sort of crept in and then we moved on. Plus, I would have loved for this to be dual POV or even multiple POV with Warden and Jaxon having their own chapters, especially towards the start of the rebellion.
Overall, this is a kick ass debut and a pretty good first book in this series that I will be carrying on with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
pils8p's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
brotestantethic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-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
4.5
Magical!! Fantasy readers who loved Harry Potter as children, but who now want something more grown (and unproblematic) will absolutely love this book. Shannon is a master of world building and story telling. I fell in love with the characters of this book, and despite its size and wordiness, it is a quick read. This certainly makes fantasy reading less daunting and more accessible. I wasn’t expecting to root for the main love interests, but I couldn’t help myself by the end. Only knocked half a star for some clunkiness and convenient solutions which at times drew me away from the story. Other than that this is a stunning first installment, and I have already ordered the rest of the series!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
mmidi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail