quietlex'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
Spoiler
I do wish she was able to unleash herself and her powers more, and learn to hone them to become even deadlier. She finally begins to embrace her true self right when she offers up her stolen power back to the Cauldron. Also, what the hell happened with Mor and Eris! They keep alluding that someone different happened, that Eris isn’t actually this awful male that left his betrothed to die in the woods.
I really enjoyed the friendships that blossomed between Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn, their pure strength and determination that kept them together and pushing on. The love that they had for each other, no judgement, just acceptance and understanding. Exactly what Nesta needed, just as much as the other women needed it. They are the parallel to Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel.
I’m upset she had to give up a portion of her powers to save Feyre and Rhys and the baby, despite understanding her reasoning. Not just to save them, but also the fact that she never wanted her powers, never really used them at all. I saw another review talking about how instead of a redemption arc, Nesta should’ve been given a villain arc. Really let loose and go feral with all that power of Death. She was truly unstoppable if she could’ve just kept training her magic. I wanted her to go Red Witch style, burning everything in her path with those icy flames of silver. Not give up before she’s even started. Especially not to use her one chance to alter herself with fleeing powers to change her womb for future winged babies. Barf boring lame. I figured one baby was enough pregnancy drama. At least it was only kept to a portion of the book, and we didn’t have to hear whatever insufferable narration would’ve accompanied from Feyre. Sorry but I don’t care about that kid, even if it’s supposed to be something insanely rare. No one even mentioned Mor’s friend being pregnant either. I just felt no connection to that storyline. I wanted Rhys to be High King, not turn into a diaper changing snore.
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Cursing, Death of parent, Confinement, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and War
banscout'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
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Addiction, Eating disorder, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal death
Minor: Excrement and Miscarriage
robotique'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
2.0
It also felt like hardly anything happened in this book. For a 700+ page book, I would have expected a heck of a lot more. This could have been a novella, but it was crammed with unnecessary filler text. I felt blindsided and struggled to get through this book. I’m definitely going to be re-reading the first three books to bring me back to that ACOTAR high.
Spoiler
Also, I’m totally up for spicy romance, but this was just full on fanfiction smut for half the book.Graphic: Sexual content and Excrement
paigeinabook's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Body horror, Excrement, Hate crime, Addiction, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Gore, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
apalershadeofwhite's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Excrement, Sexual assault, and Torture
sooaery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, War, Blood, Gore, and Misogyny
Minor: Excrement and Pregnancy
zafri'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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Confinement, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Eating disorder, Excrement, Misogyny, War, Blood, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body horror, Classism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism, Slavery, Vomit, Xenophobia, Torture, and Toxic relationship
emmacartlidge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Excrement, Torture, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Rape
egurgens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Once I got into this book, I began to INHALE it. The reintroduction of the Valkyries? Hell yes. Empowering battered women to be able to stand up for themselves and defend themselves if needed? Loved it. The very spicy scenes and the love interest? I'm drooling. The plot was amazing, with Rhys, Feyre, Cassian, and Azriel recovering from the war, only to find a new enemy and artifacts, which only Nesta has the power to find. That was a brilliant way to bring Nesta into the fold of the court, even begrudgingly, and to enable the court to begin to see her in a new light.
No worries for anyone who is afraid that Feyre won't be present in the story, she definitely is, but is more of a side character here. But she is still present and as lovely and lovable and fierce as ever. I'm super excited for the next book and what new perspectives that offers.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexism, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Addiction, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Dysphoria, Excrement, Physical abuse, War, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Pregnancy
ashleereadsbooks692's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Excrement, and Rape