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literatehedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took awhile to get into this one, with all the political machinations and perspective switches. The plot moves along at a good clip, but for quite some chapters I couldn't see the big picture - what was the driving conflict of THIS book, why this segment in the battles between these countries - until I adjusted my expectations. It's not about conflict between kingdoms, but building and resolving conflict between people.
I love a good hearted rascal; I love even more a woman playing the long game, making the best of hard choices.
On to the next audiobook! I wonder how Gen will change next, or will the narrative focal point shift?
I love a good hearted rascal; I love even more a woman playing the long game, making the best of hard choices.
On to the next audiobook! I wonder how Gen will change next, or will the narrative focal point shift?
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Torture
sassmistress's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Slavery, Suicide, War, Murder, and Sexual harassment
c_serpent's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
I cannot STAND how much I love these books. There were multiple points where I had to take a break because I was experiencing a physical pain in my chest, because these books fill me with an ache. It feels like wanting to go home, but to a home I've never had. To a home that is in the capital city of Eddis, in a library smelling like ink and stale, ancient time, in front of a fire, in a place that does not exist anywhere except for first in Megan Whalen Turner's head, and then mine. And I belong there. An enormous part of me belongs to these books.
I think I first read this series when I was around 13 years old, and I had no idea how very deeply "cold and cruel woman who has been forced to kill to survive grievously wounds dark edgy boy who loves her despite all odds and teaches her to trust again because redemption is REAL" has been engraved in my DNA until I was rereading this book and almost perished from the romance. Nothing else compares. What the heck.
And for REAL. When will MY small dark and handsome show up in my castle for the gods to bring him into my clutches and I make the grave unforgivable error of chopping his damn hand off only for him to end up kidnapping me out of my own megaron in the middle of the night to sail me across the sea and demand my hand in marriage or else he will drown me even though he doesn't want to because he forgives me, he loves me, he's been in love with me since we were children? Huh? When, Megan. WHEN.
Also, the gods in these stories feel like *real* ancient deities. If you told me that we had discovered some tomb in what was Macedonia, and in it there were statues of the goddess Hephestia with the goddess Moira and the god of the Aracthus river, I would believe it. I would say, "duh." And then I would say, "do you think a museum will have little miniatures? I'd like to buy one of each. Maybe two," and then I would plan a tattoo.
And since I have read the entirety of the series, the conversation Gen has at the end of the book with the gods makes SO much more sense. The gods are like, "didn't you get your girl? Stop asking if you offended us" but REALLY all of this is to protect their people from the Medes?! holy cow.
A star for Helen, a star for Irene, a star for Eugenides, a star for the fact that Gen is a MORON who didn't consider marrying the love of his life would force him into becoming a king , and a star for red ruby earrings. An extra star for the gods, because I would hate, of course, to offend them.
Total score: 6/5 stars
I think I first read this series when I was around 13 years old, and I had no idea how very deeply "cold and cruel woman who has been forced to kill to survive grievously wounds dark edgy boy who loves her despite all odds and teaches her to trust again because redemption is REAL" has been engraved in my DNA until I was rereading this book and almost perished from the romance. Nothing else compares. What the heck.
And for REAL.
Also, the gods in these stories feel like *real* ancient deities. If you told me that we had discovered some tomb in what was Macedonia, and in it there were statues of the goddess Hephestia with the goddess Moira and the god of the Aracthus river, I would believe it. I would say, "duh." And then I would say, "do you think a museum will have little miniatures? I'd like to buy one of each. Maybe two," and then I would plan a tattoo.
And since I have read the entirety of the series,
A star for Helen, a star for Irene, a star for Eugenides, a star for
Total score: 6/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Torture
Minor: Animal death
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, Torture, War, Violence, Confinement, Ableism, and Body horror
szuum's review against another edition
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Stalking and War
cynicalraven's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War, Violence, and Animal death
mimeflower's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Misogyny, War, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
i_mina_i's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Torture
Moderate: War
Minor: Kidnapping
jenjerusha's review
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
Once reduced me to tears at one or two points, but I was a different, un-medicated, pre-COVID, woman then.
Still in my top ten and highly recommended for: nail-biting tension, A+ terrible choices, creepers of all kinds, awkward conversations, and at least one questionable beard. I would cheerfully read another thousand pages if they were on offer.
Still in my top ten and highly recommended for: nail-biting tension, A+ terrible choices, creepers of all kinds, awkward conversations, and at least one questionable beard. I would cheerfully read another thousand pages if they were on offer.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and War
jaqylantern's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was a disappointing and pretty confusing read.
First of all, this book felt totally disconnected from the first book. The only relation seemed to be the characters involved.
Second issue I had was that the book felt like a rough draft. It felt like a bunch of scenes the author wanted to write but hadn't yet thought of how to effectively connect them. We moved among scenes and POVs speradically, it felt.
The first 2/3 of the book felt choppy, just throwing characters and events at the reader. The last 1/3 came together but felt so separate from the rest of the book.
My final issue was the amount of deus ex machina. There were several times something happened or a character behaved a way that made no sense but served the "plot".
Overall this book was very disappointing. I have read worse but there were a few points I almost DNF'd this book. Shame to end 2021 with this book.
First of all, this book felt totally disconnected from the first book. The only relation seemed to be the characters involved.
Second issue I had was that the book felt like a rough draft. It felt like a bunch of scenes the author wanted to write but hadn't yet thought of how to effectively connect them. We moved among scenes and POVs speradically, it felt.
The first 2/3 of the book felt choppy, just throwing characters and events at the reader. The last 1/3 came together but felt so separate from the rest of the book.
My final issue was the amount of deus ex machina. There were several times something happened or a character behaved a way that made no sense but served the "plot".
Overall this book was very disappointing. I have read worse but there were a few points I almost DNF'd this book. Shame to end 2021 with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War