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burnsie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Torture
angel_kiiss's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Not much to say other than it’s a good book with a good premise that keeps the pages turning well into the night.
Both protagonists are complex, flawed, and lovable characters who don’t feel like props or objects to be pushed around. Lila, the girl protagonist, is not pushed around by the plot but in fact, dictates how the plot will happen. Most, if not all, of her decisions, have significant effects on the story and change the male protagonist's path several times.
Personally, Kell took a bit to get used to; I didn’t connect with the character initially and naturally leaned toward Lila, but as he came into his own he revealed characteristics that I identified with. Once with him - and once the plot really began to thicken - I couldn’t put this book down. I drank it down like sweet tea, I had to know what happened. And even then, at every point the book could have thrown trouble in their way, it did, and the slow realization that the protagonists were never safe only fueled the fire.
I read a review that argued this was a ploy for a screenplay, and let’s be clear - I agree, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. Let people movie-bait. Let women write just as cheesy as men.
Lila also seems to be a derisive character in that many people find her annoying. To that, I ask: is she annoying or are you still working through internalized misogyny? Do you always find cutthroat characters only out to save themselves hard to connect to? Or is it a subconscious belief that aggressive women characters are annoying? Either way, I loved her and would prefer to read about how her life of conquest and adventure unfolds.
Both protagonists are complex, flawed, and lovable characters who don’t feel like props or objects to be pushed around. Lila, the girl protagonist, is not pushed around by the plot but in fact, dictates how the plot will happen. Most, if not all, of her decisions, have significant effects on the story and change the male protagonist's path several times.
Personally, Kell took a bit to get used to; I didn’t connect with the character initially and naturally leaned toward Lila, but as he came into his own he revealed characteristics that I identified with. Once with him - and once the plot really began to thicken - I couldn’t put this book down. I drank it down like sweet tea, I had to know what happened. And even then, at every point the book could have thrown trouble in their way, it did, and the slow realization that the protagonists were never safe only fueled the fire.
I read a review that argued this was a ploy for a screenplay, and let’s be clear - I agree, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. Let people movie-bait. Let women write just as cheesy as men.
Lila also seems to be a derisive character in that many people find her annoying. To that, I ask: is she annoying or are you still working through internalized misogyny? Do you always find cutthroat characters only out to save themselves hard to connect to? Or is it a subconscious belief that aggressive women characters are annoying? Either way, I loved her and would prefer to read about how her life of conquest and adventure unfolds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror and Child death
elliekg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Blood
bugmanreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Torture
samchase112's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rating: 4.25 stars!
"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
I loved this book; its enigmatic magic, the totally badass characters, the complex worlds and plot lines, the writing...it was incredible!
"...clever was more dangerous than bad any day of the week."
One thing that felt really refreshing about this book was that the romance wasn't overpowering. Maybe that's just because the last book I read was drama-tastic (cough cough, Vampire Academy), but I still loved how the romance was sprinkled in instead of a major plot point. The quirky aspects of this book, like Kell's coat or Rhy's guards' gambling, gave this book a nice lightness as well.
"I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still."
One more thing- THE HARDCOVER IS GORGEOUS! I borrowed this one from the library, but I may have to buy it just because of its beauty! The cover, the pages……anywho, I almost feel like this would make a good stand-alone. Either way, I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on A Gathering of Shadows!
Reread: August 2022
After so many years, I finally got my hands on the full trilogy, and it has been an absolute pleasure diving into this magical, vicious world. How could I not up the rating to 5 stars after all the joy I got just from rereading and re-experiencing the delicious twists and turns? Absolutely fantastic, and I really can’t wait to move on to A Gathering of Shadows — for real this time, I promise.
"I'm not going to die," she said. "Not till I've seen it." "Seen what?" Her smile widened. "Everything."
I loved this book; its enigmatic magic, the totally badass characters, the complex worlds and plot lines, the writing...it was incredible!
"...clever was more dangerous than bad any day of the week."
One thing that felt really refreshing about this book was that the romance wasn't overpowering. Maybe that's just because the last book I read was drama-tastic (cough cough, Vampire Academy), but I still loved how the romance was sprinkled in instead of a major plot point. The quirky aspects of this book, like Kell's coat or Rhy's guards' gambling, gave this book a nice lightness as well.
"I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still."
One more thing- THE HARDCOVER IS GORGEOUS! I borrowed this one from the library, but I may have to buy it just because of its beauty! The cover, the pages……anywho, I almost feel like this would make a good stand-alone. Either way, I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on A Gathering of Shadows!
Reread: August 2022
After so many years, I finally got my hands on the full trilogy, and it has been an absolute pleasure diving into this magical, vicious world. How could I not up the rating to 5 stars after all the joy I got just from rereading and re-experiencing the delicious twists and turns? Absolutely fantastic, and I really can’t wait to move on to A Gathering of Shadows — for real this time, I promise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Slavery, Torture, and Trafficking
Minor: Death and Suicide