_dina'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
4.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Grief, Infertility, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, War, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic
fanboyriot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Miscarriage, Death, Infertility, Child death, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Violence, Murder, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, Torture, Sexual content, War, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Genocide, Bullying, Outing, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Classism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Incest, Infidelity, Addiction, and Gaslighting
Minor: Dementia, Sexual assault, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Rape, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
navierreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, War, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
saltytart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Gaslighting, Confinement, Body horror, Pregnancy, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death, War, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Outing, and Infidelity
Minor: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, and Torture
cecinamo'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
Graphic: War, Murder, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Incest
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Infertility, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, War, Xenophobia, Classism, and Confinement
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Vomit, and Excrement
Minor: Cannibalism, Incest, and Abandonment
the_bees_books'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? It's complicated
4.5
This book is for the kids who didn't want to be princes and princesses, this is for the kids who wanted to be knights and dragon riders, royalty and sorcerers.
This is a story for those who never felt they were enough and proof that you are, if you choose to believe it.
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Grief, Violence, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Infertility
marleywrites'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? It's complicated
4.5
I rated this book 4.5 stars out of 5. I was very invested in this story, starting around the 20% mark. The first 20% took me awhile to get into, but then we were flying. So if you’re trying this book for the first time, give it some time to get started.
Overall, I loved the characters and the complex world building. I’m almost sad this is technically a stand-alone because the book could so easily keep going. However, I was very satisfied with the ending we got.
This book was funny, as well, which surprised me. I didn’t expect to find humor in these pages but I did!
Another aspect of the writing I really enjoyed was the descriptions. Shannon has some serious skill when it comes to descriptions! I was blown away by the intricacies of this world and the magic system, as well as the rich history in this story.
I appreciated how many queer relationships there were in this story, and I’m glad that it was a relatively normal thing in this world.
Now for the spoilered section:
Spoiler
I’m head canon-ing Loth as asexual. I love him and will not hear otherwise.I also am thrilled with Sabran and Ead’s relationship. Like thank you Ms Shannon, that was perfect!!
I love Ead’s powerful friendships in this story, they saved her as much as she saved them.
I wasn’t sold on Roos until like, 90% into the story. But now I am happy for him. His love with Jannart is one of my favorite parts of this book.
The witch of the woods character, Kalyba, damn! I did not see her coming! She could have had another several chapters, she could have her own book. Oh, I wonder if that’s in A Day of Fallen Night 😂 I haven’t read that one yet.
The dragons were so cool. I wish we could have had even more dragons. I loved Tané’s fierce love for her dragon and all of the. dragons and would have loved some fluffy dragon ride scenes.
Connecting with the East at the end for the battle against the Nameless One was great, but confusing. Their emperor agreed so quickly and without the marriage proposal. It felt unbelievable after how much build up we had telling us that the East is completely closed off to everyone else.
This was a great book, which I read as a buddy read with my friend. It took me a month to finish it when usually I finish books in just a few days. I was surprised it took me so long but I felt like I wasn’t making progress so I think that discouraged me overall to keep pushing, even though I loved the story overall.
Amazing book, would probably read again to see what I missed the first time! 🐉
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, War, Animal death, Death, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Incest, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Child death
hey_al'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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, and Emotional abuse
themelleh'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? It's complicated
4.5
I was so invested to the point where my hand gripping my hair and audible gasps had my partner asking if I was okay (I was not).
Very much looking forward to the next one.
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Infertility, Violence, Death of parent, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abandonment, War, Confinement, Blood, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Alcoholism, and Animal death