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kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, and Grief
booksthatburn's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Suicide, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, and Cannibalism
jrlittlejohn97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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
4.5
This is by no means a perfect book, but I LOVED it. I think the blurbs oversell how central the romance is, and the "heist" aspects are more a) Tomb Raider style puzzle based murderous escape rooms and b) desperate last second rescue. The comparisons to Six of Crows are apt in that it's an ensemble character-driven medium fantasy, but it handles the diversity much better and really isn't a heist book. Rather, it's a set up for a revolution which I WAY prefer. I would compare it to Crier's War, with a bit of that Voltron-type magic super robot with a mystical bond to a person flavor. So if you want a heist book, you won't find it here. It's a revolution set-up, and it's delicious.
As a physically disabled person, I really liked how this book handed disability, and the authors did a really good job at making the world building itself feel diverse. I loved the characters, really really liked the story and the prose, and the end was an absolute banger. I enjoyed the audiobook, though it was a bit robot in the first few chapters.
As a physically disabled person, I really liked how this book handed disability, and the authors did a really good job at making the world building itself feel diverse. I loved the characters, really really liked the story and the prose, and the end was an absolute banger. I enjoyed the audiobook, though it was a bit robot in the first few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Torture, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death
literarypenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Master of One follows Rags, a street thief arrested for his latest crime by the Queen’s law enforcers. Morien hires him, the Queen’s most trusted sorcerer, to infiltrate an ancient Fae ruin to reclaim the treasure held within. What he finds there is something no one especially himself didn’t expect that will lead him on a journey that will change his life forever. After a couple of friends recommended reading this book and enjoying it quite a bit I gave in and wanted to try it for myself. After I got done with the book I felt myself needing a sequel and wanting to know where the book was heading next. I had some pretty high expectations of this book going in and can say I wasn’t disappointed. I do still need a sequel to this book and hope that they do write a sequel soon! I loved how unique this story was and certain elements were very interesting to read about. You have an interesting plot, great characters, and relationships that are meaningful and make you feel good inside.
The writing was slow at points but it did start to pick up after the first 100 pages. It gave us several characters' points of view and was told from their perspective throughout the story. Because of the multiple points of view, it let us know what was happening at different points of the story which was to the story's benefit. The pace was slow to start but it picked up the further I got into the book and the story. It did work for the story because it set up the plot and the characters for what was going to happen. The different points of view were what I liked the most about this book because they gave us a look into what the characters were thinking and what they were doing at different points in the story.
Master of One is about Rags and his newfound rag-tag group of friends as they uncover secrets involving a lost race of people and an ancient powerful weapon that is the key to peace between two races of people. I thought the story was very good and kept me interested the whole way through! I loved how certain things happened in the story that you didn’t expect and it made you feel a certain way during it. At one point I thought that the story was going in one direction but then it would go in another direction. I think that was a part of what made the story work so well and gave it strength. You were expecting a certain thing to happen but then another thing happens that you weren’t ready for. Things happened organically and naturally though and didn’t feel forced or go against the plot.
The characters were definitely the highlight of the story and the majority of my enjoyment of this novel! Rags, the foul-mouthed, guarded, and loner street thief was by far my favorite character! The way he would disguise his emotions with humor and how he would put himself in harm's way just to make sure other people wouldn’t get hurt. At first, you think he is just some foul-mouthed hardened street urchin but you soon begin to see that he is just a soft-hearted and secretly caring person. You also learn that he has a dark and sad secret from his past that has shaped him and who he became. Shining Talon was another favorite character, A Fae warrior who was put to sleep by his people and is awoken by Rags. He is curious, honorable, and fiercely devoted to his people and the people he cares for. Rags and Talon were so cute and wonderful together! Their romance was a slow-burning but wonderful and organic romance that felt natural and worked very well in the story and the plot. The side characters were also interesting as well! You have a male character with what could be described as chronic pain, who uses a cane and a crutch, a couple of characters with PTSD, and a trans character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book because she was amazing!
The book takes place in a kingdom ruled by a queen that has ruled for many decades. She has expanded her kingdom and trusted a group of sorcerers to do her bidding. She and her sorcerers use magic known as Mirrorcraft, magic that uses glass and mirrors to control or subdue a person. I loved the world that this book took place in and the lore was very fascinating to me. Learned about Mirrorcraft and what the magic could do and the lengths that sorcerers would go to use this magic. How different parts of the kingdom were more well off than the others and how the kingdom had its dark secrets hidden beneath the surface that you learn about in the book.
This book portrays PTSD super well! The way it is explored with several characters and the different tragedies that have befallen them. How the characters have to face their trauma and overcome it throughout the story was very well done. It also explored has someone with chronic pain feels, and how he doesn’t let his disability hinder him or stop him from what he wants to achieve. He has his struggles but they don’t define him as a person or a character. These themes are portrayed very well and done in a great way that didn’t hinder the plot or affect it in a negative way.
I hope that you can give this book a try and take some positive things away from this review. I think you should read this book if you want some really great characters and a plot that will leave you wanting more. I can not wait until the sequel comes or if any word of a sequel comes out! I hope that some questions will be answered and we get to see some new adventures from this crew of misfits!
The writing was slow at points but it did start to pick up after the first 100 pages. It gave us several characters' points of view and was told from their perspective throughout the story. Because of the multiple points of view, it let us know what was happening at different points of the story which was to the story's benefit. The pace was slow to start but it picked up the further I got into the book and the story. It did work for the story because it set up the plot and the characters for what was going to happen. The different points of view were what I liked the most about this book because they gave us a look into what the characters were thinking and what they were doing at different points in the story.
Master of One is about Rags and his newfound rag-tag group of friends as they uncover secrets involving a lost race of people and an ancient powerful weapon that is the key to peace between two races of people. I thought the story was very good and kept me interested the whole way through! I loved how certain things happened in the story that you didn’t expect and it made you feel a certain way during it. At one point I thought that the story was going in one direction but then it would go in another direction. I think that was a part of what made the story work so well and gave it strength. You were expecting a certain thing to happen but then another thing happens that you weren’t ready for. Things happened organically and naturally though and didn’t feel forced or go against the plot.
The characters were definitely the highlight of the story and the majority of my enjoyment of this novel! Rags, the foul-mouthed, guarded, and loner street thief was by far my favorite character! The way he would disguise his emotions with humor and how he would put himself in harm's way just to make sure other people wouldn’t get hurt. At first, you think he is just some foul-mouthed hardened street urchin but you soon begin to see that he is just a soft-hearted and secretly caring person. You also learn that he has a dark and sad secret from his past that has shaped him and who he became. Shining Talon was another favorite character, A Fae warrior who was put to sleep by his people and is awoken by Rags. He is curious, honorable, and fiercely devoted to his people and the people he cares for. Rags and Talon were so cute and wonderful together! Their romance was a slow-burning but wonderful and organic romance that felt natural and worked very well in the story and the plot. The side characters were also interesting as well! You have a male character with what could be described as chronic pain, who uses a cane and a crutch, a couple of characters with PTSD, and a trans character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book because she was amazing!
The book takes place in a kingdom ruled by a queen that has ruled for many decades. She has expanded her kingdom and trusted a group of sorcerers to do her bidding. She and her sorcerers use magic known as Mirrorcraft, magic that uses glass and mirrors to control or subdue a person. I loved the world that this book took place in and the lore was very fascinating to me. Learned about Mirrorcraft and what the magic could do and the lengths that sorcerers would go to use this magic. How different parts of the kingdom were more well off than the others and how the kingdom had its dark secrets hidden beneath the surface that you learn about in the book.
This book portrays PTSD super well! The way it is explored with several characters and the different tragedies that have befallen them. How the characters have to face their trauma and overcome it throughout the story was very well done. It also explored has someone with chronic pain feels, and how he doesn’t let his disability hinder him or stop him from what he wants to achieve. He has his struggles but they don’t define him as a person or a character. These themes are portrayed very well and done in a great way that didn’t hinder the plot or affect it in a negative way.
I hope that you can give this book a try and take some positive things away from this review. I think you should read this book if you want some really great characters and a plot that will leave you wanting more. I can not wait until the sequel comes or if any word of a sequel comes out! I hope that some questions will be answered and we get to see some new adventures from this crew of misfits!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing
csevet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is sometimes incredibly violent and at other times very silly. On the whole, it’s a lot of fun
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Torture
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
I picked this up because of Rainbowcrate Book Box and I enjoyed it quite a bit (Rainbowcrate included a silverware set for this book and a silverware set in the book is an actual character!). I love the chosen ones trope, and it was fun seeing everything start off with a theif forced to break into an ancient ruin. There's some unaddressed ableism in here related to one of the main characters, which I was hoping to see more discussion about but that didn't come up. I don't think I enjoyed the audiobook as much as I would have enjoyed reading this one for myself.
📘The Gist 📘: A thief under duress by a wizard breaks into an ancient ruin and wakes a sleeping fae who starts them on a quest to find 6 chosen ones linked to a powerful weapon.
📒Representation📒: BIPOC mc, disabled mc, mlm mc, mtf sc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: adventure, chosen one trope, fun dialogue, entertaining situations between layers of tension, quirky metal animal companions
📘The Gist 📘: A thief under duress by a wizard breaks into an ancient ruin and wakes a sleeping fae who starts them on a quest to find 6 chosen ones linked to a powerful weapon.
📒Representation📒: BIPOC mc, disabled mc, mlm mc, mtf sc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: adventure, chosen one trope, fun dialogue, entertaining situations between layers of tension, quirky metal animal companions
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Sibling deathemily_mh's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
There are lots of things I liked about this one. The plot got going right away - by the literal 60th page I was deep in an Indian Jones type mission along with the main character, Rags. I liked the writing style and loved the concept of the Great Parable and the direction this gave the story. The magic - mirrorcraft - was unique and fascinating and was deeply intwined in the plot. Finally, for the most part, the main romance was written well.
There were, however, some kind of important things I didn't like. The middle section of this book was BLOATED. The pacing was incredibly slow, which was a huge disappointment after the firecracker start. This book really didn't need 500+ pages to tell its story. I would have liked the characters to feel a little more rounded, especially given the time we spend with them. The side romances felt a little contrived. Finally, and perhaps most jarringly, this was written as a standalone but does not feel like one. Everything felt so unfinished by the end that I felt like I had another two books to go. I understand that the authors have more ideas for more books in this world, but I think this should have been the first in a planned series from the get go.
Overall though the book was fine and I look forward to what the two authors bring out in the future.
There were, however, some kind of important things I didn't like. The middle section of this book was BLOATED. The pacing was incredibly slow, which was a huge disappointment after the firecracker start. This book really didn't need 500+ pages to tell its story. I would have liked the characters to feel a little more rounded, especially given the time we spend with them. The side romances felt a little contrived. Finally, and perhaps most jarringly, this was written as a standalone but does not feel like one. Everything felt so unfinished by the end that I felt like I had another two books to go. I understand that the authors have more ideas for more books in this world, but I think this should have been the first in a planned series from the get go.
Overall though the book was fine and I look forward to what the two authors bring out in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infertility, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
dhawley's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
madamepincers's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
spiritedfaraway's review against another edition
adventurous
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? N/A
4.0
This book is what you get when you mix dark humor, a quest, advanced machinery, magic and a queer slowburn warrior prince/pragmatic thief romance together and I absolutely adored it! It also doesn't hurt that there is lots of diversity in the cast of main characters.
"They only problem was that Rag's couldn't think of any story or rhyme where a human shook hands with a fae and came out on top."
I will say that Rags' point of view was my favorite. Rags is my grumpy son and he needs to be protected at all costs, okay? I have such a soft spot for grumpy and sarcastic characters and the people that love them. Which brings me to my brand new OTP: Shining Talon and Rags! All the scenes with them were *chef's kiss* and I would scream in joy if we got Shining Talon's point of view in the next book!
The only thing about this book that wasn't my favorite was how I probably would have enjoyed this more if it was just from a couple point of views, instead of five. Which isn't to say I hated the other point of views, I just wasn't as engaged in them as I was with Rags'. But that's totally a me thing.
Overall, I found this to be an amazingly fun beginning and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. Because I seriously need more Rags and Shining Talon and the fact that there isn’t any fanfic for them is a shame lol
"They only problem was that Rag's couldn't think of any story or rhyme where a human shook hands with a fae and came out on top."
I will say that Rags' point of view was my favorite. Rags is my grumpy son and he needs to be protected at all costs, okay? I have such a soft spot for grumpy and sarcastic characters and the people that love them. Which brings me to my brand new OTP: Shining Talon and Rags! All the scenes with them were *chef's kiss* and I would scream in joy if we got Shining Talon's point of view in the next book!
The only thing about this book that wasn't my favorite was how I probably would have enjoyed this more if it was just from a couple point of views, instead of five. Which isn't to say I hated the other point of views, I just wasn't as engaged in them as I was with Rags'. But that's totally a me thing.
Overall, I found this to be an amazingly fun beginning and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. Because I seriously need more Rags and Shining Talon and the fact that there isn’t any fanfic for them is a shame lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Infertility