littlebookworm07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Death
psliz's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.5
more political than anything but when there's action.. there's action!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, War, Death, and Gore
emjspeaks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I’ve blazed through this series so far, and I’ve loved the inner monologue of several (what I would consider) main characters. It gives us as. Readers an opportunity to understand how the diverse group of people driving this story see the world around them. This also helps with world building. There’s also just enough of relatable emotions to keep a reader engaged in the psychology of their individual personalities. Truly, one of my favorite series so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Blood
Minor: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
kingspite618's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
TOP 5 books that emotionally scarred me and changed me as a person and ruined my life forever! Loved it, would recommend it to everyone and also I hope no one has to go through the pain of reading this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, War, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gore, Physical abuse, and Violence
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Homophobia, War, and Torture
PTSDclaire_fitzgibbon13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can’t believe i’m done with this series. I need to read Broken Throne.
Spoiler
I’m glad Cal finally came to his senses
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and War
lauravreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book was probably my favorite in the series. I felt that the characters really came into themselves especially Cal and Evangeline. I was a bit disssapointed in Julian. He was so sketchy in this book and I felt that I couldn’t really trust him after he started hanging with Cals grandmother.
All the scheming done by the 4 legions/nations was very entertaining. I enjoyed how the war found its resolution and how John, Mare, and Cal played such pivotal roles in the disenstablishment of their monoarchy.
I feel that the series as a whole was a solid 3 stars. I was interged and entertained but I was never invested and engrossed with the novels. Part of the reason might be because I’m not as into dystopian fiction as I used to be. Sometimes it’s just too close to our current reality and my mental health is not here for it.
All the scheming done by the 4 legions/nations was very entertaining. I enjoyed how the war found its resolution and how John, Mare, and Cal played such pivotal roles in the disenstablishment of their monoarchy.
I feel that the series as a whole was a solid 3 stars. I was interged and entertained but I was never invested and engrossed with the novels. Part of the reason might be because I’m not as into dystopian fiction as I used to be. Sometimes it’s just too close to our current reality and my mental health is not here for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Rating ★☆☆☆☆
“Love can be exploited, I guess, used to manipulate. It's leverage. But I would never call loving someone else a weakness. I think living without love at all, any kind of love, is weakness. And the worst kind of darkness.”
Reading War Storm is reading the previous books but in a different setting. Victoria Aveyard found the formula for this series and never let it go. I don't judge it, but it's repetitive reading the same plot over and over again with some changes.
“Cal is built from his father’s dreams, and Maven from his mother’s nightmares.”
I liked Red Queen, but the series is declining in a spiral of filler and repetition of betrayals and conspiracies. All the characters seem to have their own agenda. They are plotting and conspiring against each other all the time. At this point, I feel like everyone is conspiring to bring down the other person. It's exhausting and annoying to read the same thing all the time.
“I don't like being your chess piece."
"Everyone is someone else's pawn, Mare. whether we know it or not.”
“I walked away from his offer. From him. I was torn apart by another betrayal—Cal’s betrayal, but also mine. I love you is a promise we both made, and we both broke. It should mean I choose you above all else. I want you more. I need you always. I cannot live without you. I will do anything to keep our lives from parting.
But he wouldn’t. And I won’t.”
The book has several points of view, and they all sound similar. I had to check who was narrating the chapter because I was confused by who was who.
“But there's always something left to be broken.”
I haven't been able to connect to any characters. They all lack development. The book tells you rather than shows you. I feel like I'm looking at one of those showhouses. It looks good at first, but when you pay close attention, you realize that everything is fake.
“I will not be a red queen”
I will not continue with Broken Throne because it would be a waste of my money and time.
Red Queen series
Red Queen ★★★ ½
Glass Sword ★★★☆☆
King's Cage ★ ½
War Storm ★☆☆☆☆
“Love can be exploited, I guess, used to manipulate. It's leverage. But I would never call loving someone else a weakness. I think living without love at all, any kind of love, is weakness. And the worst kind of darkness.”
Reading War Storm is reading the previous books but in a different setting. Victoria Aveyard found the formula for this series and never let it go. I don't judge it, but it's repetitive reading the same plot over and over again with some changes.
“Cal is built from his father’s dreams, and Maven from his mother’s nightmares.”
I liked Red Queen, but the series is declining in a spiral of filler and repetition of betrayals and conspiracies. All the characters seem to have their own agenda. They are plotting and conspiring against each other all the time. At this point, I feel like everyone is conspiring to bring down the other person. It's exhausting and annoying to read the same thing all the time.
“I don't like being your chess piece."
"Everyone is someone else's pawn, Mare. whether we know it or not.”
“I walked away from his offer. From him. I was torn apart by another betrayal—Cal’s betrayal, but also mine. I love you is a promise we both made, and we both broke. It should mean I choose you above all else. I want you more. I need you always. I cannot live without you. I will do anything to keep our lives from parting.
But he wouldn’t. And I won’t.”
The book has several points of view, and they all sound similar. I had to check who was narrating the chapter because I was confused by who was who.
“But there's always something left to be broken.”
I haven't been able to connect to any characters. They all lack development. The book tells you rather than shows you. I feel like I'm looking at one of those showhouses. It looks good at first, but when you pay close attention, you realize that everything is fake.
“I will not be a red queen”
I will not continue with Broken Throne because it would be a waste of my money and time.
Red Queen series
Red Queen ★★★ ½
Glass Sword ★★★☆☆
King's Cage ★ ½
War Storm ★☆☆☆☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, War, Blood, Death, Murder, Homophobia, and Grief
letiross's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Lesbophobia
anskutiti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, War, Toxic friendship, and Violence