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mpbookreviews'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
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
stardisciple_08's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Plot: I thought the story premise was very unique, which made it quite enjoyable. There were some slow paced moments, though those moments were spent further developing the plot. I personally enjoy a lot of angst, so the healthy relationship development—while cute—didn’t suit my fancy. HOWEVER, the book still DELIVERS the angst, it just takes a little waiting.
Characters: I found the characters to be very realistic. Their actions—frustrating at times—made sense almost the entire time. I also loved how the characters relationships developed over a practical period of time. Nothing was instantaneous (meaning no “love at first sight despite everything he/she/they did” nonsense) and it accurately depicted the complexity of a relationship in those circumstances.
Writing: I love Love LOVED the writing🤭This story had me thoroughly immersed, I dare say to a fault! The vocabulary was nice as well, I was able to learn a few words and apply them.
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
cdoubet'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
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
jelkebooks'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
3.0
REREAD 2024
Honestly, I don't know what got into me in 2018 to give this book a 5 star rating. I mean, not that this is a bad book, it really isn't, I just don't think it's anywhere near 5 star material. In fact rereading my review from back then I do agree with it, which makes me even more baffled that it was a five star back then. But yeah, we're here now, with a three star, but a high three star.
My main issue with this book was Harper, I really did not like her for most of this book. She's just a type of female main character in YA that I can't stand: stupid, defiant for defiance sake instead of actual understandable reasons, and no sense of self preservation despite the author set on convincing us that she's the most badass person to have ever badassed. That's a very common female main character in YA, especially back in the day but I absolutely can't stand it. To be completely honest, Harper isn't the worst example of this type of character I've read. Her defiance at the start does make a bit of sense if it wasn't for good reasons, because of the kidnapping to another world and not being able to go home. I also think that by the end of this book she does show quite a bit of growth, and I'm excited to see her develop even more in the rest of the series.
I did really like Rhen, look he's also a very typical male main character in YA, but he does fit in an archetype I actually really love. Come on, the spoiled prince who no one thinks is going to be a good leader, but is actually realy concerned for his people and would make for a more better king than his brutal father (okay, we don't know much about his dad, but I'm just talking about the archetype, not Rhen in particular). I EAT IT UP EVERY SINGLE TIME. I definitely preffered the chapters in his POV over Harper's, but he is a bit one dimensional. I just didn't LOVE him. Who I did love was Grey. He is an incredibly interesting character, and I wish we would have gotten his POV throughout this book as well.
I did quite like the plot of this book. I thought it was entertaining, but it was a bit slow at times. It does get very tense and action packed towards the end, and it had me on the edge of my seat. It's just in the middle that it can drag a little bit. I did really like the world as well, and I am incredibly intrigued to keep reading. So hopefully I'll get to the sequel very soon!
Graphic: Ableism and Torture
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
onefineelephant's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Child death
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment
qrschulte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Things I loved:
- a protagonist with a disability who is affected by their disability but not defined by it. So refreshing that she was a fully realized person
- the Rhen narrator. Honestly, the book might have been better with just him narrating the whole thing.
- believable reasoning for why someone from our world could ride a fucking horse
Things I did not love:
- How whiny the Harper narrator made her sound sometimes. It made it a lot less believable it was the same character between the narrators.
- The monster narration (so fucking creepy/scary). Could have done without that.
- The parts where it was said Harper was “not like other girls” *cue vomiting*
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, and Infidelity
katievallin's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Abandonment
asahome's review against another edition
4.0
Representation: Disability (Cerebral palsy), MLM couple (side characters)
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
mo_books_read'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
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail