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betweentheshelves'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
3.5
There is some excellent romantic chemistry between the three main characters, and I liked the detective/mystery energy that the rot investigation brought. I do think overall, the book is a little longer than it needs to be because it feels like it drags a bit at the end. There's a pretty good hook for the sequel, so I might actually pick that one up to see where the story goes next!
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Pregnancy
readabookortwo'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
I loved Remy as a main character so much! I wanted to absolutely root for him from page one, I felt so much sympathy and love for him throughout the book. You can tell he truly just wants to do what us right by everyone no matter what they do to him, or how they push him down he still wants to defend and make sure everyone gets out alive. He has such a big, kind heart and I love him so much. I love the fact he can also be super badass and the relationship between him and Zidan and Xiaodan I loved it I really did.
For me, it's really hard to pick a favourite character. At one point all three of them have been my favourite character but I'll go with Xiaodan. I love Xiaodan so, so much, she's so sweet and again so badass. I love the way you can see how much she truly loves Remy and Zidan. She really cares about her people, about the humans and everything she's been through with her mother and oh my god I just love her so so much. Also her ability is so cool I loved her from her first chapter all the way until the end she's special.
Of course, as hinted at, I also really loved Zidan. I had a slower burn when it came to warming up to him but again as with the other two, I fell hard. I love that he's of course so much more reserved but you can tell again how much he truly cares about both Remy and Xiaodan even though he shows it in different ways. Again, he's been through so much and I just want him to he happy by the end.
I think the author has built a really interesting world. I really liked the setting and also loved the politics of the Vampire courts!!! I really loved that only vampires who are old enough or important enough turn to ash I thought that was really cool, I thought the way Zidan's experiments work were really cool and the idea of the rot and how it was explored and how it kinda felt like an analogy for human life.
I really enjoyed the plot. I thought it was fast paced and liked that I was always learning something new. I'd like to dive more into the Vampire politics because I think some people were here just to read about the relationship but I care about all the politics and plot as well so I'm looking forward to seeing how they develop in book two!!! One thing, I really loved in this book was the way Xiaodan and Zidan treated Remy when it came the sex, how they knew he'd been so used for sex by other people so they wanted to make sure it never felt like that to them, God I love the three of them so much
Overall, I just adored thus book so so much!! An easy five for me and just inject everything Rin has ever written into my veins.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual assault
trying_ceratops'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
The lgbtq+ representation was well done, especially as one character discovers part of themself in that community.
The story has political intrigue but there’s a ton of action to balance that out. There are lots of twists and foreshadowing that you don’t see coming until revealed.
The best part was how the author handled situations that are often tropes. I would expect a scene to go one direction because of that but the writing would handle it in a way that shows the characters maturing and opening up to each other.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, War, and Classism
honeycupreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! I love these characters so much especially Remy. Remy is a such a wonderful character I was instantly attached to him. His struggles with his past, feeling as though he owes his father everything, the way he feels that no one loves him without needing something from him in return. My heart hurt for him immensely.
The only reason I’m not giving this book 5 stars is because of Zidan and Remys back and forth. How many times were really necessary to try and put something between them? I get it, in a way, it benefited Zidan and Remys characters to show some of their biggest flaws but at the same time it was kinda frustrating to watch it happen multiple times.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Pregnancy
biobeetle's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Pregnancy
grets_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Torture, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
banannafox's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Vomit, Grief, and Classism
tifftastic87's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Pregnancy
panbread's review
- 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: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Wasn't sure what tag to use for this, but there is a relationship where an adult takes advantage of a teenager sexually. Exchanging sex for intel. This continues for several years, going into adult hood. It's not exactly asault or rape since it's consensual but there's definitely something traumatic about it. There is only brief mentions of the actual acts but the book spends significant amount of time handling the psychological after effects.karambit's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Medical content