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carla20'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: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide
risaleel'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, War, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Medical trauma
jaaay_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Religious bigotry
jokehelldo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment
booksthatburn's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
samsearle's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Xenophobia
mari_the_cryptic's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Deportation
takarakei'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
5.0
This is quite possibly the best series end book I've read. Fonda is a true master of political intrigue and character development. I was sobbing. I am in awe. It's worth every one of the 700 pages.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty, Genocide, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
mikarala'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
4.5
What I can say is this series has been the first fantasy series I've fallen in love with since I was in middle school. I think the world-building is truly second to none, and the concept and delivery of these books feels refreshingly different to me. The phrase "brought to life" is somewhat overused as a descriptor for writing, in my opinion, but I truly felt it with this series. I found the world and characters incredibly believable. The way Lee writes her characters, the strengths and weaknesses each possess feel like two sides of the same coin in a way that feels very natural, and I believe contributes to their overall credibility and realism. The fact that, despite the evolution and growth of every character throughout the roughly 25-30 year span during which this series is set, these characters retain their believability, is a testament to Lee's ability to create lifelike characters.
I will say the extended time period for the trilogy was something that frustrated me at times. There is an incredible amount of political and corporate intrigue within this series, but so much of it is more...hinted at, rather than fully-explored. I think this trilogy easily could have been a longer series if Lee chose to delve into those aspects more fully. I respect that she didn't want to slow the pacing and action too much, but so many impactful plot details being sidenotes throughout the series made it somewhat difficult to keep track of things at times, in my opinion. Or maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention.
Anyways, despite the occasional frustration, it's a choice that paid off in the end, in my opinion. This extended time period contributes to the epic scale of the story, and allows Lee to give her characters truly fitting and satisfying endings that I don't think would have been so impactful if Lee hadn't shown how the characters and grown and evolved throughout 30 years of their lives.
Also, I just want to say again how much I love the characters. Hilo honestly might be my favourite fictional character ever. I love how dramatic, vindictive, and ruthless he can be, while simultaneously having a huge heart and always putting his family before himself. His growth from a bloodthirsty loose cannon in the first novel to a ruthlessly pragmatic and respectable patriach was such an amazing character journey. I also loved seeing Anden go from insecure teenager to a highly competent and reliable adult. Wen's and Shae's female perspectives within such a male-dominated society added a huge amount of depth to the story, and I enjoyed how Lee portrayed both as having their own strengths and capabilities that contributed to the war effort, while also allowing them to maintain their femininity. And even though his character arc was mostly limited to this final installment, I found Niko's journey to be very eventful and was very fascinated by his portrayal.
I'm so glad I was able to spend time with these characters, and I truly loved this series. Amazing work by Fonda Lee.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
bookish_afrolatina's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, and Death of parent