mirandyli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Spoiler
Damen and Laurent's relationship is especially yikes. They both lie to each other constantly for their own gain. Because Damen killed Laurent's brother a few years ago, Laurent orders Damen to be whipped 50 times in the first book and is miffed that he didn't die from it. Yet SOMEHOW... they still fall in love after that??? Because Damen is obsessed with pale skin and blonde hair (excuse me while I go vomit).The series basically ends with Laurent killing Damen's brother and saying, "We've killed each other's brothers so we're even now. I no longer hate you and we can rule peacefully. Kiss kiss." Excuse me sirs, go to therapy.
And now that Damen has been a slave, he's now going to advocate for the end of slavery, despite being in support of it before? That's just a whole bag of yikes.
There were also a bunch of predictable moments (like that Laurent knew Damen's identity the whole time, Laurent was raped by his uncle and Jokaste would claim that her baby was Damen's).
Still a fast-paced decent read and I was able to finish the series in a week. I haven't read a fantasy book in a while and this series was a pretty good start to getting back into the fantasy genre.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Suicide, Death, and War
bakatan'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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Murder, War, Incest, Slavery, Genocide, Death of parent, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
lh_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, War, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Incest
This series had me in a chokehold and I loved every bit of it. It definitely ended how I expected but not fully, some pages have my tear stains. I loved the development with Damen and Laurent relationship and watching it grow. I enjoyed the series as a whole but this was definitely my favoritecait'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: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, and War
harmonique'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, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Child abuse, and Death of parent
zeppelinnyx'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: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal death
sabinehunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Pedophilia, War, Incest, Sexual content, and Slavery
louisa_pennyfeather2021'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy and Child death
magicshop'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
4.0
Damen said, 'I made him a promise.'
'And when he learns who you are?' said Jord. 'When he learns that he is facing Damianos on the field?'
'Then he and I meet each other for the first time,' said Damen. 'That was also a promise.'
well, here we are. after rereading this trilogy immediately after finishing it in just a few days for the first time, it's time for a last review. this one might end up a little short, because to be honest i feel like i've said my piece about the series at this point, but i do have a few important points i want to highlight.
the good
- everything that was good about the previous volumes is still present here, so refer to my reviews of book 1 and 2 for more details.
- the push-and-pull of the main relationship somehow stays fresh despite how long it spends in that limbo of not-quite-being. pacat is simply put very, very good at crafting believable tension between characters.
- so much delightful fanservice, again. i can see how for some people this would be in the bad or at least complicated section, but to me, having that many scenes clearly written to fulfill a specific desire in a long-starving queer reader can be nothing but positive. things are getting better for lgbtqia+ people, but there is still a lack — in media, especially. pacat does a wonderful job of helping fill that void.
the bad
- the ending is a bit too neatly wrapped up, in my honest opinion. on one hand, , but there were a couple of deus ex machinas pulled out from the aether in order for that to happen, and it all could've been done much more expertly and with far more preamble and build-up.
Spoiler
i'm happy damen and laurent get to be together and that the kingdoms end up united in peace
the complicated
- many of the most oppressed, most tragic characters, ultimately have a hand in bringing about . i was very glad about this, but it does also bring the question of whether they had to suffer their own respective sad endings at all. sacrifices must be made in every story, and i'm satisfied about the way things did happen, but i just — wonder. how would their world have been
Spoiler
the prosperous, peaceful endingand i'll always wonder. i guess it's time to find some fic, huh!Spoiler
with nicaise still in it?
like i said, this review is a bit shorter than my usual, but i think it's very hard to put my exact thoughts and feelings about this book into words for the time being, still. maybe on another reread i'll come back and edit this. but for now, this is goodbye. thank you, pacat, for treating my heart tenderly through this wonderful journey. :)
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death
nicamooch's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, and Slavery
Minor: Child death, Incest, and Pregnancy