kyliereads341's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Slavery, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Torture, Slavery, Sexual content, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, and Pedophilia
anoelle896'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: Death, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
sumtime99'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: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual content, Vomit, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and War
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
luanaiscurrentlyreading's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Pedophilia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Death
sophy__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Murder, War, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Incest, Rape, Suicide, and Pregnancy
jjnich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, Violence, and War
Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Murder, and Kidnapping
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? Yes
5.0
This is the perfect resolution to a nearly perfect trilogy. I will never have words to express how deeply I love these characters and their story. This is, as it has been since I first read the series years ago, the most enthralling and tender romance I’ve ever encountered. I compare all other enemies-to-lovers relationships to this one, but sort of all other relationships in general. Because this series, and especially this installment, is the peak of romance.
I really only have two critiques for this series. The first is a bit technical, I suppose. The books don’t feel like they’re a trilogy. Instead, they feel like one book split by three different covers. Perhaps there’s a reason for this, but it does make the ending of the first two books feel a bit sudden and inconclusive. Obviously, this same problem does not occur in the finale. The second problem with the series is the Erasmus problem, but…I won’t get into that. I only wonder if Pacat wishes the character was resolved differently now.
Quality of Writing: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10
Plot Development: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 10/10
Ease of Reading: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Torture, Grief, Blood, Incest, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal death, and Suicide
diana_raquel'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
4.75
It's no secret that I love this series. Each book got better and better, and I loved this final volume. The characters are amazing and the plot is a genuinely well-developed political plot with a mix of adventure. The plot twists happen at the right moment and caught the reader by surprise. I cannot stop gushing about this series and I recommend it to any person whose looking for a fantasy book with LGBTQIA+ characters. The only negative thing that I have to say is that it's a pity that, aside from a book of short stories, there aren't more books in this universe.
Graphic: Death, Blood, War, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Pedophilia, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Pregnancy and Infidelity
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 favorite