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nuala8'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: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
danay415'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
5.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
lowercaselettersnumbersandunde's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
There's crazy enough subject matter that one would expect more attention given to those issues, like sex slavery and child abuse, but the author's style seems to revolve around hinting at solutions rather than solving the problems more plainly.
The only ever admission of "sex slavery is bad" we get is at the very very very end of the third book from a character somehow less likeable than the protagonist (Damen, a rather alright guy) even after his better stance on slavery. I'm not sure why the revelation that this character (Laurent) hates slavery had to wait until the very end of the story, although the excuses would be that he himself was a victim of child abuse (the only thing left tastefully subtle in this trilogy, only because it's supposed to somehow come as a surprise to the protagonist) and would not speak out over his abuser, a man of arguably higher status. Thus, once that man was dead, Laurent was then free and able to... not admit he hated slavery? Someone else had to realize it before he could even say it out loud. I don't know, kind of weird.
Maybe subtlety is better for some people, who wouldn't mind being faced by a world in which sex slavery involving children as young as 11 is ingrained in society without being offered any kind of "hey that's a bad thing" commentary that's longer than a couple sparse lines of dialogue. I guess the author is presenting us a world in which there are issues but they're just beginning to be solved now. Realistic, in its own way. But it's clear why some people would hate it.
That being said, this third book was the best of the trilogy after the horrible first book and (I can't bother to remember) whichever book contained rape via forced oral sex and the terrible non-chemistry of two characters who end up becoming passionately in love. My favorite parts of the third book were actually the wartime politics and scheming. I thought the climax of the book, the trial, was fantastic. One of the damning witness statements coming from the mother of a former victim of child abuse by the Reagent is one of few satisfying moments you'll get as far the pedophile-Reagent issue.
Wouldn't really recommend this trilogy to anyone. But it was still hard to put down, I have to give that to the author. What was the whole "blonde hair blue eyes fair skin" thing all about? Weird.
Graphic: Rape and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse
sophie42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Grief
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: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy