annorabrady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, War, Racism, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Classism, Violence, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Child death
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Slavery
robinks'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
Also, the complexities of revolution against oppression were present in the characters’ struggles and conversations, which inspired me to consider these same complexities in reality. I want to know more about this world, and I want to know what happens next!
Graphic: Blood, Genocide, Kidnapping, Racism, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Grief, Slavery, and Stalking
Minor: Trafficking, Vomit, and Sexual content
macmannwood's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
i think that daughters should get to kill their abusive fathers more oftenGraphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Self harm, Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Genocide, Gore, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Trafficking, and Suicidal thoughts
grets_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Violence, Death, and Child death
Minor: Slavery, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
gattolinos_nerdy_nook'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
4.5
The plot and characters are really well done that they end up blending together to support the progression of both plot and character growth. This also means that is there a bit going on but it doesn't feel overwhelming or chaotic, but instead very balanced.
By the end of this book I am glad that I already have the sequel. The main story thread for this book is neatly tied and leads directly into what looks to be the main issue for the next book.
If you have been wary of this book because of the hype, I recommend you give it a go. YA fantasy lovers are going to enjoy this magical world and all the lore it gives us. It has an amazing balance of character and plot driven moments that it feels like there is something for everyone.
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Trafficking, Child abuse, Genocide, and Torture
Minor: Sexual harassment and War
sarah984's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Then I hit the halfway point and the plot ground to a halt to do this extremely generic reylo-style romance (complete with force bond and nonsensical insta love) and then just one stupid thing after another happened and all of the goodwill the first half had generated burned off immediately. There is an extremely graphic torture scene involving one of the female characters that is told through the lens of how the most boring male character in existence feels about it.
I also don't like books where the oppressed people are shown to be extremely dangerous, especially when the author is clearly linking their plight to real-world oppression, and this got worse in the second half.
I liked the plot twist at the end (though it was really unclear why that happened) but not enough to save the reading experience for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Self harm
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Trafficking, and Sexual content