The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
britwalsh16'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
Watching Aelin become who she was always meant to be & fight for her loved ones & what is right, is inspiring! The growth she has had since book 1 is in incredible!Â
And the bromance between Chaol & Dorian is like my favorite bromance ever! Coming in second only to my bat boys.Â
All the characters have incredible growth in this book! & I could go on about how much I love them all, but then this will get really long, so I won’t.Â
But my favorite character is Rowan! & having him not being in the first third of the book gave me serious withdrawal! My heart just leaped out of my chest when he finally showed up! I was so ecstatic! I can’t wait to read more of him, & more of his relationship with Aelin! My heart! 💜Â
Graphic: Confinement, War, Classism, Death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Grief, Physical abuse, Slavery, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Genocide, Cursing, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, and Excrement
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
wishlissa'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
4.75
Graphic: Grief and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation and Confinement
Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Vomit, Slavery, Torture, Murder, and Pregnancy
dalek_caan'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
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Gore, War, Death, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Colonisation, Child abuse, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Ableism
justabruja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Slavery, Violence, and War
gretchenplz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Aelin continues to be the bane of my existence, and just an overall disappointing FMC. SJM lays out characters who have the potential to be deep and complex, but then either surrounds them with yes-men or chooses to portray them solely as evil. Aelin got the first treatment, despite her being highly hypocritical, arrogant, and vapid, and I'm somehow supposed to buy in on her being a good queen one day. I don't think so. It's so much "Rules for thee but not for me" with her, and I find it to leave such a bad taste in my mouth. She hasn't shown any character growth at all, in my opinion. Her only growth is that of her powers.Â
I'm so beyond disappointed with how SJM has treated Chaol's character, but I shouldn't be surprised. SJM seems to be unable to write characters with any sort of complexity or depth, or approach the good vs. bad debate with any nuance (this is why you will catch me defending Tamlin at all times). She chooses to frame the characters that she decides she's tired of writing as simply "bad" with no hope of redemption or personal growth (the only time she has succeeded at this is with Nesta, and that "growth" was only achieved by sacrificing her powers!!!! I'm sorry, wrong book, I'll stop). Her characters are too black or white, and it is exhausting.Â
Lysandra literally made me cry, Manon is bae forever, and Elide is growing on me so much. I adore Aedion, and I can't wait to see what happens with Lorcan. I know I'm supposed to like Rowan, but I just find him lacking substances beyond "I worship Aelin and would do anything for her" at the moment
Also, the "sexual tension" is just cringeworthy at this point. The way the characters are crafted... it just doesn't have the same... effect... that it did in ACOTAR. Please, Sarah. Just let them bang it out in the first ten pages of the next book.Â
In the last 100 pages, you could have told me that this was the last book in the series, and I would have believed you. Everything could have been wrapped up and tied with a neat little bow, and my brain cannot comprehend how there are still nearly 3k more words left in this series.Â
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
laura_nel13'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
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Slavery, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Genocide, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Torture, War, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, and Excrement
ana_maria5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Murder, Torture, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Slavery
rileypruyn'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: Blood, Sexual violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Genocide and Suicidal thoughts
phoricho'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? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Blood, Violence, and Gore
miraileah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think SJM loves writing stories about overcoming trauma, and I think she does a really good job of it! She thrives writing angst, and I was definitely on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next during much of this book. I’m most curious to see where Elide’s story takes her, as well as Nesryn. Both of them have been through a lot, but I think they’ll really shine in the coming books. I also love Manon and Lysandra, through the whole cast of characters has had moments where they’ve shined. Looking forward to the tandem read of EOS and TOD!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Vomit, Miscarriage, and Slavery