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cerina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
These characters are complex with many subtleties, and there is definitely great character development. I love Vin. She embodies women as I know them so well. Wanting to love, but scared to trust; intelligent, but careful; highly empathetic, able to see through how people present down to who they are. I both love and hate that this girl needs to be the more level-headed one that gets things done while the men are brash and fool-hardy. It feels representative of real-life, and I don’t like that that’s how things are. Though, as I write this, I’m realizing it might just be those parts of the book that resonate with me, which is why they stood out. The book might actually be more balanced, more nuanced, than that.
When Kelsior’s big plan came to fruition, it felt so hollow. Like, that’s it? I understand the purpose of it, giving everyone something to believe in. I just didn’t feel anything when it happened. I didn’t cry. I can’t remember if I cried during the first Red Rising book. I know I cried during the third, and that the scene that made me do so is part of why it’s my favorite series. I’m holding out hope that a similar thing will happen as I continue reading this trilogy.
The world building in this book is fantastic. It’s a combination of the depth of the world building, the relationships between the characters, and the twists that I didn’t see coming but that fit seamlessly into the story that makes me love this book.
Graphic: Slavery and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
pammiie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Classism
passionatereader78'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
classicsandcatnaps'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
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
shamaramill'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent
callistag1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Mental illness, and War
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
lindseychastain'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
4.0
I think the thing about this book that I loved so much is that it was really… accessible. It’s not like a lot of high fantasy that is overly indulgent and so much world building that you get lost in it. It’s really an excellent balance of magic/world building and just good street telling.
Lots of standard tropes here, which is definitely cool with me. But gosh, the characters were all so lovable. I love Vin so much.
This is part of trilogy but it works really well as a stand alone as well, if I felt I needed to leave it here. I will continue the series, but I don’t feel compelled to dive right back into it. I kinda like that.
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Abandonment, and War
myrini'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Classism
nyquilla's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and War
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Rape and Vomit