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meadowlarks'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Violence and Colonisation
birdofalltrades's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail
katie_thompson'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: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abortion
glittergoblin13'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? Yes
5.0
This is not a story of grand battles or action and I found that extremely refreshing. Maia is not brash, loud, or aggressive. He is soft, thoughtful, uncertain, and lonely, trying desperately not to lose himself entirely in learning to become emperor. I love that about him because it feels extremely fitting for someone who survived abandonment and physical and emotional abuse. Maia isn't angry, even: he wants to be kind because he doesn't want anyone to feel the way he's felt. I am a sucker for that kind of narrative. <3
My only complaint is tiny, in the grand scheme of things: the naming conventions in this novel are annoying. Not annoying enough to take anything off the rating, but enough that I have to mention it. I ended up ignoring the conventions altogether and just pronouncing everything the way I thought they might be. It didn't matter too much, after all.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
achingallover'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: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
sophiesmallhands's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
snowkestrel'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: Suicide
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
One character's ritualistic suicide is shown openly, involves blood but is not violent.thereadinghammock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book is super slow in the first half and only really picks up after chapter 18, but even then, that level of set up isn't for everyone. It's a slog and while Maia and the folks he's close with are good characters, it did still feel like a struggle to make it to the end of this one.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief and Car accident
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs