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anni_swanilda'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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
stormeno'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? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
thatbreebaum'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
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Vomit
enc3336's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I knew it wouldn’t be the same as her other books but I thought there would be more action like her other series. This is definitely setting up the characters and is world building. The last section of the book is where it begins to pick up. The ending of the book does leave you on a cliffhanger and the last half of the book has made me excited to see where the story goes.
Go in with an open mind and just be ready for a slower paced series.
Moderate: Fatphobia, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Death, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
tdawgg07's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
calathean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, and Death of parent
celery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
bethsreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The main issue I had with this book is that sadly, the first half of it is far too bogged down by world building. I do love how Cassandra Clare can create such vivid and fantasy worlds, and it is really important in a politically focused story to have its history be fully fleshed out, but the level of detail felt unnecessary at times and too dense for the first half of the book. I personally think that the first half of the book needed to be edited down about 80 ish pages as it was quite slow going at first. However, once I hit the 300 page mark, the pace really picked up and I absolutely flew through the rest of book.
While I did find Lin’s character annoying at times, overall the character’s were interesting, nuanced, and likeable. I really enjoyed my time reading it and I look forward to seeing how the story progresses in future books.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Vomit, and War
susanatherly'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
annakh16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
The characters were also a big plus for this book for me. I loved spending time with Lin and Kel - they’re lovable and interesting to equal measures - and the web of side characters and their many intricacies and connections kept the story going. I definitely hope to see more of their backstories in the next book. (Also Merren fan club, anyone?)
I agree with the people saying the book can feel a bit like merely a prologue to the next instalment. I didn’t mind that too much - exploring the world and relationships in it was enough for me for now, and I think there’s still enough plot to keep it interesting. It all depends on what Clare does with all the plots she teased in the next book.
Some more spoiler critiques:
I also think Vienne‘s death came too abruptly (fighting like „Demoselle Death“ in one second and being killed like a fly in the next?) and was a bit of a missed opportunity. Would’ve loved to see more of her.
Overall really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next book.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Xenophobia, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Rape and Death of parent