The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
hapalyn'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, War, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
roget's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
1.0
This series would be so much stronger if space that was given to all the tone-ignorant quipping and pages of unnecessarily aggressive, uncomfortable exchanges were instead given to expanding the lore.Â
The real plot is crammed into info-dumps in dialogueâjust like, lecture after lecture of some being or another backtracking like âWell, ACTUALLYâŚâ and then re-explaining lore and ancient relationships thatâd already been explained and re-explained half a dozen times but apparently incorrectly. The consort? Interesting plot line. I wish weâd have gotten more of that development.Â
The Malik-Poppy backstory reveal was absolutely undercut by the seriesâs penchant for throwing gossip girl-style shocking âtwistsâ at us every five minutes, not to mention the tonally inconsistent  suggestive and situationally abhorrent illicit comments. The series isnât respectful to Kieren, either. Heâs basically treated like Poppyâs arm candy this book, and Poppyâs character is shockingly undynamic given the many, many changes sheâs been through. Sheâs still acting like the angry, impulsive, and brash kid whoâs playing at power without really understanding it.Â
The pacing is weird.Â
As for the contentâŚ
Iâm interested to know more about the primals and their clearly warped family tree. I want Poppy to return to Ileesium. I want to see more of those dynamics unfold. I wish the book would spend more time and nuance developing that and Poppy herself.Â
Kind of just reading to find out what happens and how it wraps up at this point, which is disheartening. Iâm sure some people find this series fun or entertaining, but the issues have sort of spoiled it for me, at least.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, War, and Torture
fireinherveinzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
She kept saying she didnât want to turn into her or become like a god who demolished cities and killed innocents . But acted really selfishly and like a brat at times .
I donât see how much more this story can get dragged out for .
Graphic: Torture, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, War, Racism, Pedophilia, Death, Murder, Blood, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Body horror
josxphinchen'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
4.25
Graphic: Violence, War, Murder, Animal death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, Gore, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence