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alyssa_simard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
hisashiburi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Pregnancy
errie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
josiah17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is overall just fantastic nautical fantasy with exceptional character writing, as well as complex and entertaining family dynamics. I enjoyed almost every POV for one reason or another. Hobb writes characters that you can root for here, and some that you vehemently despise. I cannot stand Kyle and Torg. Malta really annoyed me even though I understand she's still a kid, I just hope she learns and develops as a character. And I was always rooting for Brashen, Althea, and I really came to sympathize and feel attached to Wintrow. He deserves better, but unfortunately his father is beyond awful.
The additional worldbuilding for the Realm of the Elderlings with the liveships was also very interesting and unique. The idea of a sentient ship bonded through familial blood is amazing, especially because two ships have their own POV's and we get some insight into their perspectives. I'm very curious to learn more about the Rain Wild Traders as well. The relationships they have with the Bingtown traders is interesting, and I hope the sequels explore some of the actual Rain Wild territory. And I have a suspicion about the serpents, but I still don't really know what's going on with them. They're cool though.
Even though the plot was pretty non-existent for most of the book—per usual with Hobb so far—this was surprisingly just addicting to read. The blurb on the cover says "as addictive as morphine," and that's a pretty apt metaphor for my experience. Nautical fantasy just works so well for the visual movie I have running in my brain when reading, and it seems to scratch an itch. Paired with fantastic writing and captivating character dynamics, this is an amazing read. I could see myself bumping it to 5 stars depending on how the trilogy pans out.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence
combativeroboreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Classism
missgarceau's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
atalea'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: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Excrement, and Vomit
Multiple graphic limb amputationsliteraturesciencealliance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler filled reaction Vlog: https://youtu.be/nxMMYkK-g5I
The first 150 pages of this was painful for me to read but by the end I read 230 pages in a day and was completely invested in the story. Hobb always pulls from relatable injustices and that's what makes her works even more heart wrenching to me than others. In this one themes of patriarchy, greed and corruption are very prevalent and even in this far off world on the sea the problems these characters face feel like something that could happen to you or someone you love. I am very excited to pick up the next book in the series and see how this story pans out.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder
achingallover'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: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, and Medical trauma