bookaholic_in_wonderland's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Grief, Blood, Injury/injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: War and Alcohol
katyfortner'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
4.75
Spoiler
I was not expecting Petrick to be the Warlord’s son… or for her to even have a son haha. I’m glad that he stayed true to his friends though and I’m hoping that stays the same throughout the next book. Also, I feel like both of the sisters relationships came so naturally that it wasn’t rushed or pushed down the readers/ throat. We were made to love the characters separately than together as couples.Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/injury detail
rinku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Spoiler
it’s revealed that random characters are related to each other. At least, this didn’t make Petrik a traitorGraphic: Alcohol and Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Violence, Blood, Death, and Murder
Minor: Confinement
sealbrecht's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Grief
marta_correia'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
3.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Gore, Death, and Death of parent
melaniereadsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ziva is a smithy, working literal magic onto the weapons that she forges for those who can pay across the kingdom. But when she makes an indestructible blade for a warlord and discovers they want to use it for world domination, she has to face her fear of social situations and get help to escape the warlord and keep the blade safe.
I enjoyed the characters that Levenseller built in this book. Ziva was very interesting, and I really loved her sister. I also really liked the premise of this book, the way the magic worked and how few people had it. I loved the interactions with their estranged family and their group of friends.
This book definitely has a found-family dynamic which I loved! I did wish that some of the interactions were described better and that things weren't glossed over so much. I usually don't think this, but I honestly thought this book should have been longer. It cut out a lot of parts that I would have liked to see that would have helped develop the characters more.
I also didn't personally find the description of the panic attacks to be very realistic. Maybe others do, but it seemed to be more focused on depression than anxiety, even though the character clearly has trouble with anxiety. I also would have loved to see more diversity among the characters.
All that said, I will definitely read the sequel when it comes out and I still really enjoy Tricia Levenseller's storytelling!
Pub Date: May 4, 2021
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Grief and Vomit
lylah'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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Religious bigotry