lily_marigold's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Death, Classism, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Alcohol, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, War, Abandonment, and Physical abuse
theslowreadernumber5's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Murder, Slavery, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Torture, War, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Drug use, and Kidnapping
thenovelcorner's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still.”
This book was exactly what I was expecting - a good, interesting fantasy novel.
I really liked Lila. She was fun and exciting and fresh. Different in the best way possible. The way she and Kell interacted was asghfgeb (that's me fangirling).
Spoiler
AND THOSE KISSES. MY HEART.The world-building was brilliant, the characters were brilliant, the plot was brilliant (although slow - the reason why this book loses a star) and Kell's coat is brilliant.
I want one.
Book 2 has been bumped straight up my tbr to my next read. It was that good.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
daniel_b17's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I would just like to set the record straight that I think VE Schwab is an amazing writer and she has a way with words that could quite literally glue you to the book. However in this particular novel I didn't find it as captivating. When I say that I mean that I think she could have easily extended the book by a couple hundred pages or so to allow for some world building. I think the idea of the book and the magic is a very interesting idea, I just don't think it was used to it's fullest potential. I never really felt connected to the characters nor did I feel any particular excitement when reading. It felt as though the book was fairly dull after about the half way mark. I could start predicting things that were gonna happen, because the plot of the book is one that is very well known in the fantasy genre.
The choice of how magic works in this world/worlds I found interesting and didn't conform to the typical magical tropes. I do think however that, that was the one thing that kept me reading... We are kind of dropped into this world where Kell is an already a very powerful Antari, and we really don't get to see who he was before being so powerful. I would have loved a little more explanation about his training and his work to get where he was, as it is only vaguely touched on in the book. That is why, as I said, I think the book could have easily been 100-200 pages longer just focusing on establishing the worlds and the characters.
This book however was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone looking to just get into the fantasy genre. The book was not challenging in terms of understanding the plot, however at times the vocabulary I found was very advanced. I would not recommend it for anyone under the age of 10.
The choice of how magic works in this world/worlds I found interesting and didn't conform to the typical magical tropes. I do think however that, that was the one thing that kept me reading... We are kind of dropped into this world where Kell is an already a very powerful Antari, and we really don't get to see who he was before being so powerful. I would have loved a little more explanation about his training and his work to get where he was, as it is only vaguely touched on in the book. That is why, as I said, I think the book could have easily been 100-200 pages longer just focusing on establishing the worlds and the characters.
This book however was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone looking to just get into the fantasy genre. The book was not challenging in terms of understanding the plot, however at times the vocabulary I found was very advanced. I would not recommend it for anyone under the age of 10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Cursing
creepypiespice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Sexism
maryjames's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and War
alyssadavis's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"You know so little of war. Battles may be fought from the outside in, but wars are won from the inside out.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Blood, Cursing, Grief, and Injury/injury detail
paper_queen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Initial Response
THAT. WAS. EPIIIIIIIIC.
High Lights
- I somehow managed to get through this one during NaNo, and OH MAN. It was magical.
- Kell is a precious person that must be protected at all costs.
- Lila is a snarky, knife-lover who wants to be a pirate and is pretty much the perfect mix of girl and thief.
- Rhy is the strangest little person, but I love him so very much.
- Holland is...complicated, and I really, really hate him, I do...But I also kind of love him? Like? He's an awesome villainous person??
-
- THE MAGIC. IT'S MAGICAL. I LOVE IT. It was just so well explained, while still being a bit mysterious, and ANTARI ARE SO STINKIN' COOL.
- The other Londons...how to even begin. They're amazing. I love the connections, I love how great the world is built and shown to us, and I really just need the second book.
- I'm so good at reviewing books. XD
Low Lights
- There was some swearing, but it was mild. However, there was some heavy violence, which didn't bother me too much, but it's not as sensitive a subject to me as it might be for others. So, read with caution.
Conclusion
This was so fun. It was such a great book to have to just take a break from writing and read a few chapters. It really inspired me and helped keep my creative juices flowing. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for a magical adventure.
THAT. WAS. EPIIIIIIIIC.
High Lights
- I somehow managed to get through this one during NaNo, and OH MAN. It was magical.
- Kell is a precious person that must be protected at all costs.
- Lila is a snarky, knife-lover who wants to be a pirate and is pretty much the perfect mix of girl and thief.
- Rhy is the strangest little person, but I love him so very much.
- Holland is...complicated, and I really, really hate him, I do...But I also kind of love him? Like? He's an awesome villainous person??
-
Spoiler
Athos and Astrid are chilling and epic and the perrrrfect villains. I'm almost kind of disappointed that they're gone...but I have a feeling that things are going to crazy in the next books. O_O- THE MAGIC. IT'S MAGICAL. I LOVE IT. It was just so well explained, while still being a bit mysterious, and ANTARI ARE SO STINKIN' COOL.
- The other Londons...how to even begin. They're amazing. I love the connections,
Spoiler
I love how things happen in one London, and also happen in the other Londons- I'm so good at reviewing books. XD
Low Lights
- There was some swearing, but it was mild. However, there was some heavy violence, which didn't bother me too much, but it's not as sensitive a subject to me as it might be for others. So, read with caution.
Conclusion
This was so fun. It was such a great book to have to just take a break from writing and read a few chapters. It really inspired me and helped keep my creative juices flowing. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for a magical adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
rana's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Cursing