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jmdressel'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
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and War
savage_book_review's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
First and foremost, this is the best of the audios so far. I think the fact that the book is comprised of a series of novellas makes it that much more listenable as, while there are important plot points throughout, each individual story contains reminders of key moments. You're therefore less likely to miss things, but equally the reminders don't disrupt the flow of the current tale. As previously, I do think this is partially dependent on the speed at which you listen, but at the same time because we're looking at short stories there's also less opportunity for a lull in the action, which keeps you focused and the story moving.
There are also moments in this one that 'hit' better with the audiobook, particularly in the last novella. The narrator has a great grasp of exactly where pauses are required for dramatic effect, where the voice needs to be louder or quieter and so on. That being said, it did feel like she was perhaps starting to run out of different voices by the end of the book - just a few too many characters are sounding similar to other works of hers.
This time around, I was able to pick up on few nice little Easter Eggs within the stories that I didn't see before. For that reason alone, I can understand why this perhaps shouldn't be read first (even though the events occur before Throne of Glass). Likewise, I think for a first time reader, the emotional gut punch of this book would be better felt reading it after 'Crown of Midnight'. However, although it did forge a deeper connection to Sam for me, for my own personal enjoyment of the series I think I'm better off putting it up front. But then I'm not sure I'd have picked up on the Easter Eggs if I had listened to it first! It's a tough one to call!
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Trafficking, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
snackykennedy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
aj9moon's review against another edition
- 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: Death and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
spatterson7'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
barbarianmissy's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
ouch…. I knew exactly what was gonna happen but it STILL. HURT. ME!
I loooooooove that “My name is Celaena Sardothien and I will not be afraid” is from the one person she had left in her life that truly loved and cared for her. I gasped when he said it the first time and needed a moment to cope! Rip Sam, you were one sweet pea.
Arobynn, I hope you get brutally murdered in later books, I said what I said, and what I said is that you’re a stupid skank.
AS FOR THE BOOK AS A WHOLE!
I really enjoyed reading this prequel! It made me understand Celaena a lot more and appreciate her as a character and where she comes from. Dorian and Chaol better step up their game cause Team Sam alllllll the way, baby!
One small thing I did notice though was that, for the world’s greatest assassin, Celaena sure does get betrayed and captured a lot in these novellas. But it made for a fun time!
ONTO THE NEXT!
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
_likethefruit'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder
ronan_lesh'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, and Abandonment
sfdogmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury