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thesydyssey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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
2.5
The prose was tricky to get through in parts, it seemed like it just hadn’t been edited/proof-read which was off putting, I enjoyed characters and plot enough to keep reading however and overall found it an okay book. There are several sexually explicit scenes and also a torture scene in chapter forty so trigger warning for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Torture
Moderate: Sexual violence
chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
plasticrocket's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
I genuinely enjoyed this, though it did take about 85 pages for me to feel truly invested. I'm very excited to read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape and Slavery
oksanana31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Like many others, I had seen all the content warnings about this book from booktok and was nervous about dedicating time to this large novel. And while I think some of the criticisms are well worth it, a lot just plain aren't.
The bad: the editors at Bloom Books deserve ALL the hate. There are so many typos, repeated phrases/sentences, contradicting sentences and inconsistencies that should have EASILY been picked up by a skilled editor, especially as i have the Barnes &Noble exclusive edition. Writers can only be blamed for so much. This was a failed team effort. Story wise: I thought it took a while to really get moving, I didn't love the characters as children which made it harder to like them as adult, but indid eventually root for them. I wish we would've spent more time with them right after their separation rather than prior, would've made me root more for their development. Instead I found myself finding it hard to believe a love like theirs persisted for as long as it did or that they found so much success in their new positions.
The good: the descriptions in this book were absolutely beautiful. CJ does an incredible job of painting a picture of every landscape, every feeling, that I felt transported. There were very few phrasing that I felt were cliche or common and many many more were poetic and beautiful. I loved the interactions between Amaris and Ash as friends, especially the inn scene. They felt very natural and organic. The last 25% of this novel really gripped me, the pace quickened, the stakes raised and the reveals were well timed.
Overall, I feel like this is a good book and I'll probably read the sequel BUT if typos and editing mistakes bother you, maybe not the book for you.
The bad: the editors at Bloom Books deserve ALL the hate. There are so many typos, repeated phrases/sentences, contradicting sentences and inconsistencies that should have EASILY been picked up by a skilled editor, especially as i have the Barnes &Noble exclusive edition. Writers can only be blamed for so much. This was a failed team effort. Story wise: I thought it took a while to really get moving, I didn't love the characters as children which made it harder to like them as adult, but indid eventually root for them. I wish we would've spent more time with them right after their separation rather than prior, would've made me root more for their development. Instead I found myself finding it hard to believe a love like theirs persisted for as long as it did or that they found so much success in their new positions.
The good: the descriptions in this book were absolutely beautiful. CJ does an incredible job of painting a picture of every landscape, every feeling, that I felt transported. There were very few phrasing that I felt were cliche or common and many many more were poetic and beautiful. I loved the interactions between Amaris and Ash as friends, especially the inn scene. They felt very natural and organic. The last 25% of this novel really gripped me, the pace quickened, the stakes raised and the reveals were well timed.
Overall, I feel like this is a good book and I'll probably read the sequel BUT if typos and editing mistakes bother you, maybe not the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Rape
indigo_fox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I didn't enjoy this book like I thought I would. The characters were alright, but I feel like there were some problems there that just made it difficult to actually like them. I didn't find myself rooting for anyone, I just wanted it to be over. Honestly I should have just DNF'd the book. I had to push through a lot of the writing, it just wasn't something I could easily get pulled into. I'm curious what will happen next but not curious enough to pick up the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
crown14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don't know how to say this nicely but it kinda grows on you like a rash. I (along with like a billion other people because the author was getting torn to shreds for a while and it was definitely deserved lmao) have my criticisms and they are not small but in the end, I liked it enough to pick up the second one today. I think it's a work of passion above all else and it shows, just like the fact that she wrote it 6 days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
morgie27's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was a fun read. I felt it was fast paced in the sense that I was captivated the entire time. If it wasn't the story line keeping me going, the character development did. There were lots of parts that made me laugh out loud. Plot twist was thrown in that I did not see coming. Will definitely be reading book 2!! I also tried my hand at annotating for the first time with this book and it was a good choice. I highlighted parts that were about beauty and wonderment, funny moments, character development, places, monsters, trauma, growth and development and self reflection, significant events or foreshadowing and steamy moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Murder
amadpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore and Torture
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
cjblackwell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.5
I really like the plot and the characters. Pace was a bit slower than I'm used to, but I don't often read fantasy and opt for contemporary romance, so the pacing comes with the genre. Will continue onto the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
kaylurzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The amount of times I almost DNF-ed this. I should have and saved myself some time lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and War