grets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Murder, War, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Torture, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
iforgotilivedhere's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I had fun with this. It’s not necessarily the most original fantasy book I’ve read but I still rather enjoyed it. I liked the characters for the most part. I see what Piper CJ is doing with this. SJM did the same with Throne of Glass which is start out slow and unoriginal and then EXPAND. I didn’t see the plot twist with Moirai coming and I didn’t see some of the other twists that Amaris had. I really want to see where this romance is gonna go because there’s so much potential!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Slavery, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
em_psolka's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Murder
charlottx's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.25
For the most part I enjoyed this book. Some parts were drawn out a little in my opinion while other vital elements were very hasty/rushed. I wish there had been more overall structure and cohesion. However, all in all I liked the story and I have already bought the next book! Here’s to hoping I enjoy the next one even more :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Self harm, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Grief
joisaddler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Grief, and Mental illness
mini_minch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
gwen_c6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual content
sprossa's review against another edition
3.0
Oh where to begin? While the concept as a baseline for this story is really not bad, in fact I think it’s a pretty good concept, it’s execution definitely leaves you wanting. Obviously the editing issues are there, but past that there are some serious issues I take with the actual content.
For one, how has the author created a matriarchal society where in the book she refers to men as the “lesser sex” and yet misogyny and sexism is central to the story? Amaris and Nox’s development and storyline as it stands could not have progressed in any way without rampant misogyny and blatant sexism. If you are going to create a universe that is matriarchal, then having misogyny and sexism present really doesn’t make any sense.
Second, the depiction of Nox. I understand the authors desire to create a diverse story and claim a POC main character. But for Nox to be the only fleshed out POC in the entire novel, and for her be consistently and horrifically abused and tokenized was a terrible choice. From the beginning Nox is aware of her standing as a token in the orphanage she lives in. Nox ends up feeling like she was made to be a woman of color just to provide diversity points for the book. She wasn’t written with any understanding of the experiences of WOC and that makes her physical attributes feel like they only exist to be the darkness to Amaris’s lightness.
If the author had taken the time to edit more thoroughly and engage sensitivity readers I think a lot of the controversy with this book could have been avoided. She had a solid idea and I would have been interested to see where the rest of the story goes, but as this book stands I couldn’t support this author and series.
For one, how has the author created a matriarchal society where in the book she refers to men as the “lesser sex” and yet misogyny and sexism is central to the story? Amaris and Nox’s development and storyline as it stands could not have progressed in any way without rampant misogyny and blatant sexism. If you are going to create a universe that is matriarchal, then having misogyny and sexism present really doesn’t make any sense.
Second, the depiction of Nox. I understand the authors desire to create a diverse story and claim a POC main character. But for Nox to be the only fleshed out POC in the entire novel, and for her be consistently and horrifically abused and tokenized was a terrible choice. From the beginning Nox is aware of her standing as a token in the orphanage she lives in.
Spoiler
Then Nox is sold to a brothel where she is sexual assaulted daily! And the author decides to make her a succubus, insinuating that not only did she “need” the abuse to survive but that she enjoys is. This just plays into the jezebel stereotype that women of color face daily.If the author had taken the time to edit more thoroughly and engage sensitivity readers I think a lot of the controversy with this book could have been avoided. She had a solid idea and I would have been interested to see where the rest of the story goes, but as this book stands I couldn’t support this author and series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
theemeraldflame's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Horrific portrayal of sex work/sex workers. Massive sexism and contradictory worldbuilding (characters are in a world that is female dominated/ruled, where even god herself is female… yet sexism is RAMPANT and major religious and sexual trauma happens to both female characters at the hands of men in positions of authority). Odd, sweeping tone changes throughout. Writing is self-indulgent, metaphor-filled, and at times difficult to parse. Would not recommend to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse
b_robinson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
1.75
let's just ignore the fact that this took me a whole month to read, and that I'm currently using my last remaining brain cells to write this review
The ARC that I read had so many grammatical mistakes man, it was so frustrating, but hopefully there's been a rigorous revision of this.
I did not enjoy the romance; it's nice that the author wrote a bisexual romance that she could connect to, but I couldn't vibe with the way it was written. We get this long innocent childhood backstory explanation thing, and then they're oh so cruelly torn apart, and when we next see them, the dramatic evolution in the way they thought about each other felt..... idk wrong?? uncomfy?? it was just not it. They first meet when one of them is an ACTUAL INFANT.
also, it honestly felt like there was more chemistry between Amaris and crow demon whatever-the-heck his name was (gadriel?? I think?????) than her and Nox. clearly something is wrong when the MCs are supposed to be so devoted to each other and i want to ship one of them with someone else entirely. but maybe that's just a me thing
LETS TALK ABOUT HOW WEIRD IT FELT TO CONSTANTLY HAVE AMARIS CALLING THE OTHER REEVERS HER BROTHERS AND THEN FLIRTING WITH AND TRYING TO SEDUCE ONE OF THEM. HELLO? WHAT IS UP WITH THAT. PLEASE TELL ME IM NOT THE ONLY ONE BECAUSE I CRINGED AT ALL OF IT.
i would also like to point out that i did not consent to reading about Nox's really sick, awful punishment for the Captain, even though he himself was an absolutely despicable human being. that was gross and unnecessary. sort yourself out.
so yeah. not a 10 out of 10 vibe here, but bonus points for not making me use any brainpower while reading
The ARC that I read had so many grammatical mistakes man, it was so frustrating, but hopefully there's been a rigorous revision of this.
I did not enjoy the romance; it's nice that the author wrote a bisexual romance that she could connect to, but I couldn't vibe with the way it was written. We get this long innocent childhood backstory explanation thing, and then they're oh so cruelly torn apart, and when we next see them, the dramatic evolution in the way they thought about each other felt..... idk wrong?? uncomfy?? it was just not it. They first meet when one of them is an ACTUAL INFANT.
also, it honestly felt like there was more chemistry between Amaris and crow demon whatever-the-heck his name was (gadriel?? I think?????) than her and Nox. clearly something is wrong when the MCs are supposed to be so devoted to each other and i want to ship one of them with someone else entirely. but maybe that's just a me thing
LETS TALK ABOUT HOW WEIRD IT FELT TO CONSTANTLY HAVE AMARIS CALLING THE OTHER REEVERS HER BROTHERS AND THEN FLIRTING WITH AND TRYING TO SEDUCE ONE OF THEM. HELLO? WHAT IS UP WITH THAT. PLEASE TELL ME IM NOT THE ONLY ONE BECAUSE I CRINGED AT ALL OF IT.
i would also like to point out that i did not consent to reading about Nox's really sick, awful punishment for the Captain, even though he himself was an absolutely despicable human being. that was gross and unnecessary. sort yourself out.
so yeah. not a 10 out of 10 vibe here, but bonus points for not making me use any brainpower while reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Blood, Self harm, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment