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teentalk85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed the start to this series and the breadcrumbs the author is sprinkling for us to build this world! Even though a whole lot of nothing happens throughout pretty much the entire book I was entranced by it and consumed every moment!
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
viselik's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The first time I read this I did not know it had the content in it that it did due to me skipping over the content warning and I finished the book feeling like I had missed something and felt icky. I only figured it out once I read the content warning that I had accidentally skipped and reread the book that it clicked what had actually happened, it wasn't what I expected and made me like the book a whole lot more than I originally did.
Edit 22/07/24: I have now read this three times, my most recent is to prepare for the release of Goldfinch, and I deeply enjoyed it. I think now, the first time I read this book, I may have been a slight bit too young as I didn't grasp the subject matter as well, but this time, I understood it a lot better. I still do feel this book can get a slight bit boring at times but I am highly excited to continue to read the series to prepare for Goldfinch's release.
I did find the whole first face-to-face talk with Rip a bit annoying this time, but I think it's more just I felt like I have read a similar thing over and over again by now. This is more a romance/romantasy issue I have though in general not just with this book.
Midus I feel like he was done well for what he is in the story, we can see the twisted perspective that Auren has of him and how it is slightly warped by the end of this book. We see some glimpses behind the mask and I deeply liked those moments where we get to see how he truly is.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Trafficking
Minor: Animal death and Slavery
deyknight'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Also: definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings!
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Torture
beckyremillard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Check trigger warnings for sure; it’s very dark.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal death
jennipea382's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism
booknerdcoco's review against another edition
3.0
The book has lots of swearing in, and some of the scenes aren't for the lighthearted.
There are strong themes of oppression against women, however, I have a feeling that this series will predominantly contain kick ass feminine energy so watch this space.
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sami_not_sammi'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Infertility and Classism
tink2cma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Trafficking, Death of parent, and War
kalequeentv's review against another edition
2.5
Slight spoily and graphic +18 hints in this paragraph, proceed with caution! ⚠️ The fact that we spend 30% of this book waiting for a SA, only for her to be free, only then, yet again we spend another 20% of the book waiting for another SA - this whole thing is leaving me kinda “….??” I think perhaps I have issue with the “obsessively dumping trauma after trauma on your MC until they break and become super strong and can fight the oppressive war because now they understand the oppression of the people”. I really do hate it. I’ll say it. I think trauma dumping on characters until they are “worthy” leaders or power forces in a rebellion is silly and boring. I wish we could find better motivation without the concept of repeated SA? The author literally HOOKED the concept of poverty on a line for the MC to gobble up and feed her rage but it doesn’t matter because BAM let’s assault someone again.
Maybe book two will hook me. One can only hope.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Classism
coach_steve_is_my_dad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great world building, magical system and characters. The Stockholm syndrome is strong with this one.
*Trigger Warning* Towards the end there’s an awfully graphic r**e scene which is very hard to read.
Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Murder, and Classism