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erynelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
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
shellyrosebee's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexual harassment
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
liv_182's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
akhays's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
fuzzyblanket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Trafficking and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infertility and Alcohol
peyberry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
thelongroadtosanity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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Well, I am now officially obsessed. I loved this book from start to finish. The timeline and pacing is perfect and I enjoy that there isn't a ton of world-building in the beginning. It's nice to get snippets of the history and the world as you go along. I also think the writing style is very straightforward, without extravagant descriptions of everything that can happen in any fantasy novel. Sometimes settings and events can get lost in translation, but I think this author does such a wonderful job conveying her message without beating around the bush.
I am curious to see what's in store for Auren in the next book and to see how everything is going to unfold. I sense that there may (or may not) be a new shadow-daddy in my future.
I also find it refreshing that so far, our FMC is not the "immediately-all-powerful" troupe and that she makes incredibly stupid decisions in order to follow her heart and help someone in their time of need. She seems to have a heart of gold (pun intended) and it does translate quite well in this book and allows me to relate to her just a little bit more. I really really really want to see how her character develops in the rest of the series.
Midas seems like such a d**k so I am happy to sit back and watch him squirm a little bit.
I typically seem to always have a few things spoiled for me with higher-rated fantasy series. So far, so good in this series so I am looking forward to that as well! It would be nice for a change to not have important parts spoiled for me on social media, haha!
(06/2024)
5 out of 5 stars
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
bvippolito'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? It's complicated
4.0
I would say it’s important to know what you’re getting into, as the subject matter is blunt and there are many aspects of this book that can be triggering.
Also I think it’s important to know that this is book 1 of 6, so it’s definitely slow for a while but it’s definitely purposeful to build the world and relationships before the story takes off.
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying and Death