saturnpersonified'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: Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment, Excrement, and Vomit
phiagrace97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is an especially great book if you’re looking to get into fantasy . While the world is complex with lots of characters, you’re really eased into the Prythian with Sarah holding your hand a bit a long the way. As a big fantasy reader, I found this a tad patronizing at times, but overall it made this a much easier and fun read.
I really connected with Freye and her mix of soft and hard, and I’m so glad the damsel in distress trope wasn’t leaned on in this first book.
Literally cannot wait to start the next. Highly recommend.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Abandonment, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Slavery, Murder, and Medical trauma
skylover'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? Yes
3.75
Pros: Lucien is a ride-or-die fav, he's so witty and reminds me of that enemies to best friends vibe so few characters have with one another. Rhys, while being a tad toxic, was a unpredictable character that added a thrill to under the mountain. The villain was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the lore and other good or evil characters for the worlds.
Cons: Not a fan that most of the romance was borderline abusive or straight up harassment (Rhys LICKING her tears?? Tamlin BITING her neck?? no thanks), Tamlin was the most disinteresting love interest, Feyre was difficult to get behind for the first half of the book, and turning her into High Fae reminded me of Twilight, but instead of waiting 4 books and having arguments with her partner about it, she was just turned without her knowledge or consent. Also not a fan that the plot was kinda giving "can't live without my guy/romantic interest" vibes. Lastly, idk what kinda writing style this was, but it was very repetitive and redundant - if you highlighted your book when the phrases "he (Tamlin) growled", "he (Tamlin or Rhys) gave a lazy smile", Feyre mentioned her newfound love of painting (we get it, you don't hunt so you paint - cool!), random fire being mentioned, or eyes as green as (the forest, grass, emerald jewels, shrek at this point, you name it) - you'd have a very colorful book cause you had to use so many highlighters.
Would recommend to fantasy lovers who know how to get into world building.
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Torture, Abandonment, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence
tinyarthoe'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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Torture, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
quietlex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler
I mean come on, she leaves just DAYS before the curse runs out of time, if only she had said those three little words to him at ANY point since she already knew she loved him. She wouldn’t have made it past the second trial without Rhys secret help. She happens to figure out the riddle the second before being killed, then she’s magically brought back to life by a special never seen before golden goo that all the High Lords have! Where have you been loca style, she’s all pretty and shiny like a new vampire now.Also, Feyre is an idiot. Makes it really hard to love her character when she continuously makes the worst decisions over and over.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Slavery, and War
nkmustdie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Classism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, War, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Stalking, and Torture
izzysizemore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent, War, and Animal death
masucolmusings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
that is to say, i was kind of surprised by how much of a slow burn this was. and when i say slow burn, i mean slow. the last third of the book is where most of the action happens, but that’s to be expected in the first novel of a series. personally i think it does a good job setting up the world we’re in and the stakes and you try to figure out everyone’s motives along with feyre because we’re seeing things unfold through her.
everyone raves about the world building and prose in this book; i liked it but i wouldn’t say it’s exceptional, personally. i appreciated that i could conjure up this world in my head from the book’s intricate descriptions and that’s what i like about fantasy in general. acotar paints prythian beautifully and i will be reading more!
after the second book i think i’ll have more of a concrete idea of how i feel towards the series. i am looking forward to seeing the development of rhysand (at this point everyone knows the enemies to lovers plot being set up perfectly for the next installment) though i do question the circumstances of his connection to feyre. bargaining and trickery are not good foundations for a love story but hey, what do i know. anyway, tamlin’s there too i guess (he’s fine, i don’t hate him but i feel neutral about him as well lol)
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Body horror, Gore, Genocide, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Vomit and War
julietsdemise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Abandonment
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Bullying, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Murder, Self harm, Slavery, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Cursing, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Torture