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quirkykay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
wait_whoissheagain's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Despite this, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the plot. The premise of the story is interesting, and I was intrigued to read a fantasy book that takes place in the “real world”, but I feel like this book’s plot was lacking. We had the hero, but there was no real villain to fight. If we consider Pestilence the villain, then the FMC didn’t do much fighting at all. I’m hoping that the plot intensifies throughout the remainder of the series.
Another aspect of the book that I’m still trying to process, is the FMC’s internal struggle with her feelings for Pestilence. The horseman put Sara through A LOT (no spoilers, but Chapter 18 had me in tears) and she seems to get over these things pretty quickly because “it’s hard to be mad at something that’s so pretty” and because he made a sandwich. I feel like this is a stark contrast to her beliefs at the beginning of the book. It wasn’t until the last few chapters, when Pestilence’s character started developing, that I began to accept this change. Once again, I’m hoping their relationship will be explored and expanded upon in the next book. I would love to see more of Pestilence’s character development.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to continuing the series. I am intrigued to see the role that the other horsemen will play in this world.
Graphic: Violence and Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder
yomaddjesty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gore and Sexual content
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death and Vomit
mattiedancer's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
- Fans of ACOTAR and dystopian societies
- Someone looking for a romance with an intriguing plot
- Those who like fantasy/apocalyptic novels that centre on romance
- Readers who like (or don’t mind) a bit of spice, but not just spice.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Pregnancy
kaadee's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
2.5
The characters did a lot of lounging around for being in the middle of a fuckin’ apocalypse. And apparently all you gotta do is recite poetry to stop a dude from spreading the plague.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ruckystarnes'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: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
dontwritedown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The male love interest was pretty bland given the fact that he is disease incarnate. He had the personality of a wet rag. But at least the FMC made up for what the wet rag refused to bring to the table.
My only issue is I don't see how this concept can be made into three more books without becoming very reptitive.
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
bangiebangs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You get dropped into the story, and the first third of the book is savage - not to spoil, but it's not easy to like either of the characters then. Understand their motivation? Yes. But not like.
I really enjoyed the setup here, and also the twists that really went against what I was expecting the story to be. Yes, tropes and the ending are as expected, but how we get there was particularly enjoyable here. I also liked the pacing (even if at times it went slower than others), but this worked well for me.
I've since read the second book and am on the third, and I love that (so far) the journey is always different, and there is some food for thought in there as well (humanity and how we treat each other).
Slight warning to heed the CNs, because this is brutal at times.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
booksalacarte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol