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nineinchnails'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
the pacing probably isn't for everyone since the book moves pretty slowly but it focuses on character development and worldbuilding which is definitely my preference in fantasy. it makes me kinda wish we had chapters from the boys' pov but i'm hoping we'll get that in at least one of the later books. the pov being split between both twins might be annoying too since i did struggle remembering where one twin left off in their last chapter occasionally but they're both distinct enough for me to know who's chapter is whose so it could be a lot worse. considering how long this book is i should be pissed that barely any action happens but idk what to say it's like crack and it definitely didn't feel 400+ pages long. i really liked the characterisation of the twins and more importantly their relationship - it didn't ever get ugly between the two of them. despite all the shit they went through and the manipulation they faced they didn't let anything come between the two of them and it was really sweet. it kinda reminded me of my own relationships with my sisters (when we aren't at each others throats over stealing clothes or something) and felt realistic in that the traumatic shit we went through only made us more loyal and protective of each other instead of competitive.
there's probably more to say but it's nearly 1am and my brain is failing me so to conclude: this book is super OTT and you absolutely will get secondhand embarrassment but if you can suspend your disbelief (and have heeded the trigger warnings) you'll probably love it just for the pure entertainment. yes this book is unserious as fuck but i am seated!
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
rmesquirrel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Torture and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
"The Awakening" follows twin sisters: Tory and Darcy. Tory and Darcy have been in the foster care system since they were orphaned as babies. Now, 18, and kicked out of the system, they are just trying to make enough money to cover rent. But all of those worries seem inconsequential when they find out they are actually the daughters of the Savage King, and they are the rightful descendants of the fae crown. Now they must go through Zodiac Academy to learn about their true home and fight for their birthright.
This book was very fine. There is a lot of violence, nonconsensual acts, and ALOT of bullying, which I had a pretty good idea about before I started reading this. I found the hazing that the other students put Tory and Darcy through to be really off-putting, and the fact that none of the teachers did anything to remotely stop it was disheartening.
This book is definitely HEAVILY influenced by other popular stories, which is fine, but it made the book feel unoriginal.
I do not know if I will continue in this series, but I can now appreciate why everyone seems so enamored with this series.
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content
1navn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
natlonelyghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder
ifoundcallie's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Torture, Vomit, and Stalking
alexsnerdycorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
faduma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
azgetslit'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Physical abuse
Moderate: Torture and Violence
cricci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Fairly predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable for the sheer relaxing nature of the novel. Even though the typographical errors (an entire paragraph was duplicated and > replaced apostrophes on a few instances — perhaps due to self-publishing?) and rushed plot detracted from the novel, I couldn’t stop reading, which is why I gave the book a second star.
Since there is some promise, hopefully the future books in the series show the authors taking more time with their craft rather than rushing to get the word count.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing