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cerilouisereads's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Colonisation
starccato's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
ghosthermione's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
I got this book through Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Thanks!
I will start by saying I did thoroughly enjoy this book. It took me a bit to get back into it, but after a while I just could. Not. Stop. Reading. I had to know what happened next. There were also a lot of "wtf" revelations and semi cliffhangers that really made the pacing of this book work for me.
Overall it was very satisfying, and without spoiling, I can say that I was quite happy with the ending. Moving, emotional, but satisfying. I also liked that the book took the time to get to its conclusion, with a few wrap up chapters. A rushed wrap-up often leaves me with a bittersweet taste so I was glad this wasn't the case here, after such a saga!
I'm also happy with its exploration of genders and sexualities, going further than the previous books. Some depth was also added to some characters in the process and I really appreciated that.
I did feel like a bit more time could've been spent on some of the characters and their decisions. I still don't understand why Ariadne did... at all, at any point in the book. There's some half reasons given but I did not see the logic in them (yes even for a traumatised, probably neurodivergent kid), I missed that sense that, well, what the character did made sense to her at least. I also felt like some of the plotting was a bit rushed, or not as tight as it could've been. Some of the moves felt... too easy. Clearly the authors knew where they wanted to take this story, and so they did. But it didn't have the same feeling of consequences or unavoidability of some of the first book's twists, it felt more deliberately author-led than actions coming from the characters or because they had to.
I also enjoyed focusing more on Cato, Nyx and Rhea, but I did feel like we lost a bit of the in-depth understanding of Eris. She was very much central to the first book, and here her own chapters are focused a lot on the other characters. Obviously her main plot point around her identity has been dealt with so it makes sense.
I'm also ambivalent about Cato's storyline because it does add so much more depth to him and answers some big questions, but I don't think it was taken to its logical conclusion and so it's left a bit in suspension at the end, or like that thread was just conveniently forgotten.
If it sounds like I've a lot of criticisms, it's mainly because I'm really invested in the story and its characters. Overall though, it's still a very strong conclusion to the duology, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. It just didn't hit quite as much for me as the first one did, perhaps because I had a few months to think about what to expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Slavery
Moderate: Death and Genocide
Minor: Transphobia