dokushoka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Toxic relationship, War, Death, and Toxic friendship
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Death, War, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, and Grief
anastasiamakes'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
My only qualms were a couple of passages of political commentary which didn't feel super well woven-in with the story, just "there".
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Violence
Minor: Slavery and Injury/Injury detail
bluejay21'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
3.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
moonchild_cos'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
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, War, Blood, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
miraclesnow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a surprising book. I wasn’t sure how much I would connect to the characters, which was obviously the only draw as most of this book is just getting to know them and understanding their place in this world. Each character is very flawed, and this first book was obviously them getting over their growing pains being around other people. Each one has been alone in their own way. It wasn’t too slow as they always were actively chasing their goals and doing something, but you have to be ok with the journey and not the destination.
And boy was the destination something. Backstabs, betrayals, another b word I can’t mention because that would be a spoiler!
I think with what we’ve been given so far, and with some more pages (Cmon Hannah, the next book is gonna have to be chonkier) I think we’re seeing the start of a very interesting new fantasy series.
I hope with all my heart it grows to be bigger and more powerful than Skedi is. This review will be my offering for that wish to come to fruition.
And I gotta love me a badass
Spoiler
para-abled(I put in child abuse & emotional abuse as a catch all for
Spoiler
manipulation of a minor via magicGraphic: Child death and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, War, and Sexual content
mal_eficent's review
- 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
4.0
The characters are great, with nuance and complexity; the writing style is really enjoyable; the mythology and world are well explored and built within the text; the pacing was well done, with 'downtime' moving the story forward just as much as the action; and even the audiobook narrator adds a lot to the story. It's an objectively good book – it's just not a stand out for me. The ending almost saved it, but I probably won't continue with the series.
Part of that might be because I often found myself more interested in the setting, side characters, or the backstories of each character. I wasn't as drawn in to the main 'adventure' as I wanted to be, especially with the number of perspectives. It wasn't entirely a single perspective per chapter, but moving between four people wasn't as enjoyable for me as it would have been with just one or two. If this had been the story of the war before, or more of a meander through life in this world as a god killer I'd have been more interested.
This is a great debut, and if you like fantasy worlds that feel a bit 'gritty'/worn (not grimdark, just not full high fantasy) then you should give this a try! I've seen nothing but great things about the disability rep from those within that community as well.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Moderate: War and Child abuse
Minor: Trafficking, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders