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barrymeinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Violence, and Blood
sherlene_06's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
UGH LAUREN ROBERTS I FRICKING SOBBED ON THE BUS TO UNI
I knew Adena was dead, and I knew this book was just a novella about the life of Adena after Paedyn was selected for the godforsaken Trials up until Adena's death in the last of those horrendous things. But GOODNESS DID I NOT EXPECT TO HURT SO BAD. I'm so upset at the fact that Makoto will forever think that anyone who gets close to him DIES. UGH. LIKE???
SO FRICKING UPSETTING. anyways.
The only things stopping this from being a 5-star is the entire buildup to Adena and Makoto's relationship. I literally thought he hated her with so much adamancy that his being physically close and making comments about her beauty and how he's so obsessed with her got me scared in the beginning. Makoto also reminded me a lot of Kai; I felt he needed more character. Their banter was too familiar and too similar.
Anyways. Point being. I sobbed. AND THE WAY THE BOOK ENDED. HELLOO???
I knew Adena was dead, and I knew this book was just a novella about the life of Adena after Paedyn was selected for the godforsaken Trials up until Adena's death in the last of those horrendous things. But GOODNESS DID I NOT EXPECT TO HURT SO BAD. I'm so upset at the fact that Makoto will forever think that anyone who gets close to him DIES. UGH. LIKE???
SO FRICKING UPSETTING. anyways.
The only things stopping this from being a 5-star is the entire buildup to Adena and Makoto's relationship. I literally thought he hated her with so much adamancy that his being physically close and making comments about her beauty and how he's so obsessed with her got me scared in the beginning. Makoto also reminded me a lot of Kai; I felt he needed more character. Their banter was too familiar and too similar.
Anyways. Point being. I sobbed. AND THE WAY THE BOOK ENDED. HELLOO???
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
enzopudge's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
madi_reads13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jennh96's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
graceev's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse
alex_bastow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
karydiazc's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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
2.75
This book was sad, but we all knew that before we started reading it, and altough it was supposed to be that way, it felt very bland to me.
We were given an instalove once more, where the characters go from "I don't like you" to "you are now the love of my life" in such a short time, and even if it wasn't such a short time in the timeline of the book, it was quite fast for us readers.
Shure, we saw them warm up to each other, but the jump from warming up to love was so fast I didn't even felt conected to Mak as a character.
Anyway, I think Mak's power is an interesting twist for the future of the books and, if done properly, it can make the story a lot better. Unfortunately I won't find out since I won't keep reading this series. I don't think I'm the target audience for this books.
We were given an instalove once more, where the characters go from "I don't like you" to "you are now the love of my life" in such a short time, and even if it wasn't such a short time in the timeline of the book, it was quite fast for us readers.
Shure, we saw them warm up to each other, but the jump from warming up to love was so fast I didn't even felt conected to Mak as a character.
Anyway, I think Mak's power is an interesting twist for the future of the books and, if done properly, it can make the story a lot better. Unfortunately I won't find out since I won't keep reading this series. I don't think I'm the target audience for this books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
sweetteaandfiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Powerful by @laurenrobertslibrary had me screaming and crying and almost throwing my phone across the room.
This novella manages to be darker and much more intense than Powerless.
PROS:
🪡The people who love the people in the arena
🩸A different form of hiding in plain sight
🪡Under appreciated talent
🩸Power doesn’t save you from poverty
🪡Enemies to Friends to Lovers
CONS:
🩸The King, but make my rage about 200X worse
🪡Never getting to say goodbye
🩸Love cut short
🪡The fact I became so invested when I already knew what was coming.
🥮🥮🥮🥮🥮 out of 5 sticky honey cakes
This novella manages to be darker and much more intense than Powerless.
PROS:
🪡The people who love the people in the arena
🩸A different form of hiding in plain sight
🪡Under appreciated talent
🩸Power doesn’t save you from poverty
🪡Enemies to Friends to Lovers
CONS:
🩸The King, but make my rage about 200X worse
🪡Never getting to say goodbye
🩸Love cut short
🪡The fact I became so invested when I already knew what was coming.
🥮🥮🥮🥮🥮 out of 5 sticky honey cakes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror
amkleintje's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence