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glddstwmn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and War
clarification for CW tags: racism towards humans vs fae, not POC. Sorry if this is misuse of the tag ❤️samiilg's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
pianokeys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
andlovetoowillruinus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The problem with this book is that there are over 200 pages of exposition. The inciting event— ie, when the plot actually starts— is two-thirds of the way through the book. I can appreciate dedicated world-building, but this is just sloppy writing. It’s like an editor didn’t even touch this book to cut out the redundant nonsense that fills the first half of it. The plot picks up and you think, ’Finally, I’ll be rewarded for slogging through hundreds of pages of petty teen drama!’ only for the book to abruptly end. This book does not have enough substance or story to stand on its own, and it’s absurd any publisher or editor thought otherwise.
I guess the reason this book is so widely lauded is because of the protagonist, Jude, though I can’t imagine why. From what I had seen before reading the book myself, everyone described Jude as this cunning powerful woman able to meet the fae blow for metaphorical blow. After reading the book, I’m confused as to how anyone reached that conclusion. I think people just saw a protagonist who could wield a sword and immediately designated her as a “strong female character.” Despite the book being in first person, Jude is inconsistent, far beyond being an unreliable narrator. She rarely acts in ways that match how she describes herself or her own worldviews and philosophies. She claims to be ruthless and ambitious— but can’t bring herself to retaliate against a lover who pitted her against her twin, said twin who watched as she was played by said lover and in fact chooses this shitty teenage boy over her own sister, or her callous adoptive father who murdered her birth parents. Ruthless and ambitious indeed. She is the worst strain of YA protagonist— one who completely lacks depth, but hey, she can fight, so that makes her a badass role model for teenage girls!
Like some other reviewers pointed out, this book struggles to engage its readers with its characters or plot in any meaningful way. If you like generic edgy YA love interests who bully others, then maybe Cardan’s your cup of tea and that’s what gets you through this book (though don’t expect him to get any significant characterization or development. He is, after all, just a trope disguised as a character). Maybe if you really like fairy lore and don’t mind inconsistent and vague world-building, that will get you to care about the half-baked plot. Maybe if all you look for in a protagonist is someone who can throw a punch, then you’ll be inclined to root for Jude. Me personally, I look for a riveting story or at least interesting characters, and this book failed to deliver on both fronts.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
spatterson7'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Bullying and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
noellegrace8'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That being said, I really like the main characters. Some of the side characters are a bit flat, but Jude, Cardan, Maddoc, Vivvie, Dain, Taryn, Oriana... none of them are "good" or "bad." They just are. They make decisions, they have instincts and natures that make those decisions difficult. I love the complexity! I also think this book set up a series (trilogy) well, so I'm hoping to like the next two even more! The worldbulding is awesome. Holly Black has created a very interesting mix of "fae" and "mortal," complete with rich history and quirks and physical descriptions.
I don't factor audiobook reader into my overal star rating, but I give Caitlyn Kelly 3.5/5⭐️. Honestly, I think she was part of the reason I struggled to get into this book, but there's no telling for certain. She oftentimes doesn't seem to read with the same cadence that the words on the page suggest. She also has a cheesy tone when voicing male characters and over-acts when it comes to emotional (and even sometimes non-emotional!) scenes.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Excrement, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and War
aralalala's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Nonetheless, I devoured this in one sitting.
It’s a complicated and complex tale, and the characters, even more so. They’re all questionable, but it was a thrilling ride despite it not being romance-heavy (again, as a romcom girly).
It’s not lighthearted at all and it’s not for days when you’re just looking to turn off your brain. It has really dark themes and intense scenes, but overall, it’s not as emotionally heavy as others that share similar themes (at least, I don’t feel that way).
The writing is so well done from a technical standpoint. It wasn’t dragging and you had the necessary details you need when you needed it. There were no plot points that did not make sense, and if there were plot-holes, I didn’t notice.
It was very easy to get sucked into its universe, and the plot was compelling enough to keep me turning the page.
Jude is a very strong and lovable character. As complicated as she is, it was somehow very easy to relate with her complexity. It was an exciting ride and I look forward to how the rest of the story unfolds in the series!
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War
lyr1cal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
yasaman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism