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maiishigami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not much world-building, I did hope we could get more information about their world but the setting was mostly inside the palace with a trip inside a carriage here and there.
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
emilylovesgoodbooks'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
5.0
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
katvou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
extrafolklore'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
kimmag92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
outsmartyourshelf'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Alessandra travels to the court with her father & manages to catch the King's attention & learns that he is practically immortal but that his power comes from the shadows which swirl around him, but if he touches anyone then his power is neutralised whilst they are nearby - only then is he vulnerable. Much as she tries, Alessandra doesn't seem to be able to break through the King's reticence to grow closer, until she unthinkingly puts herself in harm's way to foil an assassin. Was it because Alessandra is determined that she will be the one to kill the King & he won't die until she is ready, or is there now another reason that she wants him to live?
The first half of the book is entertaining & it has a killer opening line - it really sets up Alessandra's character as a woman who is not afraid to have ambition & who has broken all society's rules by taking lovers before marriage. When one of her former paramours threatens to tell all & disgrace her to the court, she's not about to let him ruin her plans & so schemes a way to get rid of the threat. Got to love a woman who doesn't pull her punches! As for the second half, well let's just say I've not been this disappointed since I read Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake.
If you're going to lure me in with a villainous cunning protagonist, then give me that for the entire book. After the first half set up, I was expecting a duel of wits & minds between Alessandra & Kallias (the Shadow King), even that maybe he was going to pull some kind of double-cross on her, but the story trajectory became entirely too predictable. Shame as it started out so well as something different but then became pedestrian. Overall, it was a game of two halves as they say. I really liked the first half & wish the second half had lived up to that promise. It was still kind of enjoyable though & I like the cover.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pushkin Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
headinthepages'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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved the story and loved the romance and could happily read an entire series about these characters!
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kccool12255'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
4.75
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
twiglt's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
Minor: War
l_e_lavalle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It has no reread value. It was fun on the first read but when I tried to read it again it was just boring and I quit. The characters were horrible people, not because of some great backstory but just because they were.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder