dalek_caan'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Gore, War, Death, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Colonisation, Child abuse, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Ableism
murrayc3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape and Trafficking
kayceeisbookish'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? No
3.75
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Violence, Rape, War, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
gretchenplz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Aelin continues to be the bane of my existence, and just an overall disappointing FMC. SJM lays out characters who have the potential to be deep and complex, but then either surrounds them with yes-men or chooses to portray them solely as evil. Aelin got the first treatment, despite her being highly hypocritical, arrogant, and vapid, and I'm somehow supposed to buy in on her being a good queen one day. I don't think so. It's so much "Rules for thee but not for me" with her, and I find it to leave such a bad taste in my mouth. She hasn't shown any character growth at all, in my opinion. Her only growth is that of her powers.
I'm so beyond disappointed with how SJM has treated Chaol's character, but I shouldn't be surprised. SJM seems to be unable to write characters with any sort of complexity or depth, or approach the good vs. bad debate with any nuance (this is why you will catch me defending Tamlin at all times). She chooses to frame the characters that she decides she's tired of writing as simply "bad" with no hope of redemption or personal growth (the only time she has succeeded at this is with Nesta, and that "growth" was only achieved by sacrificing her powers!!!! I'm sorry, wrong book, I'll stop). Her characters are too black or white, and it is exhausting.
Lysandra literally made me cry, Manon is bae forever, and Elide is growing on me so much. I adore Aedion, and I can't wait to see what happens with Lorcan. I know I'm supposed to like Rowan, but I just find him lacking substances beyond "I worship Aelin and would do anything for her" at the moment
Also, the "sexual tension" is just cringeworthy at this point. The way the characters are crafted... it just doesn't have the same... effect... that it did in ACOTAR. Please, Sarah. Just let them bang it out in the first ten pages of the next book.
In the last 100 pages, you could have told me that this was the last book in the series, and I would have believed you. Everything could have been wrapped up and tied with a neat little bow, and my brain cannot comprehend how there are still nearly 3k more words left in this series.
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
laura_nel13'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: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Slavery, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Genocide, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Torture, War, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, and Excrement
undecidedpersonality'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: Body horror, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Medical content, War, Confinement, Slavery, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Pregnancy, Genocide, and Sexual violence
Minor: Classism, Sexual content, Child death, Colonisation, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child abuse
sugarwookiee'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
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Child death
nabecker13's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Infertility, Medical trauma, Murder, Trafficking, War, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Blood, Gore, Grief, Self harm, Slavery, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Ableism, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Vomit
nerdkitten'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Ableism, Cursing, Medical content, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Sexual content, Misogyny, Torture, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Rape
lauren_ridgeway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, and Miscarriage
Minor: Rape