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chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.0
Wait because I’m so sad that I am giving this book a three star rating. I absolutely loved Priory, and I had such high hopes for the beginning of this series. However, it’s the writing that ruined the story for me. There was SO. MUCH. telling instead of showing. I also don’t think the first person POV worked to the story’s advantage here. Unfortunately, there were many obvious statements, convenient jumps back in time, and sloppy character-building. I think the magic system and world is so interesting, but the descriptors of what is what and who is who were not weaved into the story well. At many times, it felt like info dump after info dump.
Particularly, the jump from “I will lead this rebellion” to the Bicentennial or whatever was CRAZY. We spend 400 pages watching Paige suffer and fight against the system as a stubborn individual and are so ready to follow her through the intricate steps of sowing a rebellion amongst prisoners, just for the book to…skip 2 months of scheming? That would have been INTERESTING. Instead, I now have to read 20 pages of “a few weeks ago we did this, and Jules handled this, and I planted bombs here, and shoutout to the performers who helped me do this.” Like, I would have liked to SEE ALL OF THAT, not just be told about it. Or at least go over the plans through dialogue, not just Paige telling the reader everything that’s been done point-blank. The writing took me out of the story more times than I can count, which made me so frustrated because the story is interesting.
Other than the frustrating prose - and the choppy world/character building that went along with it - I was enamored by the story. I found the interactions and banter between Paige and Warden to actually be done quite well. His personality and speaking style was distinct, and their interactions kept me interested without them being overly obvious or corny.
As stubborn as she can be, I did enjoy how Paige’s past in the syndicate helped her in the lost city. She’s not a bulletproof FMC but she’s also not hopeless. Can she be dumb and rash? Yes. And a little too “let’s save everyone even though that’s illogical.” But overall, I was rooting for her and wanted to read about her more.
My favorite aspects of this story were the dialogue between Paige and Warden, the setting within Magdalen, and the relationships Paige had between the Seven Dials and the other humans in the lost city. I also loved the ending, but didn’t want it to be the end! It ends in a way that really makes you want to read the next book, despite this one’s flaws.
Other than the frustrating prose - and the choppy world/character building that went along with it - I was enamored by the story. I found the interactions and banter between Paige and Warden to actually be done quite well. His personality and speaking style was distinct, and their interactions kept me interested without them being overly obvious or corny.
As stubborn as she can be, I did enjoy how Paige’s past in the syndicate helped her in the lost city. She’s not a bulletproof FMC but she’s also not hopeless. Can she be dumb and rash? Yes. And a little too “let’s save everyone even though that’s illogical.” But overall, I was rooting for her and wanted to read about her more.
My favorite aspects of this story were the dialogue between Paige and Warden, the setting within Magdalen, and the relationships Paige had between the Seven Dials and the other humans in the lost city. I also loved the ending, but didn’t want it to be the end! It ends in a way that really makes you want to read the next book, despite this one’s flaws.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism
ceruleanshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
"Go to hell."
"I already exist on a level of hell."
"Exist on one that isn’t near mine."
this was lit. 2010s ya dystopian vibes of red queen + shatter me with early 1900s SOC + peaky blinders and some macabre fantasy horror elements and more intricate worldbuilding of the locked tomb.
i know throwing all those titles out there sounds like this might be a pale imitation of some of them or a trope-built book, but it's not. it firmly stands on its own feet.
But there was no normal. There never had been. Normal and natural were the greatest lies we had ever created – we humans, with our little minds.
while this is a bit slower paced and there can be some cumbersome worldbuilding, i found myself really intrigued and invested in paige's story and this world. there's an interesting blend of real history and cultural references into this, and i found the blending of the above mentioned elements to be very creative in making a unique setting.
i love the idea of the mime crime and i can't wait to see those politics play out more in the future, as well as the mysterious and elusive origins of the rephaim and their enemies, the emim.
and ARCTURUS. I NEED MORE ARCTURUS 😩
‘Run, little dreamer.’
this is the first time in a WHILE that i've gotten to get into an established series with 0 info or spoilers, and i'm definitely keeping it that way while i catch up. seeing as it's going to be 7 books i'm soooo excited to see what the overall journey for paige and this world will be!
"I want to remind them that if you leave one spark aglow, it can still burn everything down."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Xenophobia
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Gore, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
hayreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.75
Another great work by Samantha Shannon. The middle was admittedly a bit slow, but I was always interested in what was happening. Very different from Priory, but a great read nonetheless. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
risaleel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, and Trafficking
Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
roisinmarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
whatjasread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
• was encouraged to read by a pal and was very scared but honestly all worked out
• I adore Paige and Arcturus and the entire gang
• I think I cried twice which surprised me
• bit info dumpy at the start but gradually improves once the action starts
• don’t know if or when I’ll get to the next book but I won’t rule it out!
TWs: blood, child death, vomiting, gore, gun violence, kidnapping, medical content (inc. needles), drugging, murder, sexual assault, slavery (inc. master/slave relationships), torture, violence, xenophobia
• I adore Paige and Arcturus and the entire gang
• I think I cried twice which surprised me
• bit info dumpy at the start but gradually improves once the action starts
• don’t know if or when I’ll get to the next book but I won’t rule it out!
TWs: blood, child death, vomiting, gore, gun violence, kidnapping, medical content (inc. needles), drugging, murder, sexual assault, slavery (inc. master/slave relationships), torture, violence, xenophobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Xenophobia
karolinaz's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Style/writing: 3 stars
Themes: 2 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Themes: 2 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual assault
stwriter92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
This book was recommended to me by my flatmate, who ended up loving it so much that she bought the entire series (sans the fourth book, which she will be getting soon). I already had another book by Samantha Shannon on my TBR list (The Priory of the Orange Tree), and decided that this would be a good way to see her writing style before I dived into that behemoth of a book.
The series takes part in the year 2059 during an alternate reality in which those who can use clairvoyant powers (voyants) are persecuted by those that cannot. Our protagonist, Paige, is one of the rarest and most hunted form of voyants: a dreamwalker. She can break into the dreamscapes of other people, and does so at the behest of her employer and head of the Seven Dials (a criminal voyant underworld gang) to gather information on other gang leaders. However, the inevitable happens and Paige is found out, kidnapped, and taken to a place that does not exist on any maps. A penal colony where she is taken as a slave to an otherworldly race called the Rephaite. She is assigned to Warden, a higher up and consort of the Queen Nashira. Paige must use her wits, her resources, and help from unexpected quarters to escape a life of eternal slavery to the ruthless Queen.
There were many things I loved about this book. The characters were well written and fleshed out really well. I actually cared for the characters and found myself second guessing others. I could feel everything the characters were feeling, which of course meant I had my heart ripped out of my chest on more than one occasion. I could feel the homesickness Paige felt as well as the distrust she felt towards he captors. I was also a fan of the worldbuilding. I thought it was very interesting to see that each of the criminal sectors in London were sort of “stuck” in the era they were created. It made for a very interesting mesh of Victorian slang, fashion, an mannerisms with the technology of the modern world.
This book was definitely a page turner and I oftentimes could not put it down. I am really looking forward to starting the second book soon. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of dystopian fantasy, found family tropes, and the feeling of getting one’s heart unceremoniously ripped out and stomped on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Kidnapping
cleo_wylde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual content