The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lawbooks600's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
Representation: N/A?
Score: Seven points out of ten.
First, whoa. The next book is next year? It better be as good as the first. With that out of the way, the library I got this from purchased it a few months back, and afterwards, I finally got my hands on it. When I finished it, I thought it was impressive for a debut author, because it's rare for authors to impress me on the first try. This author did. This novel feels like Red Queen and even Graceling, and it's clear that some elements felt like The Hunger Games (which didn't matter or dampen my enjoyment anyway.) It starts with the main character Paedyn Gray (or Paedyn for short), but here's the catch: she's Ordinary, ever since the Plague hit which gifted some (now called the Elite) with powers, while killing others. When I think about it it's strange and it's not clear where the Plague first started; maybe the second instalment can explain. Only after a few pages, Paedyn is called to participate in the 6th trials while forming an attraction with Prince Kai (Are they meant for each other? It's not clear, but they got along well.) The second half spoke for itself (it's so good I have no words to describe it.) Other than the fact that Paedyn won the trials and started a revolution. And a cliffhanger. I'm speechless. Â
Score: Seven points out of ten.
First, whoa. The next book is next year? It better be as good as the first. With that out of the way, the library I got this from purchased it a few months back, and afterwards, I finally got my hands on it. When I finished it, I thought it was impressive for a debut author, because it's rare for authors to impress me on the first try. This author did. This novel feels like Red Queen and even Graceling, and it's clear that some elements felt like The Hunger Games (which didn't matter or dampen my enjoyment anyway.) It starts with the main character Paedyn Gray (or Paedyn for short), but here's the catch: she's Ordinary, ever since the Plague hit which gifted some (now called the Elite) with powers, while killing others. When I think about it it's strange and it's not clear where the Plague first started; maybe the second instalment can explain. Only after a few pages, Paedyn is called to participate in the 6th trials while forming an attraction with Prince Kai (Are they meant for each other? It's not clear, but they got along well.) The second half spoke for itself (it's so good I have no words to describe it.) Other than the fact that Paedyn won the trials and started a revolution. And a cliffhanger. I'm speechless. Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Blood depiction, physical injury, assault and murder of a person, near-death experiencekirstenpod_'s review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol and Pandemic/Epidemic
busra425's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Blood
samantha_06x's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved this book, the chemistry between Kai and Pae ahhh!! and I love dual pov it can be so rare at the moment to find.Â
As much as I enjoyed this book I didnt connect with the characters and the story as much as I would have liked. When sad things happened I wasn't crazy invested and it was a lil predictable. Its very hunger games but a lessened version the author a lot of the time feels the need to spell out the characters trauma to you and it becomes a recurring theme that I kind of got bored of hearing (I don't know if this is due to the nature of YA)
Will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out and im glad I read this book!!
As much as I enjoyed this book I didnt connect with the characters and the story as much as I would have liked. When sad things happened I wasn't crazy invested and it was a lil predictable. Its very hunger games but a lessened version the author a lot of the time feels the need to spell out the characters trauma to you and it becomes a recurring theme that I kind of got bored of hearing (I don't know if this is due to the nature of YA)
Will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out and im glad I read this book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Torture, and Violence
olyviatb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
This is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read. It was the perfect combination of the hunger games meets the cruel prince meets acotar but all in a way that was unique to itself. I loved the world building, the lovable characters, the magic, the banter (especially the banter). It all went together so well and created a truly incredible story. I cannot wait until Reckless is out!Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Classism, Confinement, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Confinement, and Grief
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Murder, Violence, and Animal death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use and Child death
kaiyoung_kop's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book! WOW
The first half of the book is reminiscent of red queen, however it’s world building and imagery is really good!
It’s a simple, fun and easy read
I was squealing at the banter, and the tension was amazing
It was slow burn and instant love at the same time(?) in that mc and love interest didn’t acknowledge their feelings for one another until the end, but since the start there was SO MUCH PINING
Overall, 4.5 stars
It’s great for reading when trying to get out of a slump, or after you DNF’d another book. I would recommend it as a closed door, romantasy book (:
What would make it better and bring it up to five stars would be: less instant love (love interest liked mc since the start) and once the got together, more romantic moments.Â
Age rating - 11+
Stars - 4.5
Genres - romance (closed door), fantasy
The first half of the book is reminiscent of red queen, however it’s world building and imagery is really good!
It’s a simple, fun and easy read
I was squealing at the banter, and the tension was amazing
It was slow burn and instant love at the same time(?) in that mc and love interest didn’t acknowledge their feelings for one another until the end, but since the start there was SO MUCH PINING
Overall, 4.5 stars
It’s great for reading when trying to get out of a slump, or after you DNF’d another book. I would recommend it as a closed door, romantasy book (:
What would make it better and bring it up to five stars would be: less instant love (love interest liked mc since the start) and once the got together, more romantic moments.Â
Age rating - 11+
Stars - 4.5
Genres - romance (closed door), fantasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Torture
auri_underthing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Rage. Sorrow. Revenge.
So… I think one can kind of tell that this is the author’s first book. The beginning was kinda choppy, and it felt like the author was trying to hard to make everyone incredibly witty. The first third of the book just soaked in banter, but not in an enjoyable way.Â
The whole thing was also fairly predictable. Also the slow burn was so slow it was more like dying ember.Â
But it was enjoyable. Especially the ending, holy hell the ending almost gave me whiplash.Â
So… I think one can kind of tell that this is the author’s first book. The beginning was kinda choppy, and it felt like the author was trying to hard to make everyone incredibly witty. The first third of the book just soaked in banter, but not in an enjoyable way.Â
The whole thing was also fairly predictable. Also the slow burn was so slow it was more like dying ember.Â
But it was enjoyable. Especially the ending, holy hell the ending almost gave me whiplash.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide
mimo_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dis went crazy im ngl
its a little bit hunger games coded and i was a hunger games girly so this worked out wellÂ
would go hard read physically but i CANT DO THAT
points for kai being bootleg sel
its a little bit hunger games coded and i was a hunger games girly so this worked out wellÂ
would go hard read physically but i CANT DO THAT
points for kai being bootleg sel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Child abuse
sandwiiche's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
debating b/w a 4 and a 3.75 🤔
well this was a really good debut novel! lauren roberts has a lot of potential - this book is definitely a testament to that (really, some quotes were lovely). i enjoyed the plot and the tension/banter between the characters, but i felt like some of those relationships were undeveloped (minus the fmc/mc). a few parts also felt like a bunch of popular tropes thrown in, and there were also quite a few spelling mistakes... namely one on the blurb of my edition 💀💀 also some words were overused imo - like pls search up some synonyms 🫠thankfully it doesn't take too much out of the story
was i thoroughly entertained and hooked tho? yes. i will beimpatiently waiting for the next bookÂ
well this was a really good debut novel! lauren roberts has a lot of potential - this book is definitely a testament to that (really, some quotes were lovely). i enjoyed the plot and the tension/banter between the characters, but i felt like some of those relationships were undeveloped (minus the fmc/mc). a few parts also felt like a bunch of popular tropes thrown in, and there were also quite a few spelling mistakes... namely one on the blurb of my edition 💀💀 also some words were overused imo - like pls search up some synonyms 🫠thankfully it doesn't take too much out of the story
was i thoroughly entertained and hooked tho? yes. i will be
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence