Scan barcode
mrsjburgin'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
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
eleek0609'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
psychnp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It really offers a nice balance, they're happening concurrently, and has a few overlapping story lines that flow better
Graphic: Medical trauma and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jls6283'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
The way people talk about this book online I was expecting it to be BORING and for Chaol to *finally* be a giant douche-canoe that I would end up hating since everyone else hates on him…
To me, the beauty of all these Maasverse books has been people/fae/whatever have big, emotional reactions (like humans are supposed to). Her characters feel deeply and grow and learn and evolve and adapt. I HATE how so many people who like these books praise female characters (like Nesta or Manon) for their healing journey and growth, BUT FOR SOME REASON DON’T WANT MALE CHARACTERS TO DO THE SAME.
I’ve been pro-Chaol from the beginning. Does he mess up? Yes. Does he question everyone and everything and sometimes get confused about what he believes in? Yes! He’s a human being! I’ve certainly done all of these things and I understand him so much.
If you’ve ever felt depressed and unloveable, this book is almost triggering. 😅 I had more of an emotional reaction to this one than any of the others so far. It might be my favorite of them so far - I know that’s a hot take, but I’ll stand by it! I’m so proud of my boy Chaol ❤️
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
unboundbooklover'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
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
ave_gall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
literarymary95'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Murder
emilywemily6'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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Torture, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Alcohol
pumpkaboola'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: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Slavery
savage_book_review's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I like the final pairings that result from this story, but then all of the pairings up to now have felt 'right', and they've mostly fallen apart! There's a lot of serial monogamy going on, and while it doesn't sit quite right with me just how quickly the various feelings seem to come and go, I can appreciate that it's a good illustration of the characters' growth. That being said, the writing of the developing relationships here is a bit clunky in places; the change in Yrene's feelings especially feels really uneven. Considering how good SJM is at writing the enemies-to-lovers trope, this one really falls short of the mark.
I also love that, even with Aelin sidelined, little tidbits if her story so far start to pay dividends here. The reader gets to be in the know while characters remain in the dark (to an extent), and some of the payoffs that result are beautifully done.
But. This read through is also the first time I've found myself getting annoyed with one of SJM's writing 'tics'... I can laugh about the vulgar gestures and the watery bowels, but the amount of times she measures moments in heartbeats really started to get to me. I probably don't pick up on this as much when physically reading the books (and I don't recall it ever bothering me in previous reads), but the phrasing, coupled with the narrators almost identical inflections every single time this came up really makes the sheer volume of usage stand out.
Quick question regarding the narrator and Yrene's voice... am I going mad, or has she dropped the accent she used for Yrene is Assassin's Blade? Seems very unlike her to change the voice of a character half way through...
I am able-bodied, and cannot imagine being in Chaol's situation. Indeed, I suspect I'd be as desperate for a cure as he is. But I appreciate that the 'disabled person hating themselves because they can't walk' storyline has been used elsewhere in the past, and has been criticised for belittling the people and emotions behind these scenarios. Obviously in this case the fantasy setting makes a cure more readily available, and Chaol's emotions are part of the problem, but I just keep wondering if his character arc (and 'redemption' for want of a better word) would have been better served by his having to adapt and grow despite his disability? But then would it fit the world the character lives in? I just don't know.
Overall, this book is definitely better read in tandem with 'Empire of Storms', but nevertheless is still engaging and stands on its own merits. It certainly is not the best book in the series, but is a nice little breather before the emotional rollercoaster of KoA.
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail