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veeronald'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? No
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
katsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“Don't look so worried. Most successful missions are just a series of barely averted disasters.”
“You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.”
Whoa. This novel was a wild ride, much like it's predecessor which I also enjoyed a lot. The adventure and intrigue were a ton of fun and kept me turning pages, especially during the last half. The plot twists were on point and they just kept on coming. Between presumed deaths, actual deaths, a love triangle and a massive betrayal, the drama almost gave me whiplash, but in the best possible way. Elias is the sweetest while also being a total badass. I love how much Laia's character has grown. And while I started off not really liking Helene's POV, I really appreciated her by the end of the book. I also ended up liking Harper much more than I thought I would. I really liked the more overtly fantastical elements incorporated into this novel (as opposed to the first novel, An Ember in the Ashes) and I'm really excited to see how those elements get fleshed out in the last two novels. There are some significant trigger warnings for graphic violence, torture, child abuse and genocide so please be aware.
REREAD:
This was just as fantastic the second time around. The twists and turns were just as good. I was a little frustrated that I forgot so much about the plot over the last year but that just meant I really got to relive it. And honestly I have so many questions for book 3. The character's are so well written and I'm convinced Tahir is going to rip my heart out in the last two books. So here goes nothing.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content
sydapel'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
ramiel'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
Imperialism is one hell of a drug. "Mild" are: the emperor is a rapist and makes a lot of threats. Some of the sexual content - such as that between the two main characters - is innocent and not excessively detailed but its there.