macliffe's review
- 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
Graphic: Violence and Racism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Racial slurs
crystalsparkles'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Slavery, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Bullying, Death of parent, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Racism, War, Murder, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Genocide, and Medical trauma
chandelierskies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Trafficking and Violence
_nerdy_fantasy_reader1313's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The world building is phenomenal! The characters and their development is fantastic. I loved watching Elloren's character and others evolve to what they were at the end. Fallon and Elloren's banter makes you hate Fallon but love the depth of her character and Elloren. The suspense and small plot twists were immaculate! It doesn't feel like you are reading 600 pages, it is so fast paced, however you understand everything that is happening and don't get lost.
This book reminds me a lot of the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling from the setting of the University to Fallon Bane being like a female version of Draco Malfoy. It also reminds me a lot of The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand with the angels and Iracnals to the complex religion along with the ancient prophecy that surrounds the main characters. If you like either of these books read this!!!
If I could rate this 100/5 stars on this app I would! This book I'd such a delight and I cannot wait to see where The Iron Flower takes Elloren and her friends.
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Bullying
koistyfishy's review
- 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
4.5
I recently watched an interview with two authors and they touched on the topic about the main differences between writing for YA and writing for Adults and one aspect stuck with me that I absolutely loved. It stuck because to me it’s the quintessential line between the two and ultimately is the essence of this book and what makes this book so strong and striking to read.
The main aspect in YA is it’s about firsts: first kisses, first relationships and first experience. It’s also about taking those first major steps at finding who you are as a person as you live through these experiences.
There is a simple quote from this book that stands out to me in its simplicity as it reinforces this aspect of firsts and really emphasised how characters can change as they learn the about world for themselves…
“I’m sorry” I murder. “I’m sorry I was so ignorant…and wrong when I first came here”
I am not going to lie and say this was an easy book as there are moments in this book that are difficult to read. There were times I gasped out loud at outrage and had to put the book down for a moment to let the moments sink in. There were also times when I was incredibly angry at what I was reading… but I appreciate that the author did not shy away from describing atrocities or behaviour… so many authors ignore or don’t touch on it enough and knowing what we have in our own tainted history of the Holocaust and Apartheid and what horrendous acts occurred when racial and religious purity is concerned…real people are terrifying and not shying away from that in a book should be commended not punished.
What I didn’t like about this book is that it took very long to get to the end and the major action was the last few pages… it was very slice of lifey in aspects and I wasn’t sure where the plot was going until about 3/4 quarters into the book.
Overall very good book and happy to have picked it up… stepping right into book 2.
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Xenophobia
fireheart_2010'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: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, War, Violence, Vomit, Sexism, and Sexual assault
amandaquotidianbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
ka_ke's review
- 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
People like to say the Deadly Education or Zodiac Academy series are adult Harry Potter, but I think the Black Witch Chronicles are a better comparison.
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Slavery, Trafficking, Bullying, Xenophobia, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Racism, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and War
Minor: Death of parent
rini's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Ableism, Death, and Death of parent
cranereader's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Bullying, and Hate crime