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dorothysbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
strong themes of terrorism and racism between fictitious groupsreadwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.25
Another day, another strong, female YA/NA novel about overthrowing the government.
I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored.
Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.
I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty.
I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.
I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored.
Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.
I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty.
I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and War
reading_nomatterwhat's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
TBH I hated this book, this is the first book in my current reading streak that has actively p!ssed me off. Mare is a whiny bitch with such a big ego it is crazy. She goes on and on about how the silvers make reds die in a war they don't want and then participates in the murder/maiming of children Just because their silver children. She thinks that everything the red guard does is justified because *oppression* and refuses to listen to any warnings or logic. She ruins the lives of the only people in the nobility who care about her, hates the man that brought her family out of ruin, and is so blind to possible manipulation she should get a scrip for it. Cal deserves NONE of he shit he gets from Mare like omg, she refuses to think about the consequences of the rebellions actions, how free will you feel when every neighboring country is coming to kill you? Cal TRIES to find a solution that will free the reds for good not just temporarily, he's trying to end the 100 yr war, he's willing to RISK HIS LIFE ON THE FRONT LINES TO TURN THE TIDES and all fucking mare can do is make snide remarks about how he must enjoy killed people???? HE IS FORCED TO KILL HIS DAD (his dads a bitch but still!) KILL HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEUGES AND ALMOST BE EXECUTED BY THE COUNTRY HE WAS JUST STARTING TO FIX and all mare can think about is how betrayed she feels because she's a fucking idiot and couldn't see corruption if it licked her clit Anywho, I simply can't enjoy a book if I hate the main character with a furious passion, I wish she was dead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Hate crime
rawan_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, and Police brutality