bangiebangs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What I didn't enjoy:
- the dubious or nonexistent consent (again); they all seem ruled by their bonds occasionally, and one bonding occurs here where neither of the people involved have any agency over their actions, but the bond still completes.
- Oleander is still pretty whiny and naive. Some specks of self-esteem are showing up but if she and everyone else just communicated... this would be much less annoying.
- What I LOATHE in this series is the body shaming... like, Oleander seems to be conventionally pretty/ have a normal, slim body; throughout the book(s) she starts tactical training (sounds like basically CrossFit plus martial arts), so she gets pretty physically fit. AND STILL there are so many scenes where she just thinks about her body, like why the guys would like her "lean, toned" legs (because how is that appealing, a mystery!), or her belly (that was slim to begin with, and is now even flatter). This is also a book with the "she eats more than the guys and still doesn't put on any weight!" trope (both the FMC and her sidekick best friend).
Like, in the scene after the bonding, we're talking sex haze afterglow... just nope:
"I'm definitely not perfect but he says it with so much conviction that I desperately want to believe him. His hand begins to move to stroke over the soft skin of my belly and I'm happy that all my training has shrunk the little belly I have there. I still have one, probably because it's housing my uterus because, hi there, I'm a girl, but it's not something I'm self-conscious of anymore."
What I enjoyed:
- some more hints at the mechanics of bonding... and possibility of manipulating it? I'm really curious to learn what is going on there.
- more of the Resistance, though I still have no idea what their goal might be other than terrorizing the Gifted community? But am looking forward to see what all the foreshadowing was about. So far, a confusing but good villain.
- the bonding itself. With my favorite. Here for it! (Spice overall would say 2/5)
So yeah, some issues with this, lots of CNs to watch out for, but still enjoyable.
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Blood and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy
briochebun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
superstar_y2k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
mx_virg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Vomit, and Car accident
ka_ke'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Body horror, Classism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
amre23'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: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Blood, Alcohol, and Bullying
Minor: Torture, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
lotte5322's review against another edition
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Torture
stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
Minor: Torture, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
michaela999'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Death of parent, and Gun violence