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mailuss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
tallnecked_pancakeface'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
2.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cozywithraven'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
The world is a really cool concept, I liked most of the magic system, I liked the main character because she didn't feel like a generic stand-in; she was opinionated and skilled appropriately for the journey, and self-aware.
The ending felt jumbled for me, we had been away from the starting point for so long that I couldn't remember any of the opening characters' names or roles.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
3.5
I thought the characters were interesting along with the world. It was a little slow in some places for me, but I enjoyed it regardless.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookthief'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
midnacine'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
I had a hard time getting into this at first, which was really surprising to me cuz pirates are like... my thing. Around 80 pages, while I loved the characters introduced, I found myself just not clicking with the book as much as I wanted to. It could very well just be me taking time to warm to a new series, because I consider myself notorious on that front. It could have also just been that I was trying desperately to not pick up a new book as soon as it released (I've been avoiding spoilers like the plague). But I think the main culprit is just there's a ton of exposition that's not extremely necessary to the plot of the book- maybe it could have been saved for later, even for book two. But once we were introduced to Vataea, that something clicked.
I'm not sure if I just sensed the missing dynamic when Vataea wasn't there or what, because it wasn't her character itself that made the book hard to put down, just the fact that she kind of pulled everything together. All of the sudden, I could actually read 20-40 pages at a time without even realizing it. And the little bit of romance between Amora and Bastian coming to fruition didn't hurt, either.
To me, the best part about this book were the last 150 pages. Riding the emotional journey of discovering the Montara family's secret with Amora was incredibly satisfying, as well were all of the battle scenes we get to experience from her perspective. And the internal struggle she faces in the final act? It was the nail in the coffin that got me to connect with Amora on a deeper level.
Overall, I really enjoy Adalyn Grace's writing style and I look forward to reading the second! Maybe I'll even add Belladonna to my TBR soon!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
lizzye33's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty and Fire/Fire injury
symabee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, and Trafficking
arthomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail