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readinggem'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
sonatica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Body horror, and Infidelity
Minor: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Confinement, and Medical content
kori_dragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Religious bigotry, War, and Infidelity
Sexual content in the later half of the book. Graphic murder in the later half of the book.cwerber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Seriously, though. I loved the two main characters and several of the secondary characters. I can't wait to read the second and third books.
But I do have a question that may never be answered. How did Stephen's god die? Maybe that question will eventually be answered.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Sexual content
chellski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Death, and Emotional abuse
maryellen'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Body horror
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
saintyeehaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
maidofbees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Infidelity
emcat591'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
3.5
My issues with the book concern two areas: the romance plot, and the mystery plots.
I am a fan of romance, and I knew there would be a romance plot going in. However, I found it to be formulaic and uninspired. Following a formula is not always a bad thing, but in this case, Grace and Stephen's reasons for avoiding the relationship were very flimsy, and most of their inner monologues boiled down to "he/she would never be interested in me." I'm more inclined to give Grace a pass, due to her past experiences with relationship trauma, but for me, this part of the romance arc goes on too long. Stephen's primary obstacle in the relationship is easily shot down in one conversation with Isthvan. Grace and Stephen are supposed to be in their thirties, which in this book might as well be 100 based on the number of "I'm not in my twenties anymore"/similar comments between the two of them. Also, Grace continually refers to their conversations as "awkward," when they're honestly just normal conversations that you would have with someone you were getting to know. A certain amount of obliviousness/"everyone knows but them" is fine, but this was just a little too much. Overall, they did have some cute moments, but the romance suffered from a lack of development.
Secondly, the mystery plots felt like they were going to be way more of a focus in the story, but ended up falling flat. One is just sort of hand-waved away as being more or less the accidental bumblings of an idiot that had nothing to do with any of the protagonists at all, and the other is saved for the sequel when it was just finally heating up. This left the end of the book feeling unresolved and rushed, and most of the drama of the book ended up seeming pointless in retrospect.
Other nitpicks (under spoiler because they're more specific):
-Stephen's "berserker rage" was built up throughout the novel but ended up just being more of a property damage thing/didn't really have any consequences
-Marguerite just disappears at a certain point (possibly because her character would have been too useful with regards to the trial/political drama?) and there's not much resolution on that
-Phillip's reappearance was just sort of unfulfilling. He's obviously a worm who was paid off to testify against her, as he states later that he has lost the shop and has no money, and in a way I was sort of glad she got to tell him off a bit, but that scene also didn't feel as impactful as it could have.
As I said, overall I enjoyed the book, hence the mostly positive rating. I did appreciate the existence of the seemingly nonbinary/genderqueer Zale, who simply exists and operates within the story without having their gender be explained or take focus or define them in any way. That was nice to see.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders