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imscrem'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
3.5
I did not enjoy the darkness of a lot of the early story, and often felt that the main character was being mercilessly beaten and picked on. Perhaps this was the author’s way of balancing him out (he may be a genius and good at everything he does, BUT he has terrible luck and every asshole gets to beat him). It didn’t feel like it balanced his genius to me, it just felt like reading about a 12 year old getting beaten for a hundred pages. Maybe I’m sensitive.
Still, there were ~500 pages of an amazing story, complete with a mysterious library, good friends, and many heroic escapades. A good read.
Having read this book, I’m conflicted about whether to pick up the second book in the series. This book was both amazing and terrible.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Medical content
fruya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual harassment
dreadspawn'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Misogyny
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization
kathleencoughlin'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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
olivi_yeah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
danasaur'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: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and War
cmbossy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
This book spans from tragic and nauseating to lighthearted and witty. I’d say that it is not the most descriptive but can still be very heavy.micaelamariem'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I do think the writing could have been more concise, there was no reason this had to be 700 pages. But the academia, conflict, magic, and desires were definitely compelling. The reveal at the end that I proudly predicted will be the main thing that keeps me going through the series. I would say this is an okay read, and perhaps good for fans of thick “hard fantasy” novels with lots of descriptions.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
karwc's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
kirstym25'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
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Fire/Fire injury