Scan barcode
pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
spiderdrac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I personally got confused a couple times when it came to the war aspects of the story but that's just me.
Graphic: Death and War
callistag1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Child death and Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
jmatsumura'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? No
4.0
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death
saoreads'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
bookish_bookerz'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
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Torture
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
About the first half of the book is the group of soon to be brides traveling to the capital for with an escort supplied by the military. This part of the book really focuses on Sage and Ash's growing friendship and building up for the second half of the book where most of the espionage, fighting and politics takes place at the forefront.
The second half takes place at Duke D'Amiran's estate, and where Sage is asked by Captain Quinn to help the military escort figure out what is happening as they are missing key pieces of information and are unable to mingle with the Nobles and lower class/servants as easily as she can.
Things I did NOT like about the book:
- When Sage is dressing up nicely she does the stereotypical corsets are uncomfortable and how it is hard to do certain activities in them. Whilst this sets up the "She is not like other girls" trope, corsets in history were not uncomfortable but were instead used for chest support. These lines and ones similar to it came across as a bit of regurgitation about how corsets should feel without looking into it.
- The "Not like Other Girls" trope represents girls who like more stereo typically feminine things in a negative light. From subtext that they are not free or thinking for themselves, and all the girls in the bridal party var one are hostile towards Sage even though she doesn't represent a threat to their marriages.
- Lack/basic character descriptions for everyone which leads to anyone outside of the average white look being written as "darker skin" or so vaguely that you forget that this character is meant to be POC.
- The plot twist that Ash Carter was actually Captain Quinn undercover the whole time. How the plot twist was executed was set up nicely where you start questioning things but can't really figure out what's wrong as you don't have the final pieces, but the plot twist itself left much to be desired.
Personally I liked the idea that a side character in the opening few chapters focusing and meeting the soldiers was who Sage was spending time and falling in love in love with. It felt different from the formula of the two main characters having to be the ones together. It honestly felt really natural and I loved how they interacted together. The plot twist felt shoved in there so it is the two "main/important" characters together and taints everything that came before where they are getting to know each other and the chemistry.
Moderate: Child death, Death, and War
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, and Sexual harassment