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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
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
jaqylantern'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? Yes
3.0
I feel like this came out in the time publishing wanted YA books to be barely more than 300 pages. It also feels this was "let's see how the first book does and go from there" because this feels like it could be a standalone OR you could continue the trilogy.
My biggest issue is really the pacing. This book could have been great with 20-50 more pages. Really let emotions sit and be a big thing- several times Sage got super angry for valid reasons but it passed by the next page. The misunderstanding could have built a bit more and become really tense.
This really could have been great, but I will be donating this.
Graphic: Child death and Violence
silver_valkyrie_reads'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? Yes
3.75
I don't have any particular plans to pick up the rest of the series, but I could see the whim striking sometime.
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
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
kart_mac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Vomit
Moderate: Child death
nirelocin'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
4.0
Moderate: Child death and Violence
glauxgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Speaking of that plot hack, I had a difficult time visualizing anyone aside from Sage. As other reviewers have pointed out, characters are problematically described as shades of "dark," which (racist stereotyping notwithstanding) doesn't tell me much. Who is white and who is POC? I even went to the author's website in hopes of finding some character sketches or creator-approved renderings, but no luck. On the other hand, passages about far less interesting topics, like the cistern, were written in such detail, yet I still couldn't picture them clearly. So I'd press on and hope for more action and dialogue in the next chapter.
I did not see the twist coming; in fact, I had to go back and reread the reveal several times to make sure I was understanding the implications of it, and honestly I'm still not sure I have a handle on it. Granted, I was reading this late into the night, which is a point in the book's favor—I had to know what happened next.
While Sage is a poster child for the "Not Like Other Girls" trope, the rest of the characters kept me invested in the outcome, particularly Casseck, Charlie, and Lady Clare. The encounters between Sage and Ash are some of my favorite moments—sweet and tantalizing (I like the long game in romance).
The final showdown didn't have the payoff I expected after such a long lead-up, and
I'm going to take a break and read something contemporary before deciding if I'll carry on with the series. As of now, I could go either way.
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault