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lilifane'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
Is this the best YA fantasy book ever written? Maybe?
At least, it's one of the best I've read. Truly, the writing is fantastic. I laughed, I cried, I was at the edge of my seat and turned page after page after page. And I just found out this is Tracy Deonn's debut novel?! What?!
Loved the writing. Looooved the characters, the character work, development, their dynamics are so good. There are some tropes I usually don't enjoy that much, but here I didn't mind, I was even invested. I'm here for it. And there is so much LGBTQ+ representation! Gay, Lesbian, Bi Characters, a non-binary one. And the way they are casually part of the story made me SO happy.
Also, Bree as the protagonist is such a delight to follow. Even when she is grieving and angry. I love her.
I'm a fan of Arthurian legends. One of my first fantasy books ever was a retelling of the legend. Since then, I've encountered many more and this one is so unique. I have to admit, it is confusing at the beginning. There is a lot of world building (A LOT), a lot of names, and details. The magic system is wild and equally confusing. And then halfway through the book a second magic system comes into play. And I loved this one even more. But it worked for me. In the end everything came together perfectly, the plot, the characters, the mysteries. The ending is so satisfying.
And all that, the character dynamics, the friendships, the romance, the magic, the (for me perfectly paced) plot is interwoven with themes like grief, racism, colonization, slavery, generational trauma in such a brilliant way. I could say so much more and talk about this book for hours on end, but I don't want to spoil anything. I'm just in love which this story and can't wait to continue with Bloodmarked right away.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Gore, Rape, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
rayreyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ever ever ever.
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Alcohol, and Classism
hayzey'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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Slavery, Police brutality, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Transphobia
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Rape
ruthlessreads'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
4.5
The pacing was a little off and the characters were 8/10. Some of the side characters were a little stiff or spare and felt like part of the scenery, even some of the “bigger” side characters. Why was I supposed to care when that one dude (?) died? Sad I guess but, like, your after school club is “war but with mythology intertwined” lol so idk it just didn’t hit like I thought it should.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, can’t wait to read more, and will definitely be picking up book #2.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Alcohol
jhaneveauguste's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Murder
irisheyz77'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
3.5
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
roseamillerg'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? Yes
4.0
almost DNF’d multiple times, but I am happy that I finished the book.
P.s. William is *chef’s kiss* 😌
P.p.s the cover is so pretty 🥺🥵
Also can I just say SEL🦋🦋🦋💀
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Stalking