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eedle_cacleberry'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: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement and Emotional abuse
isabelleroyall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
taryn_g'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
katiefronk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
sxndaze's review
- 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
4.5
My darling, you’ve always had a choice.
an incredible sequel and an incredible duology. the mutilple povs give us so much more to digest and understand and while it took me a bit to get into elm’s story (not him though as i do adore his character), it comes together beautifully in the end.
everything is wrapped up beautifully and maybe too neatly, but im a sucker for happy endings and don’t crave angst too much.
the nightmare is my favourite and his banter with everyone is fantastic.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child death and Alcohol
bibliokayla'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
4.25
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
bethann_coleates'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: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
nakole'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? It's complicated
3.5
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒: 1/5
I didn’t read this one as fast and that could be part of the reason I didn’t like it as much. Another reason could be that I was expecting Elspeth & Ravyn’s relationship to have more page time, but it just didn’t happen and it was kinda a let down. That is not to say I didn’t like the relationship that was predominately on page , because I did, it just wasn’t what I was expecting/wanting going into the book.
𝒜 𝐹𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒬𝓊𝑜𝓉𝑒: “In the wood, the spindle is slight. A delicate tree against hail, wind, and might. But how the tree carries, and how the roots dig. She weathers all storms, no matter their bite.”
The duology as a whole was good and it is a series I would recommend. If you’re looking for a book with a dark gothic fairytale vibe with an interesting magic system and not a lot of romance, this is definitely a series you should give a try.
TW: Parental Abandonment; Child Neglect; Self harm for magic (mentioned); Alcohol Consumption; Blood & Injury Depiction; Whipping; Attempted Execution; Poisoning; Murder; Loss of Autonomy/Possession/Mind Control; Sexual Content (consensual); Suicidal Ideation (mentioned)
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
tmholsman_1994'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
5.0
Be wary.
Be clever.
Be good.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, and Toxic relationship
fannehsm'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? No
5.0
I love the prose and the riddles. And the Nightmare is more sassy in this one, showing more personality. There is slightly less slashy-murder here, more battles with words, politics, and trickiness.
We see and follow a different love story—including some from past. The world and characters built around Elspeth and the Nightmare are built out even more! Rachel Gillig does such a great job laying out clues everywhere throughout this duology and it was so much fun trying to piece it all together. There was consistency in the breadcrumbs leading into the full story of the Sheperd King and the Spirit of the Woods.
I love this story for the fantasy, mystery, and the quiet, gentle, full of wonder (hehe). If you’re looking for hot sexy romance, this is not it! This is beautiful and calm and stormy reverence.
(I will miss the Nightmare’s companionship. Goodbye.)
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual content