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ceruleanshelves'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? No
4.0
“Strength comes in many forms," she said. "The lion fears only the fox.”
this had a pretty unique magic system with crows being magical creatures, not only much larger in size but powerful in many different ways - from sun, to fire, to earth, and more. the worldbuilding of an entire kingdom built around a partnership w the crows was quite original and intriguing.
overall i think this was a good debut YA fantasy for a duology. the plot wasn't very fast-paced, which i don't mind but i do think going into more details of not only thia's kingdom, but ericen's could've made up for it. i know there's alot to it bc of the world guide in the back, but unfortunately by jumping into the main action immediately in the book, we don't get to see a lot of it firsthand.
i also was really rooting for an arranged marriage / rival kingdoms romance, but i don't think it's going to go that way :/
i liked the characters and i hope we get more of a found family trope in book 2!
Strength was Caliza taking on the weight of a kingdom without a single complaint. Strength was Kiva’s willingness to give up everything she’d ever known to protect someone she loved. Strength was Caylus’s curious mind, Auma’s unwavering determination, and Ericen’s struggle to remain honorable in a kingdom that had forgotten the meaning.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
bura510's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Blood, and War
robin_reads'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? No
4.0
Minus points for the love triangle and little things that bother me in a lot of YA books of this kind. The romance doesn't feel like one.
The narration of the audiobook by Robin Miles is pretty awesome. Very passionate and easy to listen to.
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Blood
madamenovelist'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
3.25
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
meaghanelizabook'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
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: War
imaginingly's review
- 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
5.0
there is very mild romance which i loved
the character development is *chefs kiss* and the entire plot revolving around crows (as i’m a bird lover to start with) is astonishing
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War
egurgens's review
- 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
4.75
Ericen is a masterpiece in my opinion; one part ice and loyalty, one part fire and rebellion, and the rest is a mess, since he doesn't know what he wants from this war. He's just a softie with a tough shell, and I adore him. I also adore Caylus, all PTSD and mismatched sweaters and science and baking.
There is so much political drama: a mad, blood hungry queen vs the trained Crow rider who has to face the wrath of the mad queen to save her country... or does she? Thia found a storm crow egg in the ruins of the roost, and decides to try and raise it to rally her country and fight back against the Illucian oppressors.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
dlrosebyh's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Sexual harassment
melaniereadsbooks's review
- 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
4.5
I also really loved the side characters in this book! Kiva is great, as well as Caylus, and of course the crows!
The magic system is super interesting. I wish that we had been able to see more of it in this book, but I look forward to reading about it more in the sequel.
Definitely recommend!
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Xenophobia, and Kidnapping
Minor: Self harm
chaptersofmads's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Self harm