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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
youarethelibrarian'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
3.5
I really liked the first third of the book that let us see and experience Thia’s depression, but it didn’t seem true to the story that she was able to shake it off just because the stakes got high enough.
I also felt that we needed more information about the crows and Thia’s kingdom in the story, instead of in the back of the book as additional, almost glossary-type information.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
bratt713'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
4.75
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Death, and Abandonment
dhiyanah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I found myself wishing the romance here could feel more believable and less like an obligated afterthought, I was impressed by how clearly and compassionately Thia's struggle with depression was depicted. The scenes with the crows and magic were so much fun to read.
Graphic: Mental illness and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: War
Minor: Violence
indigosparrow'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
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