sylvestra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Child death, and Torture
njthk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I am inconsolable.
This book provided the necessary character work to set up a great finale.
Cassius is going to get a whole ass spoiler analysis in this.
Darrow's emotional growth was great. I still don't like him, but that's okay. I'm more of an observer through his eyes than someone wanting to relate to him. I don't like him, but he doesn't infuriate me, if that makes sense. (I think it's just a personal sympathy thingy lol.)
In fact, everyone's emotional growth on the Archimedes was great, and it was the best idea to throw these characters on a small ship.
Cassius was born to be a brother. From the moment he reunited with Darrow, he was attached to him at the hip. Always looking out for him, tending to him, confiding in him, and most importantly, feeling loved by him and loving him. But this theme of brotherhood and just Cassius being a brother didn't only happen with Darrow. It happened with Lyria, with the slaves he freed at Sungrave without a second thought, with him taking the shit from Sevro because he knew that Sevro was in a very bad place, and lastly, with him blindly helping the man he raised for 10 years.
HIS LITTLE ADOPTIVE BROTHER AND IT COST HIM HIS LIFE. HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AFTER ALLAT KILLED HIM. BROTHERHOOD KILLED HIM.
The way he was killed was a big cosmic joke and the farthest away from honor anything can get.
But I honestly saw it coming, and he went out with as much closure as he could get.
(AND HE NEVER SAW HIS HOME AGAIN. HE HAS BEEN AWAY FROM MARS SINCE HE WAS 21. HE HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT, BUT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO DARROW)
In the book, the title Lightbringer *literally* alludes to Lysander.
But in the end, Cassius was the morning who killed fear and brought light. He was Darrow's Lightbringer. This is so poetic on so many levels I'm crying.
This book provided the necessary character work to set up a great finale.
Cassius is going to get a whole ass spoiler analysis in this.
Darrow's emotional growth was great. I still don't like him, but that's okay. I'm more of an observer through his eyes than someone wanting to relate to him. I don't like him, but he doesn't infuriate me, if that makes sense. (I think it's just a personal sympathy thingy lol.)
In fact, everyone's emotional growth on the Archimedes was great, and it was the best idea to throw these characters on a small ship.
Spoiler
(The way Fà got dragged lmaooo. I did not see this coming)Spoiler
OKAY NOW CASSIUS, THE MOST TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE WORLDS.Cassius was born to be a brother. From the moment he reunited with Darrow, he was attached to him at the hip. Always looking out for him, tending to him, confiding in him, and most importantly, feeling loved by him and loving him. But this theme of brotherhood and just Cassius being a brother didn't only happen with Darrow. It happened with Lyria, with the slaves he freed at Sungrave without a second thought, with him taking the shit from Sevro because he knew that Sevro was in a very bad place, and lastly, with him blindly helping the man he raised for 10 years.
HIS LITTLE ADOPTIVE BROTHER AND IT COST HIM HIS LIFE. HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AFTER ALLAT KILLED HIM. BROTHERHOOD KILLED HIM.
The way he was killed was a big cosmic joke and the farthest away from honor anything can get.
But I honestly saw it coming, and he went out with as much closure as he could get.
(AND HE NEVER SAW HIS HOME AGAIN. HE HAS BEEN AWAY FROM MARS SINCE HE WAS 21. HE HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT, BUT HE WENT STRAIGHT TO DARROW)
In the book, the title Lightbringer *literally* alludes to Lysander.
But in the end, Cassius was the morning who killed fear and brought light. He was Darrow's Lightbringer. This is so poetic on so many levels I'm crying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gore, Grief, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, Classism, and Torture
ripxw's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Genocide and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual violence
mylkyjo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
If you've made it to the 6th book of this series, you won't need convincing to keep reading! Amazing continuation. Slightly less grim than Dark Age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Violence, Genocide, Child death, Blood, Torture, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Death, Murder, War, and Trafficking
lpincus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Best since the original 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Blood, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
ohyeah_karyn's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Classism, Death, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Slavery, War, Kidnapping, Murder, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
alastairherd's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I have been a big fan of all of Pierce's book, zooming through them each time they come out. I generally think that the sequel series has been better than the original triology (which some people would find very surprising).
This book was strange for me. I found the pacing to be off compoared to the other books. Part II, which is supposed to be some of the highest action, fastest part of the series, felt like it dragged on for me. And the ending felt like it kept sputtering on, with jolts that to me seemed like they should have been spread out over a few more chapters happening in an instant.
But I still think that this was a great book. It was a great return to deep character relationships. The reason I love Pierce's writing is that his characters act like people. They generally do things that make sense (apart from when he has written himself into a corner). They act in ways that don't just seem like the author speaking, but the person that he has built.
I'm excited for the final conclusion in the next book and will propbably re-read the whole series again before that.
This book was strange for me. I found the pacing to be off compoared to the other books. Part II, which is supposed to be some of the highest action, fastest part of the series, felt like it dragged on for me. And the ending felt like it kept sputtering on, with jolts that to me seemed like they should have been spread out over a few more chapters happening in an instant.
But I still think that this was a great book. It was a great return to deep character relationships. The reason I love Pierce's writing is that his characters act like people. They generally do things that make sense (apart from when he has written himself into a corner). They act in ways that don't just seem like the author speaking, but the person that he has built.
I'm excited for the final conclusion in the next book and will propbably re-read the whole series again before that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, War, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, Slavery, Cursing, Genocide, and Murder
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