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grayscale08'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
jords1808'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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Grief
anilein'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
laleh_eve'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: Bullying, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
pbuzzard'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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
cdoubet'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: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The writing was clunky and repetitive, the author used words whose meanings she clearly didn't understand, and the logistics of what was supposed to be physically happening (especially during battle scenes) were often difficult to follow. The smut wasn't bad, but was outweighed by the endless stream of horny thoughts every single time the two main characters interacted with each other, even when they're supposed to be in dire circumstances or experiencing emotional devastation. The worldbuilding was weak as fuck and seemed to be made up on the spot throughout the book. The way the "war college" works doesn't stand up to even the slightest amount of scrutiny - why would they want to relentlessly kill off all their able-bodied young soldiers when they're at war? Luckily, given the death toll, other than maybe 3 of the main characters, no one has a personality at all; best friends, squad mates, teachers, and family members are basically cardboard cutouts with little to no identity. And while Violet herself is the best-developed of the bunch, it has to be said that her motivations simply aren't there. Other than ~proving people wrong~ once she's there, there is no explanation for why she would commit herself to fighting herself into a violent and early death, when she's given multiple opportunities to go back to the life she always wanted and planned for. She never thinks about the future at all.
All that being said, it was a quick read, and I do wonder where the story is going next. Future books could be good pulp romantasy fun if given the kind of editing they need. My one bit of praise is that I appreciate the hEDS representation, and that she receives accommodations for it. I have literally never seen this aspect of myself reflected in a book before (although I know of another one coming out soon!) and that element was genuinely well done.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Drug use, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
fabledfoxes'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ettaviereads'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book has everything I’m looking for in a good fantasy novel: magic, friendship, plot twists, dragons, love interests, flawed characters, action, and so much more.
I’m almost glad I jumped onto this bandwagon late so I don’t have to sit on the final plot twist of the book for too long.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Grief
clairew97'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail