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lottie1803'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
4.0
Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
joylehua_95's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Elias is my favorite character. He is selfless and brave, but this can also be a hindrance to his growth. He feels he hurts the ones he loves, so he feels he needs to isolate. When really, it's his love and general humanity that is his strong point. I love Laia, I feel she has grown into herself. She has become brave, sure of herself. She is no longer the girl that ran away.
I am not fully entrenched in Helene's story yet; I have not fully connected with her in this book. However, I feel for her character, though, because, unlike Elias, she is deep in the grasp of the Empire. She sacrificed herself, her freedom for Elias and the greater good of the Empire.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
sahramahtab'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
Now, Laia... I love her, but girl, why so naive at times? Letting a certain someone
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
anarmandameg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
dawnilton'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
The character writing was the highlight in this book. Every main and side character we got to know had such good character development and I really feel connected to them. I really enjoyed seeing Helena, Laia and Elias' journey and how their paths intertwined with each other. You could really see it all come together in the end in a satisfying and heartbreaking way. Just like book 1, I think Elias' POV was much more interesting than Laia's POV. I just felt there was so much more to explore with Elias, his mental struggle with death, dealing with his mom,
I still have so many questions about the magic in this book.
This is your sign - read the second book! It will meet all your expectations.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
This book is very graphic and deals with heavy topics. Just like the first book, it doesn't shy away from violence. Just be aware of this before going into the book.theintrovertsbooks'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
caseythereader'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
lydiasturges's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
bzliz'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
There’s an interesting theme of isolation between our three leads- Laia with Keenan, Elias with the Soul Catcher, and Helene’s loss- and how they face this isolation and forge ahead shows how special they are. This is also a spot I find frustrating as a reader because I’m certain these characters will all have to trust each other eventually to defeat the final evil but they don’t right now so they lack the full picture that they’d have if they worked together.
Sabaa Tahir excels in creating complex characters that thrive in murky gray morality and I absolutely love it. I was concerned about Helene’s story being consumed by lovesick feelings but I’m thrilled she’s coming in to her own. Elias’s journey is fascinating- he does everything in his power even as he’s dying to fulfill his vow to Laia (obligatory: Ladies, don’t settle. If he wanted to, he would.) and it leads to a big twist I know will be crucial and probably necessary as the series builds. And I already didn’t care for Keenan (he has big Gale energy) but there’s no way I could have predicted his deeply layered secrets.
I appreciate the well balanced push-pull between the different forces at play. It can be frustrating when you read something where the villains never slip up and are always one step ahead. Even as the Commandant builds her secret plans, Helene manages to foil some, which is a huge accomplishment when you consider the Commandant’s unearthly ally. Laia and Elias also discover a weakness in the Nightbringer despite the power imbalance between them. These successes make the world grim but not entirely bleak.
Content warnings: this world is brutal and survives on groups enacting violence upon each other. I’d recommend you stay away from the series if you can’t stand true cruelty.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent