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oxfordcommas91'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
Strongly recommend this for female fantasy readers once you've gone through all the romantasy books. It's a good next step from a series like Throne of Glass. While I wouldn't say this is a romatasy by any stretch, it is a fantasy with a romance plotline so it still scratches that itch if you're willing to really invest in it!
The only downside is that there are a lot of characters - a ton of names, places, and dragons - to remember. I kept a running glossary in a phone note only to find that there was an actual glossary in the back of the book. Use that and it will be immensely helpful. The few hundred pages were a bit slow as we learned the history and current culture of the kingdoms and people in them, but the build up was worth the pay-off for me on this one!
I'm on the fence as to whether or not I will read the prequel (mostly because prequels aren't really my thing), but I'd take a sequel to this one any day!
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, and Death of parent
hardcover_hazel'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
Going into felt overwhelming - it’s so long, and there’s a million places and characters thrown at you. It is high fantasy after all. And Ms. Shannon definitely knew my weakness (names). Literally ask the people I love how many times a day I say “I forgot the name but” and continue to describe something so obvious 😂
But somehow, the Mother gifted me with enough brainpower to not only remember people (after writing down 7 names) but places too (after writing down 5) and less than a hundred pages in I was remembering everyone and everything and knew exactly what was going on and I was HOOKED.
So, go into it with a mindset of this is your textbook and you’ll be fine 😂
We have dragons, we have magic, we have pirates, we have politics, we have cultures, we have religions, we have POC, we have sapphics, we have gays, we have queers. In a whole ass fantasy world!
And what a world it is.
I understand why this is compared to Game of Thrones. Because I’d be winter if this got turned into a series (coming)
4.5 stars because this was an entire 800 book leading up to this massive battle… that was over in 30 pages. And also because of throwing so many names at me at first that I actually had to write them down without even knowing there was a whole ass glossary of them at the back 😂
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
periodblood's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Sexual content
saskiahill's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Sexual content
thea_elise'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? It's complicated
4.0
I liked the multiple povs, and my favorite one was Tané’s. At times I found myself irritated over it suddenly switching over to another, but I do understand that it’s an attempt at making the story as linear as possible.
I was a bit hard to get interested and invested in the story, and at time I struggled to keep my focus. But that does not mean that it was a boring book. Not at all. I think it was the most complex book I have any remembrance of. The world building was stunning and at time a bit overwhelming, I often found myself wanting to learn more and more, but that just the history nerd in me.
I mostly listen to the audiobook and the narrator gave both the story the characters a bit more dept. One of the few narrators I’ve heard, whose voice did not irritate me, but more catch my attention.
I did not like the inconclusive ending, mostly because it’s no talk of a second book (as far as I’ve heard), but I do look forward to reading the prequel:)
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Torture, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
kukazashi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
sarasbookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Torture, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kiaras's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Infertility, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Confinement, Xenophobia, Grief, and Classism
dalek_caan'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: Animal death, Death, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
emmiej'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
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Deportation