Scan barcode
jehansen127's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookb1itch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
gwen_l98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Vomit
mahi_nad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.
(Be wary of minor spoilers if you haven't read this yet)
4.25 stars.
REVIEW:
THIS.
THIS BOOK.
This has to be my new favourite fantasy book. There is no better feeling when you pick up a book you later can't put down, relentlessly turning through the pages, running alongside the characters, fighting with them, laughing with them, crying with them. This book had me gripped and NEEDING to find satisfaction through the next book. The banter between Paedyn and Kai? Light, fun filled and had me SCREAMING "kiss already!!".
"If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.”
Paedyn:
I rooted for her throughout the entire book. Incredibly witty, sharp-tongued and even sharper mind, this is the kind of female lead I love. I can see people comparing this to other series like Red Queen and Hunger games, since all the fmcs go through similar things, but I have to say, something about this book trumps the other two. Watching her prove everybody around her wrong was amazing. It gave me the kind of satisfaction that's incredibly hard to find.
Kai:
At first I thought he was an idiot because he couldn't sense Paedyn's power (obviously), but I quickly grew to love him. Once again, THE BANTER. The way I felt giddy inside like a little girl every time they fought. And he braids her hair? That has to be the cutest scene I've ever read. He was smitten with her from the very beginning -- for him, she was the first girl his eyes landed on when he walked in a room. I ALSO love how he fostered her strengths instead of trying to be the cliché overprotective boyfriend and force her to hide away herself.
The slow burn? Top tier. The way Roberts wrote this entire story was genuinely beautiful. I loved it till the very end, and this has to be the first series that made me ANXIOUS for the sequel.
--- Although, quick downside. What was with the editing? Powerless had one mistake too many when it came to grammar. Also, the amount of times eye colour was pointed out was definitely way too much. We got it, Roberts. Billie Eilish is probably crying through her "ocean eyes" right now.
BOTTOM LINE:
Amazing slow burn, quick and fun banter, but lots of grammar mistakes
AGE RATING:
12+
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
savvyrosereads'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
5.0
Paedyn is an Ordinary hiding among a kingdom of powerful Elites when she is tapped to participate in the deadly Purging Trials.
I absolutely LOVED this one. It is clearly Hunger Games inspired (and sometimes reads like a fantasy version of that series) but that is one of my all-time favorite trilogies so I can hardly be mad at it. The characters here were fantastic, particularly both Kitt and Kai, and even though I am picky when it comes to my love triangles, this one was EVERYTHING (extremely Stefan/Damon coded for any TVD fans out there).
I did predict all the major beats of the ending, but I had a super fun time watching everything unfold nonetheless, and basically never wanted to put this book down, which is MORE than enough to make it a five star read. I can’t wait to continue the series!
CW: Murder/death/violence/injury; torture; death of parent/grief
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hematthews'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: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
gwyllion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, and Misogyny
beebowbabe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
zoe_mccorkle'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Grief
carlyjoann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The world building didn’t feel like an info dump even if most of it was right at the start, it gave a good canvas for the story to play out on.
The characters and their motivations seemed very cut and dry so it was fun to watch them grow and change throughout.
I like Paedyn and Kai a lot, they had good banter and chemistry.
Some of the elements reminded me of other books but that isn’t a bad thing since this stands on its own to me.
I’m excited to read the next book!
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Torture, and Grief