ariep's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Murder, Body shaming, Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Body horror, Classism, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
thumbeleia'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: Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Medical content, Body horror, Gaslighting, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, War, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Colonisation, Deportation, Child abuse, Self harm, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Hate crime, Alcohol, and Infertility
bean_7088's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I had some big gripes with how some of the characters were written.
Kai was my biggest gripe. I just could not believe that a boy raised to be the next emperor would be so bad at politics. So bad at interacting within that political sphere.
I also didn't quite understand the prejudice against cyborgs? I could understand if people were wary because cyborgs were stronger/smarter/faster whatever but that's not how it was portrayed and so it was a bit forced and weird.
I hate the died literally seconds before they could be cured thing 🙄
Even though I had gripes, and the ending was immediately predictable. I still want to read the rest of the series.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pandemic/Epidemic, Emotional abuse, and Death
Little big of cyborg body horror and descriptions of previous injuries from fire Extremely emotionally/verbally abusive parent. Bigotry against cyborgs and other people Pandemic. Death of sibling.brucethegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved the way this book introduced the world that Meyer built. From the Prince, to Cinder's step-mother, to all the little details that unfolded as the story progressed. The world building here was stunning. I love this exact kind of slowly unveiled, never to overwhelming, sci-fi. It's high sci-fi without ever getting too wrapped up in over explaining.
I will say there was nothing revolutionary here, even for when it was published. The twists and turns are almost entirely predictable between genre conventions and the original story itself. There's nothing here that will make you gasp or surprise you. I also didn't care for how the story ends. It really felt like there should have been some semblance of a closing scene. A cliff-hanger in the worst way because there's absolutely no closure to anything introduced in book 1. A personal pet peeve about series.
All that said, however, it was a super fun book that I finished in one sitting. I am also very excited to start book 2 and hopefully complete the series. Should all books turn out to be as fun as this one, I'll be buying that box set I keep seeing.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Bullying
luckykosmos'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? No
4.25
Moderate: Ableism and Child death
Minor: Forced institutionalization
lectricefeministe'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and War
junowo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ultimately, it’s a YA book that follows expected YA plots. That’s fine, and I think it’s unfair to expect something else from it. Its predictability can make it particularly comfortable to read, also.
I will probably come back to this book many times in my life!
Graphic: Ableism, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abandonment and Child death
renyoi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Confinement, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: War
mostlyvoidpartiallystars's review
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: War, Medical trauma, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
reddeddy'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
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Death, Ableism, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Body shaming, Medical content, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Gore, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Gun violence
Minor: Gore, Misogyny, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Murder, Drug use, Slavery, Torture, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Trafficking, and War