ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Classism, Sexual content, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Genocide, Grief, Racial slurs, and Colonisation
Minor: Torture, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and War
madisonwren_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This story is largely a vampire hunger games-ish situation, but it had several sweet and thoughtful moments spread throughout. Reflections on friendship, found family, political systems, how we value some people over others, etc.
A fun read that also has depth to it, in my humble opinion. Would recommend.
I’ll add, if you aren’t big on reading series (hi, it’s me) - I’m comfortable with this as a stand-alone. The ending is a total cliffhanger, but that’s fine by me.
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Child abuse
cham721'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
sarahyjackson'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
4.75
And loved the commentary on family!
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
kotahlotah'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
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
booshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Where was this book when I was in all of my previous fantasy book slumps?
The first ~7 chapters were fine enough, it felt like any other fantasy read, really. Jumping in to a new world, learning terms, and just sort of accepting things as they come up. Oh there’s vampires with different types of wings? Ya sure. This big mega vamp wants this rando human child as a pseudo child of his own? Go wild. But once you’re securely in the trials that take place in this book, *you get hooked*. The world is simple but still feels so real with the way Broadbent describes it. It was almost a theme while I was reading; expecting something shallow due to how little this book/author has been talked about in the mainstream until now (thank you booktok), but then being utterly surprised when proven wrong. Each chapter just revealed more and more strings and important details and connections and and and. I am thoroughly amazed.
I know many people are comparing Broadbent’s series and their respective tones to Sarah J Maas’ books, but there really is no better parallel. I’ve yet to read any other books by Broadbent, but there is no doubt I will collect as many as I can get my hands on.
Seriously though, if you are a fan of SJ Maas, give this author a go.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Death, Blood, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Moderate: Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Classism, Genocide, Confinement, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Alcohol, Vomit, and War
tfaison3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Death, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: War
Minor: Rape and Kidnapping
finnickdeservedbetter'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
5.0
For readers who like:
• vampires
• enemies to lovers
• battle to the death
• secret identity
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, War, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
waffulmunkie'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Torture, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, War, and Toxic relationship
thismustbefakeme'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? N/A
5.0
Yes, there is romance ala the former aforementioned stories of which the romance is the main focus, BUT plot is a big portion more closely in kind to the later.
There’s a good bit of world building but I comes in smaller chunks as our main character Oraya discovers and unravels the secrets her adoptive Vampire King father has kept from her since he first saved her as a small child.
There are still things that are yet to be revealed that I am looking forward to the next book hopefully explaining.
The story goes quick as Oraya and her unlikely ally Raihn team up during a months long tournament to the death that can only end with one victor (see: Hunger Games-ish)
There is tension and danger mysteries and betrayals, and the culmination of two people who should be apposed forced to work together who bond over their discovered similarities.
I will say, the ending—shook me. I was NOT expecting everything that went down—I’m usually quicker to figure out things than I was with this which was pleasantly surprising.
The spice—though sparse—I mean we are in a death tournament people and our protagonists are badly wounded for a majority of this book—so we gotta take what we can get —is 🤌🏼🤌🏼 worth the wait. People who want lots of spice beware the SINGULAR full spice scene doesn’t *cough* come *cough* until about the 80% mark.
Lastly the banter between these two once barriers finally start to break down between these two is PERFECTION. I was laughing out loud at some of the remarks.
And I may have shed a tear or two at the end.
Once again beware cliffhangers—as this is the first of a duet I believe and the sequel is regrettably not released yet.
Graphic: Gore, War, Violence, Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Rape