issed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Infertility, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Addiction, Child death, and Domestic abuse
stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy and Police brutality
Minor: Miscarriage, Murder, and Death of parent
snickahz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Torture, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Incest and Sexual harassment
kindredkayjay'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
4.5
I've seen the reviews of people disliking this book because of the way Ophelia is hardly treated like a person the entire time, and I understand it. Believe me, I was infuriated for Ophelia 95% of the time, but also? I'm hoping that she'll get herself to a place where she's proven herself and overcomes what she's faced with in the sequels. The tension between nearly all of the characters and the mystery and learning about the different magic systems with Ophelia was so interesting that I couldn't stop reading. I love a genuinely good hearted character, but what I love even more is a character so terrible that you want nothing more than to see their downfall. It's even more interesting when it's a small handful of decent (questionably decent anyway) characters entering a space full of the most vile people. If you don't enjoy being infuriated for the main character the entire time and hating just about everyone else, this book probably isnt for you. But if you do? Absolutely read it. I really liked it, and I'm reading the sequel soon.
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Classism, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Child death, Abandonment, and Infidelity
amazelan'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
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death, Sexism, Violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Classism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Murder, Suicide attempt, Child death, Suicide, Grief, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Vomit, Infertility, and Sexual assault
skudiklier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Child death, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Ableism, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
royalraspberry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The writing in this book was absolutely lovely. That said it is 50% world building and 50% political intrigue. And the world building was absolutely spectacular, I really enjoyed all of it. Dabos has created an incredibly interesting world filled with interesting characters (none of whom are trustworthy, but that's part of the fun). But there was just so *little* plot in the book that I really, really struggled.
If you're into fantasy books heavy on character development and world building, this is absolutely the right book for you. It's well written and the narrator for the audio book is completely enchanting to listen to, she brings the rich, beautiful world into a new depth.
Graphic: Bullying, Pregnancy, Classism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Confinement, Child abuse, Police brutality, and Murder
anarchist_al'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
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Vomit
rowanrelph'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
4.75
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Miscarriage
paduckling's review
- 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
4.0
As for the content itself, I really like this book. I think I actually enjoyed it more this second time reading it because I was just so lost the first time around. Usually I enjoy not knowing much going into books but it’s a lot of world-building and characterization to handle and it left me kind of lost. I appreciate the nuance of all the main characters - no one is completely good or likable; they all have realistic flaws.
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Classism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol