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fragrant_stars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.5
My god I am starstruck by this book. I cannot wait to devour the sequel!! I loved the characters, and my heart genuinely ached for the main character as she went through her struggles. The Wild Swans was one of my very favourite fairytales as a child and as a Chinese person seeing this beloved myth retold as a East Asian fantasy was so thrilling to me that I procrastinated for maybe a whole year. I was so nervous because I desperately wanted to love this book, but if I could go back now I'd be shrieking at my past self to dive right in post haste.
One of the things I loved best was how much agency was given to Shiori as a character. The blurb on the back of the book suggested to me that she would be getting a lot more help from Seryu, but as I read the bookthat didn't seem to be the case. Yes, he helped Shiori in some key moments, but most of the time Shiori got on using her wits. I also thought, based on something Seryu had said in an earlier chapter, that Shiori being forced to not use her words would eventually figure out to use wordless magic, and maybe that would be what saved the day- but no, not even that. Mostly wits. I found that brilliant.
My only regret is that the Raikama, the main antagonist / twist villain / antihero of the story, died before all the loose ends could be satisfactorily tied together. Then again, I guess that's just life for ya. Death doesn't really tie things neatly, so I guess that makes sense. Even before she was revealed to be more than she seemed I could already sort of tell- which, trust me, it was a good thing and it felt soooo rewarding when my guesses turned out right!! Made me feel like I'd have loved to see a few more scenes with her before she left the story.
One of the things I loved best was how much agency was given to Shiori as a character. The blurb on the back of the book suggested to me that she would be getting a lot more help from Seryu, but as I read the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
neko_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
4.75 stars.
DAMN this book surprised me. i am taken aback by how much I loved this book and everything from the characters to the plot to the world building to the magic system.
did I mention I love the magic system? it has DRAGONS in it, how could it not be amazing?
also takkan. fbshkakfha we got so much takkan being the kindest person on the planet and yet I NEED SO MUCH MORE
yeah so this was amazing. and I need the next book.
DAMN this book surprised me. i am taken aback by how much I loved this book and everything from the characters to the plot to the world building to the magic system.
did I mention I love the magic system? it has DRAGONS in it, how could it not be amazing?
also takkan. fbshkakfha we got so much takkan being the kindest person on the planet and yet I NEED SO MUCH MORE
yeah so this was amazing. and I need the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Murder and War
calicat42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
broccoli_j's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
I think this book has to grow on you! It has a relatively slow start, but I have never read a book with such an original take on the „chosen one“ Trope.
The worldbuilding, the characterarcs and the magic system are just insane and the story uses the found family trope in such a unique way!
This was a great first book and I’m excited for the rest of the series!!!
The worldbuilding, the characterarcs and the magic system are just insane and the story uses the found family trope in such a unique way!
This was a great first book and I’m excited for the rest of the series!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
squisheebee_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This book literally had me completely spellbound from the first page. Literally ran to order the sequel AND the authors book for a separate series. Like omfg. Yes it’s YA. Yes the pros is super easy to ready but god is it beautifully written AND the story!? Don’t get me started. I will not take slander about this book. If it was not for you that’s fine, but it was certainly for me. 😇
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Classism
Moderate: Medical content and Grief
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
sea_sea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
It was an incredible story! I read the Six Swans fairy tale as a kid, so this book was somehow quite nostalgic to me xD. The main character is absolutely amazingly written. The side characters too! I especially liked Raikama! I thought her story was so interesting and the relationship between her and Shiori was so cute ;^;. It was a nice twist to make the stepmother kind instead of evil like in the original fairytale . Also Seryu was robbed ;-; He was such a cool character and we didn’t see enough of him.. I liked Takkan, but he seemed a little to perfect… Would definitely recommend this book tho!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
notapenguin's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
i cried.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: War
bones_jackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Achei incrível, eu não sei porque eu não continuei a ler ele antes, a história é muito criativa e bem escrita, e o romance é maravilhoso.
Agora que acabou nesse clifthanger gigantesco eu preciso ler o próximo urgentemente
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
nerdysread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.75
Et un livre du 12 months 12 books challenge en plus. Et surtout l’édition française et magnifique. Alors je me disais que le résumé spoilai pas mal, mais j’étais loin de m’attendre à ce qui m’attendais. J’ai beaucoup beaucoup aimé, l’histoire ce lit extrêmement bien, la plume et fluide, on a des surprises et en plus le personnage principal évolue. Bref c’était top. Encore un bon livre. Hâte d’avoir la suite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and War
princessrory's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War