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hales_1243's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
prowitchhazel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
I think this may be my first 5 star book of the year. Will definitely have to reread with dictionaries nearby because the author gave my vocabulary a workout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism
drjoannehill's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Science fantasy horror all mixed together. Slow at first, I had an immense amount of questions but went along with it and most of them were answered by the end, although I am still not sure about a few things. There's a lot packed in here - closed room murder mystery, scholarly/sorcerous quest, development of friendships and betrayal ... All set among necromancers and their cavaliers (bodyguards) in a solar system empire that is 10,000 years old and quite rotten, with a competition to find the next generation of like super necromancers. There's a dry sense of humour and wit sprinkled throughout. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
alsira98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Terminal illness and War
alaskachan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Cannibalism and War
innessfree's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
This is the best book I've read in ages. It was funny, a little scary, emotional, intriguing, exciting... such a fun read in October. I whipped through it and felt very bittersweet when it ended. I want more! And I also want to go lift some weights.
I really liked the mix of high and irreverent writing - each character is so distinct and the writing tone is really refreshing. (Reminded me a lot of Firefly/Serenity in that way, but better because the author isn't Joss Whedon.) Sometimes fantasy and sci-fi books get on my nerves because they use the same phrases a lot, or sound very divorced from how real people speak and think, and this book never irritated me in that way.
I laughed out loud multiple times when Gideon spoke or we heard her thoughts. Listening to the audio version is even better as the narrator is among the best I've heard.
I also really liked being plunked down in medias res at the beginning. I had to have some patience and curiosity to get into Muir's world, and it was rewarded. The author never fell into the trap of over-explaining. Everything felt really organic. At times I got a little lost, but Gideon was there alongside me, equally confused, and that grounded me and made it feel intentional.
I am left with some serious pining that I suspect only fanfic can ease.
I really liked the mix of high and irreverent writing - each character is so distinct and the writing tone is really refreshing. (Reminded me a lot of Firefly/Serenity in that way, but better because the author isn't Joss Whedon.) Sometimes fantasy and sci-fi books get on my nerves because they use the same phrases a lot, or sound very divorced from how real people speak and think, and this book never irritated me in that way.
I laughed out loud multiple times when Gideon spoke or we heard her thoughts. Listening to the audio version is even better as the narrator is among the best I've heard.
I also really liked being plunked down in medias res at the beginning. I had to have some patience and curiosity to get into Muir's world, and it was rewarded. The author never fell into the trap of over-explaining. Everything felt really organic. At times I got a little lost, but Gideon was there alongside me, equally confused, and that grounded me and made it feel intentional.
I am left with some serious pining that I suspect only fanfic can ease.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Child death
tualha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
werewolfrizz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement
queensplay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.75
Synopsis of my review:
An amazing read. The beginning was hard to get into, but once you understood, you could easily read the book. The plot twists? Love. The mystery, kind of horror, elements where totally there.
Gideon is the best character, fight me. She's just so funny, and bright I love it.
Harrow and Gideons' nicknames for each other 😍
Loved it. Would recommend.
Full Review:
Oh damn. Oh damn. Oh damn (and that's three Oh damns).
First off - Amazing book. At times, it could be pretty slow, as it was more of a mystery, but it has enough action and medium paced scenes to make up for the slow parts. It was hard getting into, also, for me, and confusing (which is why it's a 4.5), but as I got through the book, it got a lot easier to understand and read.
Gideon is by far my most favourite character. She was so funny, and really brightened up every room she went into. Her humour was top-notch. Harrow should give her a big hug - her backstory and her self-worth needs it.
I love love love Gideon and Harrow as they go through the series. They've come so far from where they started 🥹
Harrow also needs a big hug (which she good, thank god). The way they raised her, why she was born, was horrible. She deserves so much more.
Am I the only one who though Colum deserved better? He deserves better then Silas. Honestly, Silas didn't even seem to acknowledge how Colum was feeling, he was so self-centered, with all his big talk about the greater good. Towards the end, I began to like Colum so much more - if someone would think about what their house represents, they would think of him. How he stood for what he believed in, and how he honoured his word.
The ending hurt.
An amazing read. The beginning was hard to get into, but once you understood, you could easily read the book. The plot twists? Love. The mystery, kind of horror, elements where totally there.
Gideon is the best character, fight me. She's just so funny, and bright I love it.
Harrow and Gideons' nicknames for each other 😍
Loved it. Would recommend.
Full Review:
Oh damn. Oh damn. Oh damn (and that's three Oh damns).
First off - Amazing book. At times, it could be pretty slow, as it was more of a mystery, but it has enough action and medium paced scenes to make up for the slow parts. It was hard getting into, also, for me, and confusing (which is why it's a 4.5), but as I got through the book, it got a lot easier to understand and read.
Gideon is by far my most favourite character. She was so funny, and really brightened up every room she went into. Her humour was top-notch. Harrow should give her a big hug - her backstory and her self-worth needs it.
I love love love Gideon and Harrow as they go through the series. They've come so far from where they started 🥹
Harrow also needs a big hug (which she good, thank god). The way they raised her, why she was born, was horrible. She deserves so much more.
Am I the only one who though Colum deserved better? He deserves better then Silas. Honestly, Silas didn't even seem to acknowledge how Colum was feeling, he was so self-centered, with all his big talk about the greater good. Towards the end, I began to like Colum so much more - if someone would think about what their house represents, they would think of him. How he stood for what he believed in, and how he honoured his word.
The ending hurt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt
flora_arns's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Great book though. Super unique world-building, great character development, intriguing story. Lost some points as I struggled to get into it, and I found myself lost at several parts. But that might have been because I listened to this as an audiobook. I think a re-read as a physical book would up my rating to at least a 4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent