redheadsuperpowers's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Sandry's book is mostly focused on Sandry, but gives us a fair chunk of introductions to the other characters and the lovely setting. Sandry is a noble born girl, who lost her parents to an epidemic that swept the country they were visiting. She loses her parents, then her governess in short order, and nearly loses her sanity and self before she is found and brought to her nearest family member, her Uncle, ruler of Emelan. He is ill equipped to handle a young girl, so it is suggested she be sent to stay and get educated at The Winding Circle Temple, and large religious and educational facility a few leagues away. Sandry leaps at the chance. On arrival, she quickly realizes that the other girls of her station are not quite like her, and disapprove of the friends she makes as they are below them, so to speak. Sandry ends up moving out of the dorms, into a small cottage with three other misfits, Daja, a trader girl, Tris, a merchant's disowned daughter, and Briar, a former thief from the streets. They are living with Lark and Rosethorn, who just want them to thrive, but there is strange magic afoot, and danger ahead.
Moderate: Bullying and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Grief, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
bailey_the_bookworm's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Violence
clarabooksit'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Abandonment, Classism, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia and Animal cruelty
quasinaut's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement and Bullying
Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Abandonment
charm0nix's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Confinement and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Emotional abuse
citymouse's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty
etosaurus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Racism
ladydisdain's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Poor Sandry does get a bit shafted in her own book as this is more a vehicle to introduce and bind our cast of characters than a novel centered on a personal journey for Sandry. As usual, Pierce is spending the first book in the quartet setting up the pieces for the rest- we've got 80% character introduction and world building, 20% THIS book's plot points, but the characters and world are charming enough to let it slide. Definitely not the strongest of the series, but a vital introduction to some of the most beloved characters I have ever spent an afternoon with.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Sexism, Racism, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming