anoelle896's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Slavery, and Death
Moderate: Death, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
zeppelinnyx'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
This is the perfect resolution to a nearly perfect trilogy. I will never have words to express how deeply I love these characters and their story. This is, as it has been since I first read the series years ago, the most enthralling and tender romance I’ve ever encountered. I compare all other enemies-to-lovers relationships to this one, but sort of all other relationships in general. Because this series, and especially this installment, is the peak of romance.
I really only have two critiques for this series. The first is a bit technical, I suppose. The books don’t feel like they’re a trilogy. Instead, they feel like one book split by three different covers. Perhaps there’s a reason for this, but it does make the ending of the first two books feel a bit sudden and inconclusive. Obviously, this same problem does not occur in the finale. The second problem with the series is the Erasmus problem, but…I won’t get into that. I only wonder if Pacat wishes the character was resolved differently now.
Quality of Writing: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10
Plot Development: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 10/10
Ease of Reading: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Torture, Grief, Blood, Incest, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Animal death, and Suicide
bakatan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Murder, War, Incest, Slavery, Genocide, Death of parent, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
cait'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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, and War
bugcollector's review
- 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
3.25
Spoiler
the ending was a bit disappointing bc it all ended in court and suddenly everyone believed their side '_'
anyways let the gays end slavery xoxo
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, War, and Violence
sophie42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Violence, and War
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Grief
amabalama'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? N/A
4.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, and Slavery
sabinehunter'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: Child death, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Pedophilia, War, Incest, Sexual content, and Slavery
louisa_pennyfeather2021's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Cursing, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy and Child death
magicshop's review
- 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
4.0
Damen said, 'I made him a promise.'
'And when he learns who you are?' said Jord. 'When he learns that he is facing Damianos on the field?'
'Then he and I meet each other for the first time,' said Damen. 'That was also a promise.'
well, here we are. after rereading this trilogy immediately after finishing it in just a few days for the first time, it's time for a last review. this one might end up a little short, because to be honest i feel like i've said my piece about the series at this point, but i do have a few important points i want to highlight.
the good
- everything that was good about the previous volumes is still present here, so refer to my reviews of book 1 and 2 for more details.
- the push-and-pull of the main relationship somehow stays fresh despite how long it spends in that limbo of not-quite-being. pacat is simply put very, very good at crafting believable tension between characters.
- so much delightful fanservice, again. i can see how for some people this would be in the bad or at least complicated section, but to me, having that many scenes clearly written to fulfill a specific desire in a long-starving queer reader can be nothing but positive. things are getting better for lgbtqia+ people, but there is still a lack — in media, especially. pacat does a wonderful job of helping fill that void.
the bad
- the ending is a bit too neatly wrapped up, in my honest opinion. on one hand, , but there were a couple of deus ex machinas pulled out from the aether in order for that to happen, and it all could've been done much more expertly and with far more preamble and build-up.
Spoiler
i'm happy damen and laurent get to be together and that the kingdoms end up united in peace
the complicated
- many of the most oppressed, most tragic characters, ultimately have a hand in bringing about . i was very glad about this, but it does also bring the question of whether they had to suffer their own respective sad endings at all. sacrifices must be made in every story, and i'm satisfied about the way things did happen, but i just — wonder. how would their world have been
Spoiler
the prosperous, peaceful endingand i'll always wonder. i guess it's time to find some fic, huh!Spoiler
with nicaise still in it?
like i said, this review is a bit shorter than my usual, but i think it's very hard to put my exact thoughts and feelings about this book into words for the time being, still. maybe on another reread i'll come back and edit this. but for now, this is goodbye. thank you, pacat, for treating my heart tenderly through this wonderful journey. :)
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death