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pinetree_reads's review
- 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
I love the characters, especially since I can see certain character traits of myself in them.
I do not believe in love but reading this does warm my heart and year for someone by myself. Someone who could love me as these two love each other.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Homophobia
vaguelyredhead'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and War
booksthatburn'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
This is set up to have at least one sequel, though its particular story is self-contained. Rather than leave an obvious story hook open, it ends with the characters in new situations which grant the possibility of future events without demanding any particular follow up.
I love Penn and Raff, I like them as individual characters and I enjoy how well they work together. They each have very different relationships with their families. Penn seems to be close with two of his several siblings, despite neither showing up for very long. His father is terrible, rather unambiguously playing the villain. Raff has close and mostly loving relationships with his sister and brother, and, despite their differences, they seem to understand each other fairly well. Not much is shown of Raff's relationship with his father, but what is there seems to be filled with respect and care.
Other things I love, in no particular order: how much of the time is spent just traveling and sleeping in the woods and dealing with inns; the wound care towards the end of the book; the way Penn obviously grows as a person; the more subtle ways that Raff starts to trust in other peoples' competence.
This was great, I want more, and I'm eager for the sequel.
Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
wildatheart1339's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Medical content
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Classism
mabellene'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
cateemma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Death of parent, and War
tincrumbs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
clairew97'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
thema99'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
As much as I enjoyed the whole time Raff and Pen traveled together, this book shines in the later chapters when it all starts to seem hopeless. The way Penn's political savvy led to the resolution, how he faced his father, Johanna's actions, Raff'a survival—I read it in a day. He would've been good at ruling if he didn't give it up but I'm glad he did for how soft and hopeful the ending was.
Ash was my favorite the whole time. I thought he'd be some bully brother but he turned out to be much more. I wish we got more details on what happened to Leo and some more depth into Johanna and Lily. Maybe it could be a sequel.
10 fucking stars out of 5.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Xenophobia and Vomit