esterslibrary'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, and Vomit
prunechips'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Racism, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual harassment
fossilreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's a bit of a tough read with all the violence towards children and minors, but I also understand how it added to the plot and is meant to show the horrors of war and how awful the kaiser and the invaders are.
I really enjoyed the twists and turns, they didn't feel too far fetched and were honestly believable. A lot of the things that surprised Theo were things I can believe everyone around her sheltering her from.
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Child abuse
Moderate: Genocide, War, Xenophobia, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Murder
allybean07'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
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Murder
Minor: War
sweetordinary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The political courtship navigation is a huge reason why I was intrigued to read this story. How Theodosia navigates it is quite painful to read let alone to follow along. I understand that I'm supposed to feel sympathy for her and rally behind her. However, there are events that occur which completely go off the rails because of her. Thus, my interests shift towards Blaise, Cress, Art, Heron, and Soren as more interesting lines of inquiry. I want to know more about their story, interests, personality, etc.
If I decide to read the sequel, it will be because of those characters not because of Theodosia.
Graphic: Gore, Classism, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Grief, Death, Slavery, Death of parent, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Child death, Toxic friendship, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, War, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Murder
bzliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Readers should beware that any glimpses of hope are few and far between as Theo plays a game she barely knows the rules to while everyone else wins by cheating. Like so many YA series, there are two more books so it’s not surprising truly how little is accomplished in this one. My biggest complaint is the same I have with so many other similar books- these characters fall in love so easily for no reason at all! I know the romance is a big draw for readers but it would be nice to see some of these protagonists stand on their own.
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, Torture, Blood, Physical abuse, War, Child abuse, Slavery, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Death
tiana_king'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, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Grief, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Domestic abuse
hapalyn'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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Vomit, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
onefineelephant'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
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, War, Body horror, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
kristakp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Slavery, Child abuse, Pedophilia, War, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Colonisation, Child death, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Fatphobia and Fire/Fire injury