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
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
cosmicbanana's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Murder, Racism, and Slavery
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
words_and_dreams'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
4.0
This follows the story of Theo, a Princess whose kingdom was taken from an invading force and her mother killled in front of her as a child. She has grown up under the rule of the Kaiser who keeps her as a trophy, abusing and torturing her. She keeps her head down to avoid punishment.
Events transpire that awaken her from her almost complacency and make her want to fight back and retake the kingdom.
There is alot of elements that crop up in YA including a love triangle but I felt it did work in the context of the story. The stakes always felt high and with the torture etc it definitely had a darker vibe to it. It wasn't perfect but it got me out of a reading slump and was a great page turner.
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
Minor: Grief
rinku'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
Spoiler
kill her dadSpoiler
Elpis sacrificing herselfSpoiler
the main character almost having to marry an older man, or the masquerade ball. It was furthermore so predictable that Theo wouldn’t kill Søren and that her plan with the poison would fail as wellSpoiler
it was obvious from the beginning that she couldn’t be trusted but my heart still dropped when she revealed Theo that she knew everything about her. She could be an interesting villain in the following booksGraphic: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, War, Fatphobia, and Vomit
Minor: Rape and Abandonment
saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Colonisation, Murder, Genocide, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Slavery, Infidelity, Blood, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Classism, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
majumita'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
4.5
Graphic: Vomit, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Murder, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Kidnapping
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