ana_belen_herrera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Death
raptorq's review
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Moderate: Murder, Blood, and War
Minor: Violence and Genocide
espiargrant's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One issue I had with this book was that it kept the reader in the dark about certain things for too long to really have a sense of what to care about. I also felt that the ending was extremely rushed, and I wish that Tristan had had more development. He was absent too often and when he was present, he didn't have much agency in the story, which dampened the romance for me.
That said, this was still a fun, magical story with a cute queer romance, and I'm glad I read it.
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, War, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use
ticktock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Moderate: Blood, Death, Violence, and War
apocellipse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: War and Torture
Moderate: Suicide, Self harm, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Homophobia
therainbowshelf'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Classism
samantical'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and War
aardwyrm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Torture, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Colonisation and Suicide
story_goblin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, and War
The main character is a war veteran who works at a veteran's hospital working with patients exhibiting symptoms similar to what we would call PTSD. He can "see" an "infection" inside them with magic powers he has to hide because all "witches" are sent to insane asylums. He ran away from home because all mages born into rich families that have powers other than controlling storms are forcibly bonded to a "storm-singer" and used as back-up batteries/treated as inferior. In addition to the general medical content of him working in a hospital, there are several moments when it's discussed in the news that a veteran killed innocent people around him. The main character sees this first hand once. They also towards the end visit one of the insane asylums.foreverinastory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Miles Singer has run from his past. His magical ability to heal is treated as nothing more than a trick by witching society, so determined to do some good Miles enlisted and went off to war. After serving, Miles goes into psychiatry and is determined to help other soldiers who are also suffering from PTSD. But the illness seems like more than just PTSD. When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder.
This Edwardian world of magic was really interesting. For the first half we don't really see how witching society works as Miles is incognito and hiding from all witches. But when his family comes back into the picture, we see what Miles has run from and see his worst fears come true. The one thing I really liked about the world was that gender wasn't a factor in magical society. It was all based on primary mages and secondary ones. Primary mages can control the weather and are called storm-singers. All other witches with magic are considered secondary and used as batteries to power the primary mages with a bond that basically takes the secondary's will.
The plot kept me guessing the entire time and the last 30% was basically my brain imploding by what had happened to Miles patients and other witches. I did also enjoy the relationship that developed between Miles and Tristan, but the pacing of it felt a bit weird--a little too insta-lovey for me. I'm definitely curious to see what will happen next.
Rep: Achillean male MC with PTSD, achillean male love interest. Many side characters/patients with PTSD.
CWs: Violence, alcohol consumption, blood, confinement of patients, death, death of parent--flashback, drug use, gaslighting, grief, kidnapping, medical content, mental illness (PTSD), murder--flashback, physical abuse, forced enslavement of MC and many side characters, implied sexual content, suicidal thoughts, talk of committing suicide, suicide attempts and side characters who commit suicide.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content