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kylemhaggerty's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation
darklydivine's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fucking experience this was. It's been on my tbr for a long time now when I read the first four sentences and got hooked.
It's a good read. The world is familiar but different. There's demigods and dreamy librarians. Lazlo, my baby. And Sarai, my darling. They better get a decent ending, I have a feeling that they will, can't imagine anything else. For Minya, the only end I can see is death or a loss of power. I don't see redemption in her arc.
Brutal ending. Saw it coming and that somehow made it worse. A thing that I really loved about this book was that I kept trying to find out what happens. It's unexpected really when you're in the middle. But the closer you get to the ending the clearer it becomes and it's kind of surreal but it was brutal and I love it.
I want to see Wraith in the next book, and learn more about the gods and angels, maybe even meet some though I doubt that's gonna happen.
This book gets a four star rating because while it held up to the expectations I had from the prologue, there was a certain lack of pristine finishing in the story. Whether it was worldbuiling and characters, I don't know but there's something there that kept me aware of the fact that it wasn't actuality. That this was fiction that I was reading. That these characters weren't actual people. And that's not a good look, especially not for a fantasy book. It was almost as if the characters were perfect, almost. Like Lazlo was dreamy and mystical and lost in his mind and kind and hardworking. And then later he's powerful, oh so powerful and stricken with grief and pleading. It's all too perfect for some reason. Like these characters behave like characters and not people. I do not know whether this is due to the author's fault or something else but it leaves a space between all the other emotion this book invokes. For the presence of that void, it gets a four star rating.
Otherwise this was a good read, not a book I immediately feel like picking up again and reading, like with Death of Vivek Oji, but it's good and that's enough.
It's a good read. The world is familiar but different. There's demigods and dreamy librarians. Lazlo, my baby. And Sarai, my darling. They better get a decent ending, I have a feeling that they will, can't imagine anything else. For Minya, the only end I can see is death or a loss of power. I don't see redemption in her arc.
Brutal ending. Saw it coming and that somehow made it worse. A thing that I really loved about this book was that I kept trying to find out what happens. It's unexpected really when you're in the middle. But the closer you get to the ending the clearer it becomes and it's kind of surreal but it was brutal and I love it.
I want to see Wraith in the next book, and learn more about the gods and angels, maybe even meet some though I doubt that's gonna happen.
This book gets a four star rating because while it held up to the expectations I had from the prologue, there was a certain lack of pristine finishing in the story. Whether it was worldbuiling and characters, I don't know but there's something there that kept me aware of the fact that it wasn't actuality. That this was fiction that I was reading. That these characters weren't actual people. And that's not a good look, especially not for a fantasy book. It was almost as if the characters were perfect, almost. Like Lazlo was dreamy and mystical and lost in his mind and kind and hardworking. And then later he's powerful, oh so powerful and stricken with grief and pleading. It's all too perfect for some reason. Like these characters behave like characters and not people. I do not know whether this is due to the author's fault or something else but it leaves a space between all the other emotion this book invokes. For the presence of that void, it gets a four star rating.
Otherwise this was a good read, not a book I immediately feel like picking up again and reading, like with Death of Vivek Oji, but it's good and that's enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
This book gave me Miyazaki vibes and I say that as someone who strongly dislikes the comparison of almost any book to his movies because I rarely agree. I was specifically thinking about Laputa a lot, but also bits of Howl's and Spirited Away.
Just really beautiful writing, very descriptive imagery that built a very lush and intriguing world. I am very excited to read the sequel.
Just really beautiful writing, very descriptive imagery that built a very lush and intriguing world. I am very excited to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
rape/SA:beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
I have had this book on my TBR for so long and whilst I was on a treat yourself day and went a little bit overboard at Waterstones, I picked up and wanted to get cracking. I really enjoyed this book, but it was just a bit slow at times for a fantasy book.
This book has two points of view. The first is Lazlo Strange, he is a war orphan and junior librarian. He has always feared that his dream chose poorly. For as long as he can remember he has been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever. Laslo is determined to find out what happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world. What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving? The second point of view is Sarai, she is a half-human and the godslayer murdered her parents. People were terrified of her because she is blue skinned. She is stuck in a building in the sky with her friends. All of them have different gifts and hers is to give people nightmares. Her moth fly down to the people of weep and she can control their dreams and thoughts. When she goes into Lazlo’s dreams, she is amazed that he can see her, talk to her and control his own dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed.
I think I can agree with everyone when I say that I loved Laini’s writing style and the way she describes things so beautiful and make you feel like you are lying on a soft pillow. I love the love story between our two MCs, I think it was so adorable and innocent. Lazlo being a monk and not knowing how to act in a dream. Sarai just wanting some peace and quiet and wanting to give up her powers because it was hurting her. I just wanted to hug her throughout this whole book – she just wanted to have friends and live. The story was so unique, and it was so interesting, I just stay in that world forever. Weep was so beautiful built that it felt like I was in the world myself.
One thing that I struggled with is how slow-paced it was towards the end, I think it was because I was waiting for all the action and Laini was dragging it out to the last minute. Once we got to the plot twists and the action it was all good, but I felt like after the middle I was definitely trying to power through to finish this book off. I felt like there was a lot of side characters that we didn’t know much about, so I didn’t really care for them. They all weren’t properly developed, and I just wanted more. It just felt like the characters who were developed was our MCs, the Godslayer and Minya.
That cliffhanger was mean as anything. Like there is no way the ending happened like that – surely, surely this is just some messed up dream. Anyway, it’s making me want to run out straight away to get the second book in the series and start it tomorrow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
bituinthepages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
nyree42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Beautifully written, magical and hopeful yet challenging and dark story about mysterious people with otherworldly and dangerous powers, and the city who fears them. Glad I read it when the second book is available to pick up immediately, since it ends on a cliffhanger.
On the negative side:
Note that the adult/minor relationship tag refers to a 20-year-old in a romantic relationship with a 17-year-old, which I personally think is close enough in age to be acceptable in the world of this story, although other readers may not agree, as in our real world it seems rather sus for a 3rd year college student to be dating an 11th grader in high school.
There are also descriptions of a sexually active 15-year-old with their teenage lover, plus mentions of another young couple who are sleeping together. All the teenage sex, despite not being graphically described but only alluded to artistically, was rather off-putting because an adult writer should not be encouraging her adolescent readers to engage in sex - it leads to consequences like STDs/STIs, unwanted pregnancies, and emotions that are too complicated for most young people to understand.
This inevitably results in broken hearts and emotional trauma in the majority of cases, which then leads to some (or many) people having difficulty finding love as adults because their teen romances ripped a hole in their heart they've not been able to repair so far. For real, I know people in their 50s who still haven't recovered from their adolescent entanglements and that's why they are single today... and that's why their would-be partner is also single. These are consequences that resulted in the unhappiness of two people (much like Eril-Fane and Azareen in this book, although in their case they had no choice in the matter).
So if you're a teenager reading this review - don't be inspired by the exploits of the young lovers in this book, and instead wait until you're older to chase... "that." You'll have more of a chance to mature and develop so that you also meet somebody mature who can give you the true love you'll want to receive and give in return.
On the negative side:
Note that the adult/minor relationship tag refers to a 20-year-old in a romantic relationship with a 17-year-old, which I personally think is close enough in age to be acceptable in the world of this story, although other readers may not agree, as in our real world it seems rather sus for a 3rd year college student to be dating an 11th grader in high school.
There are also descriptions of a sexually active 15-year-old with their teenage lover, plus mentions of another young couple who are sleeping together. All the teenage sex, despite not being graphically described but only alluded to artistically, was rather off-putting because an adult writer should not be encouraging her adolescent readers to engage in sex - it leads to consequences like STDs/STIs, unwanted pregnancies, and emotions that are too complicated for most young people to understand.
This inevitably results in broken hearts and emotional trauma in the majority of cases, which then leads to some (or many) people having difficulty finding love as adults because their teen romances ripped a hole in their heart they've not been able to repair so far. For real, I know people in their 50s who still haven't recovered from their adolescent entanglements and that's why they are single today... and that's why their would-be partner is also single. These are consequences that resulted in the unhappiness of two people (much like Eril-Fane and Azareen in this book, although in their case they had no choice in the matter).
So if you're a teenager reading this review - don't be inspired by the exploits of the young lovers in this book, and instead wait until you're older to chase... "that." You'll have more of a chance to mature and develop so that you also meet somebody mature who can give you the true love you'll want to receive and give in return.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
intoshadows's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Loved the MC in this and the conflicts. The cliffhanger ending was a little disappointing, but as the next book is available it’s not so bad. I immediately needed to start reading the other and it was refreshing, even though this is young adult and I had no idea, to read a book so well thought out. It has mysteries, history that your curious about and she slowly introduces other characters without overwhelming the reader. Very, very well done book. The romance in here is not the best I have read, but as it is young adult, I can’t be too harsh. Still high on my favorite list.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
The content warnings are very implied and the R word is mentioned. Thankfully this author does not feel the need to describe any of these incidents. They are easily deduced though. So tread carefully if this is a sensitive subject for you. Big hugs and wishing you all the best.seforana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
kathlyn's review against another edition
4.5
This book was a really good surprise. I was totally swept away in the world of blue gods and a lost city. The story and world felt so different than many of the other fantasy books. In a lot of ways, it was just weird and I mean that in a good way. It was so beautifully written and felt like reading an awesome dream. I wanted to enter the world so badly the whole time.
Something to note is that this book is really on the cusp between young adult and adult. It’s published as YA but I feel like a lot of it’s content and themes are dark enough to push into adult territory. I think it’s fine for 16+ but younger young adult readers (12-14) might be too young.
This book lost half a star because Lazlo’s character often felt shallow to me. He was a little too perfect, especially compared to some of the other characters’ complexity. I’m hoping we get more depth and conflict from him in the next book.
Something to note is that this book is really on the cusp between young adult and adult. It’s published as YA but I feel like a lot of it’s content and themes are dark enough to push into adult territory. I think it’s fine for 16+ but younger young adult readers (12-14) might be too young.
This book lost half a star because Lazlo’s character often felt shallow to me. He was a little too perfect, especially compared to some of the other characters’ complexity. I’m hoping we get more depth and conflict from him in the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Instead of the other way around, the dream picks the dreamer, and Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and young librarian, has always worried that his dream made a poor decision. He's been obsessed with the fabled lost city of Weep since he was just five years old, but it would take someone more daring than him to go across the globe in quest of it. Then, in the shape of a hero known as the Godslayer and a group of legendary warriors, an incredible opportunity arises, and he must grasp it or forfeit his dream for all time.
As with any fantasy book, you have to be patient as the world building takes up 37273928393% of the book. Being bored with the world building at first—which is a big thing for me—left me a little hesitant of this book, but after I grasped it, I was fully immersed.
In a fantasy story, you would typically have to follow a number of characters, such as the sarcastic, arrogant side character, their love interest, and their toxic ex. The toxic ex is wanted by the duke, but the criminal is plotting to kill the duke, and so on. But I really like how the characters in this book were limited to a minimum. As the author also spent a lot of time developing their characters, it made me value them as characters more.
I kind of lost some of the fun because I guessed how it would end, but there is a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the sequel because the first book was fantastic in and of itself. I'll undoubtedly become more engrossed in the world-building and fall in love with the characters even more than I already do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault