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sirensaria'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, and War
skyelore_'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
4.5
This book was so different than anything Iโve read lately and I highly enjoyed it. I found this book to be fast paced and it just flowed so perfectly.
The Monster world than Len created is so magical and I love the twists she has put on everything.
I love that there are different magical families with rankings and class. I love that each family has a special family gift/power.
I have to say, Iโm a little in love with Aaron, even though heโs a blonde ๐ I loved the enemies to friendsโฆ to hopefully lovers ๐ค๐ผ
This book was genuinely enjoyable and entertaining ๐ค
Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
zoeelora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
thaliareads'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
4.0
I enjoyed the majority of the plot with the exception of the ending. While I understand why it had to end the way it did, the whole ending just felt off.
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
The book does start with the death of everyone Joan cares about, and leaving her injured. We also find out that Nick does have a tragic origin story involving the death of his parents and the corresponding torture he endured. Finally, on their mission the group does encounter the location where a friend of theirs had been held after essentially being kidnapped.aquillesaurus'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
kirstenf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Violence
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The narration focuses on Joan's reactions to various events, often returning to pieces of already-known information as her feelings change in light of new circumstances. It has the cumulative effect that very few things actually happen during the story, and long stretches of time are about processing those events and deciding how to proceed. Aaron's initial disdain transforming into patient support is one of my favorite parts of the book (and is why the ending particularly devastates me). I also like how Tom is a more complicated character than he first appears to be.
This dwells in long stretches of worldbuilding, specifically on snapshots of monster society within human society. Joan marvels at their various waystations, safe places they control for long stretches of time and can get food or supplies for the time where they've arrived. I enjoyed the descriptions as they didn't get bogged down in picky details, but included Joan's thoughts about what she was witnessing. The way the monster powers work is pretty cool, and I enjoyed the various facets of that world. One of my favorite simple details is that they call themselves monsters and that's the end of it. There's no complicated other label for themselves, as they're unashamed of how they live their lives. It's a detail that makes them truly feel like a group whose lives don't revolve around what humans think of them (since humans are little more than fuel to monsters).
I have very mixed feelings about the ending. It uses a trope I've loved at the conclusion of long series, but it leaves me unsure of the direction for the next book. It generates a feeling of immense work that's extremely important but completely invisible to everyone around Joan by the end. The most important thing at the end of the book is how the experience changed Joan, and the specific goal she was able to achieve. The relationships that are built up the most (between Joan and her fellow monsters) are not the ones with the weight of destiny behind them, and I'm nervous for what a sequel could bring.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
gattolinos_nerdy_nook'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? No
5.0
I was in a reading slump and it was good to just had a familiar book to read.
Original read 07/08/2022
I absolutely loved this book. It was so much fun to read and unlike anything I have read in a long time.
This book is so unique that it grips you and pulls you right into it's world that Vanessa Len has crafted and you just go with it because why wouldn't you? All the character presented felt different, they had their own stories and feelings about the insinuating event and history of the world. They exceeded my expectations and I fell in love with Joan, Aaron and Ruth. They had great moments of growth and vulnerabilities together as well as some great banter and bickering.
The plot is set at a fast paced as everything hits the fan within the first few chapters. I loved every moment of chaos that raised from it. Without spoiling the book each twist, turn, and reveal were really well plotted.
This book breaths life into an over saturated market. I cannot wait to for the next book and see where this series goes from here onwards. I just know it is going to be great.
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gaslighting and Injury/Injury detail
introverted_reads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail