Scan barcode
pinkupengu'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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Cultural appropriation
literatehedgehog'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
4.0
The prose can be a little overmuch at times, but the characters, the magic system, the world itself, are all powerfully imaginative and engrossing enough to allow for some excesses of lyrical language.
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Xenophobia
thelittleoddling'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? It's complicated
3.75
The magic system is very interesting and unique if a bit confusing, though being the first in a trilogy we have time to dig into it more later, loved the visuals for some of the puzzles, though I wish there were more. Some scenes I struggled to imagine layouts of rooms.
I think this is a good book that is fun if you’re into found family and heist narratives.
It also includes some YA age appropriate discussions of the racism found in 1800s Europe which I think are done well.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Racism, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
A character has a pet tarantula, though as someone severely afraid of spiders it was never described in enough detail to trigger me.luna_bear'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
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Xenophobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
thedambookshelf'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
carolined314's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Violence
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book however reminded me so much of some of my favourite books:
- a found family that reminded me a lot of Six of Crows (especially Kaz & Séverin!)
- a magical Order reminding me a lot of the Shadowhunters
- tattooed vows that reminded me of ACOTAR
- great unique gifts that reminded me of Raybearer
and somehow while reminding me of so many other books and series this book managed to stay unique.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel. The only reason I'm not quite giving it 5 stars is the ending & Séverins behaviour in the end.. Careful: BIG SPOILERS AHEAD! I get that he is hurt and grieving but what he said to Laila is in my opinion pretty unforgivable.. He knew how insecure she was about that and still he said it and didn't even apologise.. so so shitty!! The are both hurt but she did they right thing and overcame her fears while he was just an asshole.
I generally really liked Séverin throughout the book but this just didn't stick right with me..
Also what happened to Tristan was so unexpected and super sad. I usually get emotional very easily while reading but I didn't cry this time. I was sad but not THAT sad. That is also one of the reasons I decided to not give the book 5 stars. It didn't manage to ruin me..
I guess I did like the characters but I wasn't really attached to any of them. I do like though that the other is not afraid of killing of her main characters.
Also I really liked Laila and I think her POV was also always the most interesting to me. I really hope she will stay kind even after what happened because in one of the last chapters we get to see the new her and I have to say I don't like it. She carries her hurt around like a blade and that is so unlike her.
What I probably enjoyed most about this book was the scenery. Paris 1889 but with magic and secret societies.
I still have a lot of questions about the magic system and general world building but I hope that will all be clearer to me when I read the sequels.
I also really enjoyed the Authors Note at the end. What the author said about the Exposition Universelle and "La Belle Epoque" was really interesting. I like that she said you cannot just take the good and ignore the bad and I think you can definitely see that in the book as well. It has the glamour but also the seriousness which you already know I love in my books :)
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
quillify_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
In Ms. Chokshi's own hypocritical words: "When we revise the horror and sanitize the grotesque, we risk erasing the paths that led us here."
No offence, but that is what this community does every day by promoting and recommending this book.
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
stephbakerbooks'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? Yes
4.0
We get four main POVs and enough world-building to set the stage. A lot of history—real history from 1889 Paris—mixed with the magic. I will admit to being a little confused at some descriptions, but it didn't detract from my understanding of the plot or enjoyment of the book. It has a slower start, but things really pick up around the middle of the book and don't slow down until the end.
I loved these characters. Some of them took a little while to get to know, but this is a great found-family read with each member having a distinct personality and complexities. I loved the development, loved the ups and downs. Zofia might be my favorite.
I've read two other books by this author—years ago, so I don't really remember them, but I can definitely say this one is my favorite of hers. I did read this book because it was compared to Six of Crows, but that's probably unfair to this book. Was it as good as Six of Crows? No, but it's different...so I don't think it's a fair comparison. And I'm hoping these characters get even more time to steal my heart in the next two books!
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Antisemitism