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emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book had a couple of things going for it. The magic system was incredibly unique. There wasn't just one type of magic present, and each type had been really thought out. I found Eva's the most interesting, especially the marrow aspect. Additionally, I really enjoyed the world building. It is mostly transmitted through Eva's POV, but there are great snippets of it in stories told by Baccha. I also liked how real Eva felt in her responses to what was happening around her.
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
However, apart from these things I found this read to be kind of underwhelming. It was just a bit boring - not slow-paced, but not a lot happened. I also couldn't back the romance as although Aketo's age is never explicitly stated, it is implied he is 20, when Eva is 16. Also, for a plot based on sibling conflict, Eva's sister Isadore barely features. I'm hoping that the second book (and conclusion to the series) amps things up a bit!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
shmarr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
abbajane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were a lot of things in this book that made me feel like the most popular YA tropes of the moment had been tossed into a bag and pulled out at random -- heir sisters forced to kill each other, infuriatingly beautiful men, wily old fey with a smart mouth, magic to control shadows, half-human half-animal creatures, blood magic. It got a little annoying a few times, and as I read I could tab each reference that felt like it came from another YA fantasy novel. The characters stayed a little shallow, the plot stayed a little predictable, and the dialogue stayed a little awkward. The writing was nice, and I feel like Joy had some really great lines and turns of phrases. I appreciate the nuance of this book in contrast to the most popular YA novels on the market, but overall it stayed just "meh" for me. Not sure if I will read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Joy’s debut is fierce, magical, and absolutely fantastic. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by the world, by its history and magic system, and as the story progressed I was caught in the whirlwind plot. I quickly became attached to the protagonist, as well as multiple side characters, and to say I was invested in their journey would be an understatement.
In some debuts, it seems obvious, for any number of reasons, that it’s the author’s debut. In others, every element is well-written, the entire book so well-crafted, that it’s hard to believe this is just their debut. For me, A River of Royal Blood was the latter.
And that ending?! Holy nuggets. I’m speechless, and in desperate need of the sequel ASAP—both so I can find out what happens next, and so I can get more Eva and Aketo content. I love Aketo with everything in me and he must be protected.
Please read this book. It deserves much more love and hype. It’s brilliant.
Representation
In some debuts, it seems obvious, for any number of reasons, that it’s the author’s debut. In others, every element is well-written, the entire book so well-crafted, that it’s hard to believe this is just their debut. For me, A River of Royal Blood was the latter.
And that ending?! Holy nuggets. I’m speechless, and in desperate need of the sequel ASAP—both so I can find out what happens next, and so I can get more Eva and Aketo content. I love Aketo with everything in me and he must be protected.
Please read this book. It deserves much more love and hype. It’s brilliant.
Representation
- Black protagonist and side characters
- gay side character
- queer Black side character (no term specified but he’s interested in men and women)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Racism
Minor: Gore and Self harm
There’s a scene in the last third of the book where a character finds another character murdered, and it’s somewhat gruesome but not overly graphic.