theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
5.0
I failed at writing a review and it’s been too long now but I’ll be rereading this soon and making up for it then. I wanted to add though at least that this was my favorite book of 2022 and I can’t wait to continue with the series soon.
veronica_b's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
tezzarudge's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 rounded to 5.
What a wonderful book. An incredible indie book and well worth it's 2nd place in the SPFBO7 final . (I am currently reading all finalists to decide on my winner)
As this is part of a longer series I don't want to give away too many spoilers with my review.
What I will say, is the character writing in this book is top top tier. It is right up there with my favourite authors in Hobb, Martin and Iggulden. I have been utterly blown away by the emotional depth and development of the characters through this book. It truly is the winning feature in this novel
The plot is of a slower pace, which is my preferred style. We get opportunities to understand why the characters do what they do and feel what they feel. And my gosh do you get to feel during this book!!!
The politics side of the book wasn't my favourite part, but it did tie really nicely into the more detective portion of the story.
I am super excited to pick up the next book in this series
What a wonderful book. An incredible indie book and well worth it's 2nd place in the SPFBO7 final . (I am currently reading all finalists to decide on my winner)
As this is part of a longer series I don't want to give away too many spoilers with my review.
What I will say, is the character writing in this book is top top tier. It is right up there with my favourite authors in Hobb, Martin and Iggulden. I have been utterly blown away by the emotional depth and development of the characters through this book. It truly is the winning feature in this novel
The plot is of a slower pace, which is my preferred style. We get opportunities to understand why the characters do what they do and feel what they feel. And my gosh do you get to feel during this book!!!
The politics side of the book wasn't my favourite part, but it did tie really nicely into the more detective portion of the story.
I am super excited to pick up the next book in this series
araleith's review against another edition
I just could do a cop based sort of book, fantasy or no.
nessa_arandur's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
This was a pretty cool gaslamp fantasy that throws you right into things without much explanation. I found that I didn't really track Tashue's change of attitude toward the Dominion... like your son is in the Rift but some unknown dead child is what finally causes you to think? I guess that's not entirely the case as it was more like a cascade of these unfair incidents that the dead child and the truth of how it came to be limbless is finally what tips him over the edge. The problem for me was that these moments were as hard-hitting to me when they happened. This was still a good book thought it starts off slow. I almost gave it four stars, but it is definitely a solid three stars "I liked it" and I will probably check out the sequel.
rosenectur's review against another edition
DNF at 23%
It got bogged down in politics. I was giving it one more chapter, which just happened to be a chapter with pages of graphic sex . Not for me.
It got bogged down in politics. I was giving it one more chapter, which just happened to be a chapter with pages of graphic sex . Not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Child death
zeddee's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
When I read the description and the first two chapters in the preview, I thought I was settling in for a murder mystery. I read up till the 56% mark and gave up. There was very little progress on the murder mystery and the book instead spent most of its time on romance and politicking. In fact, Tashué, the protagonist, doesn't seem to actively investigate the murder and instead seems to progress mostly by having random people give him the information.
Meanwhile, the romance is readable but it also moves too slowly since half the time is spent politicking instead. And Tashué doesn't think much of politics so it reads like a slog.
When I read the description and the first two chapters in the preview, I thought I was settling in for a murder mystery. I read up till the 56% mark and gave up. There was very little progress on the murder mystery and the book instead spent most of its time on romance and politicking. In fact, Tashué, the protagonist, doesn't seem to actively investigate the murder and instead seems to progress mostly by having random people give him the information.
Meanwhile, the romance is readable but it also moves too slowly since half the time is spent politicking instead. And Tashué doesn't think much of politics so it reads like a slog.
lvh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
bragus's review against another edition
5.0
Holy moly. this book was amazing and is going down as one of my favorites of all time. I'll be eagerly waiting for the sequel.
seasonedreadings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol