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c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bohboh'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infertility, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
komiification's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Slavery and Fire/Fire injury
joyandfaye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
kalihell_kalihell's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
belladonnashrike'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
2.75
there were a lot of characters but I didn’t find it difficult to keep up with them once I learned all the names. the way muir was able to have so many characters and not have it be confusing as hell is beyond me. loved harrow, gideon, camilla, magnus, palamedes, and
however, the dialogue (and the humor) was just not great - everything minus the dialogue is good. I did get used to it as time went on but a lot of the lines (especially from gideon) were corny and were mismatched to the narrative tone outside of the quotation marks. this was such an issue for me at the beginning that it took me awhile to really get into the book - once I did, I really liked the story but that didn’t come to be without express effort on my part. there’s a way to balance humor and good writing and the balance unfortunately was not present in this book. “that’s what she said” & “haha tiddies” type of jokes really were just in abundance for no reason…idk it’s just not my cup of tea.
I do think that the story itself does make up for the poor dialogue (just barely) and I will be continuing on with this series. I just wish it was written differently. I think I wouldn’t have this critique if I read this at like, fourteen or fifteen though. I know it’s not YA… but the writing seems very young.
I just really wish muir took the time to describe the world they’re in. leave the plot a mystery!! but not the setting. it’s just very disappointing because the concept is soooo cool.
can’t decide on a rating. the dialogue + repetition of certain words (cough nonplussed cough) that should’ve been caught w drafts/editing … it really threw things off for me. I really like the story itself so i’m conflicted but i’ll come back to this.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Gore, Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
brittni_in_ink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The writing style throughout reflects Gideon's snarky sense of humour - which is super hard to pull off effectively - and Muir balances the tone with the narrative flow in an expert and effortless way to make the Gideon-like phrases sing in the text.
I loved all of the characters, although it was difficult at times to keep all of the names and House affiliations in mind. I realized afterward that I could have made better use of the dramatis personae at the beginning of the book, and that there was an appendix!
The settings and fighting sequences were exceptionally well-crafted, and the slow reveal of the mystery hidden in Canaan House was satisfying. Each line of dialogue felt natural and nuanced. I was invested in this book from cover to cover, and I can't wait to read the next one!
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
orlagal'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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mads_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship