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noerlund's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really liked this one! A lot better than book number one! It’s like the story is really taking off now. Looking forward to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
rafacolog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment
ktmcd26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A solid follow-up the first book in the series. It picks up not long after the original book and includes all of the players that we saw in the first with very few few additions. It primarily serves as a bridge book, primarily setting up what’s to come next. And I think it does that in a compelling way.
However, one of the main devices to move us to that next section is a very explicitly racist and sexist troupe.The only main character of color and the only other female character was brutally murdered for the sole purpose of propelling the main character forward in the story. This is also not conjecture or reading between the lines; there is a whole chapter dedicated to spelling it out for the reader. I knew that something like this was coming based on other critiques of this author, but I didn’t expect it to be this blatant.
Our three main characters are all kind of navigating the same basic journey of discovering where they fit into the larger picture of the world around them. It’s interesting to see how they are all handling it differently, and I am more surprised than anyone to find I think Dorian is handling it the best.
Celeana needs to stop taking things that people say at face value. She has yet to learn to think just one layer deeper, and critically analyze the information see is receiving. I think once she does that and has a chance to process her past (and not resort to murder as a first resort), she will become a more enjoyable heroine to read. I will be looming for that character development in the next few books.
Now for Chaol. O Chaol, I need to stop loving this boy for his potential and acknowledge his actual actions.
I do think this book does and excellent job of telling a young love story. The highs and lows are felt very acutely. And the complexities that come with love are also explored.
I am relieved the author didn’t try to drag out the reveal that Celeana is the lost princess any longer because that would have gotten cumbersome.
However, one of the main devices to move us to that next section is a very explicitly racist and sexist troupe.
Our three main characters are all kind of navigating the same basic journey of discovering where they fit into the larger picture of the world around them. It’s interesting to see how they are all handling it differently, and I am more surprised than anyone to find I think Dorian is handling it the best.
Celeana needs to stop taking things that people say at face value. She has yet to learn to think just one layer deeper, and critically analyze the information see is receiving. I think once she does that and has a chance to process her past (and not resort to murder as a first resort), she will become a more enjoyable heroine to read. I will be looming for that character development in the next few books.
Now for Chaol. O Chaol, I need to stop loving this boy for his potential and acknowledge his actual actions.
I do think this book does and excellent job of telling a young love story. The highs and lows are felt very acutely. And the complexities that come with love are also explored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and War