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abby_can_read'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
4.0
This was a great book. I really like the magic system.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, and Death of parent
alexalily'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
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Kidnapping
caspian_the_pauper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
gardens_and_dragons'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? No
4.5
Loved having the main character Lin Sukai becoming emperor and feeling the constraints of becoming a leader after being constrained by her father for so long. The lack of privacy, her every act being scrutinised, of having the weight of the nation on her shoulders - it’s a lot but she shoulders it well.
I enjoyed Jovis and his internal struggles with will he won’t he help Lin with her empire. Plus the budding romance was actually fairly sweet.
It’s not a perfect book, I’d say the side characters do not get as much page time and therefore stay less important to me, but that’s ok. They contributed to the story and were not intrusive enough to be bothersome.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror and Death of parent
Minor: Xenophobia
bisexualwentworth's review
- 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
The expansions of the lore were fascinating, and I can't wait to see where things go with the Alanga in book three. The animal companions were just as wonderful and charming. Jovis and Lin's dynamic was compelling and complicated. Phalue and Ranami were wonderful, and I liked the overall development of their relationship and storyline a lot. And all of the politics felt very realistic, especially the disputes over natural resources and such. And overall, I'm really glad that the different plots were properly interconnected in this one.
But a lot of things just didn't quite work. I have conflicted feelings about Ranami's whole "suspicious of other orphans" thing. The main plot with the construct army felt weirdly underdeveloped because Nisong got so few POV chapters while also taking up far too much of the book. And there were quite a few plotholes. Also, I know I said the politics felt realistic, but what is up with the political messaging of this book? Are we just cool with inherited wealth and power now because we like Lin and Phalue? Not sure. Book three is going to need to spend a lot of time working through that particular issue.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Grief, and Death of parent
gayghostprince'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Animal cruelty, Infertility, and Sexual harassment
totallyshelfaware'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Animal cruelty
ok7a'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
3.5
Graphic: Xenophobia and Classism
Moderate: War
Minor: Body horror and Child abuse
almost_literate'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: War
Moderate: Body horror
pvbobrien'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
3.5
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Minor: Ableism and Animal cruelty