The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bubbly_lara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Racism, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abortion, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Vomit
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
leanne_miron's review
- 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
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Sexism, Torture, Abortion, Death of parent, and Gore
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
jessiereads98'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
4.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Violence, Xenophobia, Addiction, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Racism, Torture, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Confinement, Rape, Grief, Misogyny, Abortion, Colonisation, Cursing, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and War
adhdru'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
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Sexism, Violence, Death, Addiction, Gun violence, Drug use, and Sexual content
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Addiction, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Trafficking, Xenophobia, War, and Alcohol
szuum'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, and Drug use
Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Abortion
Minor: Rape, War, and Homophobia
thewordsdevourer'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? No
4.75
lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.Â
the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.Â
the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.
what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.
my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Xenophobia
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and War
horizonous'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
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Abortion, Addiction, Kidnapping, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Homophobia
â—¦ Death = Brother, Grandparentdoodeedoda'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
4.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Vomit, Biphobia, and Blood
talonsontypewriters'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, War, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Torture, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Misogyny, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Ableism, Sexism, Suicide, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Animal death, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Infidelity, and Rape