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saramcaps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What makes it stand out for me is the lovable characters—there are a couple I really love and there’s good potential for the found family elements of the series.
Medium-level enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, mysterious magical powers… all of the good tropes. If you like ACOTAR, you will like this.
Graphic: War
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism
elntastic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well, anyways, the rest of the book was very good! Couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the second part.
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture, Violence, and War
dinipandareads'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The story is told solely through Arwen's POV and although she came across as young and naive for a good portion of the first half of the book, she does experience some considerable growth. She's a mentally strong and driven character who understands her weaknesses and does her best to balance that by challenging herself mentally and physically. I really enjoyed the friendship she develops with Mar who brought an excellent comedic element to the story! I also enjoyed the slow burn of the romance between Arwen and Kane. He was definitely a morally grey MMC who I wasn't sure about at the beginning because he's so extremely hot and cold and there were times that I wished the romantic element had actually been stronger, especially to show them get to know each other and the strength of their connection. That said, he really grew on me, just like he grew on Arwen and oof, the sexual tension really sizzles! The tension reminded me a little bit of The Bridge Kingdom and since that's one of my all-time favourite romantasies, it's not a bad thing at all! It was SO good and oof, just as things start to really get steamy, IT'S CHAOS! IT WAS SUCH A TEASE and with the way the story ended, I just know the angst and tension are going to get even stronger in the next book. I can't wait! 😍
Much like the FMC, we're kind of kept in the dark about the "truth" of what's happening in this world and it all comes to light at the end. But as much as I enjoyed the world-building that we got, I do feel like this element was the weakest part of the whole story because I feel like there's still a lot that I don't really understand. It would've been great to get more details about the history of the kingdoms and more about how the war really began; however, I'm hopeful that we can get more of these details in the next book because this WILD ENDING sets things up nicely for more "truths" to be revealed and I'm really hoping we get it!
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Physical abuse and War
Minor: Chronic illness
daisycantread24'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and War
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness and Gore
readswithcat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
kalie626'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? No
4.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Physical abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content
cryosphinx'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
4.25
There is some fleshing out that desperately needs to happen, especially in terms of the MMC who is delightful, but some things about his personality I felt I didn't understand by the end. Some people have also complained about the lack of world building, but I didn't find an issue with that because the FMC narrator has lived a sheltered life, there's only so much SHE knows. I'm hoping that both of these things w about the world. I'll get resolved throughout the rest of the trilogy.
I also loved the growth of the FMC from timid and afraid to being a bad ass lady but you don't see much growth out of anyone else. There isn't a ton of side characters but I LOVED Mari and hope we see her story more and learn about her abilities.
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
coffeexbooks'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, and War