greciamj1958'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: Slavery, Addiction, Classism, War, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Racism, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Murder
peggy_racham's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Rape, Child death, Gore, Self harm, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexism, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Murder, Gun violence, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
rowanbond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual violence, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Rape, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
bites_of_books'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
5.0
Talk about character development, complex relationships, both with family, friends, and even enemies! Twists? Check! Reveals? Check! Incredible suffering? Absolutely.
I said it in my thoughts about the previous book, if you can't read about war and horrible violence, don't even try this one.
While some stories that have military tactics and such aren't my thing, I was on board with this one. I needed to know exactly what and why certain things needed to happen. I was intrigued from the first page since we do get more backstory on characters from the first book while continuing with Rin's story. Rin... oh Rin, where will you end up? I'm terrified for her and also cheering for her to no end.
Now, I could go to bed, but I'm starting the next one now. Wish me luck.
Graphic: Classism, Rape, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Confinement, Torture, and War
kayfab's review
- 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: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Torture, War, Colonisation, Drug use, Genocide, and Violence
stitchof'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: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abortion, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, War, Deadnaming, Death, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, and Xenophobia
fareehareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
Okay now for the pain. wowowowow the deaths were harsh and I knew they were coming but they still hurttt. Nezha STABBING her at the very end was not okay and I should have seen it coming because I didn't trust the boy for one second during the entire book, but I know Rin did and THAT is what hurts. All of these men that she either looks up to, loves, or admires always let her down so profoundly that she has no choice but to be her own support system. Makes me want to hug her.Jinzha's death was great, super satisfying.
Qara's death I could see coming from a mile away since she got lines for the first time the whole series, but I like the little moment where she told Rin that she wasn't overpowered by Chagan she was simply in the spiritual world, that was nice. Ramsa, Suni and Baji's deaths were just unfair. They should have gotten a watery end in battle instead of on a chopping block. It also felt a bit cheap to me since it was acknowledged earlier that if the Hesperians knew that they were shamans maybe they would have been spared (tortured for sure, but with potential of a jail break). But it looks like the whole Cike plotline is being burned as a part of Rin's past. Chagan being the last among them is still annoying to me. All the annoying men in this that keep not dying sucks so much.
Overall this book is such a painful and incredible journey. I highly recommend it.
Graphic: War, Violence, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Confinement
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Death, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence
Minor: Bullying and Toxic relationship
lynseyye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Physical abuse, Racism, War, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Body horror, Classism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Medical content, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gore, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
moonymars'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
5.0
Spoiler
The one scene where she kills the Hesperian soldier filled me with so many emotions that I could write an entire 10 page essay about.
Venka siding with them at the end made me cry a river. Kitay and Venka my beloveds.
AND if all of that wasn't ENOUGH.
I haven't been so touched by characters dying for a LONG time now. I loved the Cike so much, especially Ramsa, I was one of my favs and now he's FUCKING DECEASED ??? How am I supposed to live without scenes like the ones where Changhan makes Kitay drink horse piss as a joke??
One of my favorite books of all time tho.
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Abortion, Addiction, Blood, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Vomit, and War
cassmreads'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: Violence, Gore, Rape, Blood, War, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Classism, Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Religious bigotry