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ciuli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I pushed through these books because in my mind I was like "it will get better, I just have to wait a bit, the action is coming, war is coming, it's about to get exciting!" but then it never did.
Like, the main focus of this series was supposed to be the fight for the kingdoms and the war and the tactics and in the end literally NOTHING happened. I don't think I've ever been so disappointed plot-wise by a book ever.
Even the antagonists felt completely useless. The Regent only existed to antagonist his nephew, literally no other goal in his life other than that, Kastor was always mentioned but appeared in 3 pages out of 3 books.
I had read a review of book 2 where someone described it as overcomplicated erotica and honestly, they were so right. Joe do you expect me to take the plot of this book seriously, when the characters are on the brink of a war who could change the futures of their lives and their kingdom's lives, but they couldn't give a rat's ass about it because they were too busy having sex to care about any of it.
The worst part is that in the end, even the romance felt flat, I expected some kind closure in the end but the way it ended felt like it was missing and entire chapter. I do love Laurent, he is the only reason I pushed through and read the books till the end, while everytime Damen did something or talked I went "uuugh please shut up", which you can understand is a difficult feeling to have towards the person who is narrating the book.
Overall a very disappointing ending to the trilogy and and the only reason I left 2 stars is because Laurent deserves them and no one else
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content
nuala8'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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
rhi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Incest, Rape, Suicide, and Pregnancy
mirandyli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The series basically ends with Laurent killing Damen's brother and saying, "We've killed each other's brothers so we're even now. I no longer hate you and we can rule peacefully. Kiss kiss." Excuse me sirs, go to therapy.
And now that Damen has been a slave, he's now going to advocate for the end of slavery, despite being in support of it before? That's just a whole bag of yikes.
There were also a bunch of predictable moments (like that Laurent knew Damen's identity the whole time, Laurent was raped by his uncle and Jokaste would claim that her baby was Damen's).
Still a fast-paced decent read and I was able to finish the series in a week. I haven't read a fantasy book in a while and this series was a pretty good start to getting back into the fantasy genre.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
bakatan'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: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Incest, Pedophilia, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
lh_reads'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Incest
This series had me in a chokehold and I loved every bit of it. It definitely ended how I expected but not fully, some pages have my tear stains. I loved the development with Damen and Laurent relationship and watching it grow. I enjoyed the series as a whole but this was definitely my favoritecait'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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism
harmonique'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: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
zeppelinnyx'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: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
sabinehunter's review
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and War