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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Drug use, Blood, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
spinebenderbooks'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
We get multiple POVs for this book, which really deepen our understanding of the political and personal conflicts going on and what drives them. I particularly liked the commentary this book has on women in power.
The romance in this book is a fascinating slow burn that is only revealed to be a romance a good two thirds of the way through the book. A book which begins with one part of that romance cutting off the hand of the other! But in watching Attolia's fascination with Eugenides and the horror and regret she feels over the act she ordered also shows the slow reawakening of her emotions, opening her up to the love and trust she eventually feels for Eugenides.
For his part, Eugenides' struggle with what was done to him and the portrayal of his disability are very well done. It felt like a pretty realistic journey through becoming newly disabled and traumatised, and figuring out how to forge a new life alongside those things. But the life he forges is not in spite of his disability, nor is it inspiration porn. It's a hard thing that he does and it's a struggle even once he's come to terms with what has happened. There are relapses into depression and a level of self-loathing over the limitations of his disability that I think will feel familiar to other disabled people. Even while in love with Attolia, he remains afraid of her. There is no magic resolution to the trauma he endured at her hands. But they are entangled in each other in a truly compelling way. They are likes cats clawing at each other and then licking the wounds they created.
Just as in the first book, the mythology continues to parallel and inform the plot. The reveal that Eugenides was betrayed by the gods was heart-breaking, and then the second reveal that he was betrayed in order to save Eddis from destruction makes it all make sense again. He was the tool they chose to bring about the salvation of Eddis, because as the book says, the gods know him well and know what he will do, so they could trust him to bring things to the place they needed to be by the end of the book.
There is little else I can say except that this series remains as impressive upon reread as it did on the first read.
Graphic: Ableism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Slavery
vereadsbooks'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
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, and War
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Stalking and War
jenjerusha'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
Still in my top ten and highly recommended for: nail-biting tension, A+ terrible choices, creepers of all kinds, awkward conversations, and at least one questionable beard. I would cheerfully read another thousand pages if they were on offer.
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, and War
endowchime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Murder
thearcticcircle'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
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, and Medical trauma
nyssbomb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Ableism