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jennipea382'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: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Classism
maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cursing and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
ladylaelae'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
3.75
As many others have likely stated, this book does start off slow. There is a mountain of worldbuilding to be done, especially since the setting of this book (urban fantasy) is markedly different from SJM's two other major series (which are a combination of high fantasy and mid-range fantasy settings, since ACOTAR's level of high fantasy and urban fantasy identification is ambiguous).
Outside of the initial pains of worldbuilding, this book took me by surprise. I'm not normally an urban fantasy kind of gal, and yet the characters pulled me right in. There was a devastating twist in the beginning of the book (iykyk) that shocked me and pulled me right in. There was flirtatious banter and charm between the characters that had me rolling my eyes in amusement, occasionally blushing, and giggling like a madwoman. And then there was one particular set of scenes toward the end that had me sobbing my heart out
No, her writing is not the top-tier writing you may expect from the upper echelons of fantasy authors. This book is meant for adults coming off of young adult fantasy and moving into something more mature. Yes, she does her usual thing where she uses certain phrases and themes over and over again. NO, you should NOT read this before you read her other series, if you can help it.
Manage your expectations, and I think you'll fall in love. Not every book, series, or author has to be the next Tolkien, Greenwood, or Sanderson. This book - as with all of SJM's fantasy books - is fun, romantic, emotional, and packed with action and adventure. The writing is mid-tier fantasy writing, but the world can be captivating and imaginative. Just immerse yourself in it and enjoy it for what it is.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol
reesespuff6'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
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
daphnemarie's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape
icfasntw'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
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Grief
aggrano'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: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
Minor: Torture, War, and Classism
elledanie'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
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
emilysmessydesk'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
3.0
I liked the world building in this one: the combination of modern day & magical and how that might look. Cell phones for quick text messages makes communication so much easier!!
Bryce is a spitfire and sassy, and there's a lot more to her character. (Which as per SJM's normal formula, isn't revealed until the very end!) In hindsight, she's very similar to Aelin of Throne of Glass: hiding her true nature behind a front of armor. I'd argue that I still prefer Aelin over Bryce, but I'm curious to see how this series plays out. Hunt quickly climbed my list of favorite SJM male characters; he's clever and thoughtful.
However, I really did *not* enjoy the twist with Hunt at the end. That felt like it came out of left field, which I'm sure was the point, but there was no other indicators that something was up with him. I waited for the other shoe to drop; surely this is a test for Bryce, somehow? It's just a set-up to catch someone else red-handed? But no, this was actually legit and now we're down 2 side characters and Hunt has royally fucked up.
Here's one of my complaints: SJM's characters are quick to forgive big lies/betrayals/etc. Way too quickly. That doesn't feel realistic, or logical, or even *right* because there's oftentimes a lot to unpack about those situations. And a lot to communicate between characters, if they even decide to keep the communication lines open! This plot point just felt kind of thrown in there at the last second, to stew distrust/drama between the two main characters if only to keep the other main plot moving along. I wish there had been more to it than that.
I did cry when Lehabah sacrificed herself at the end. It felt very real, and that friendship was true throughout the book despite its moments of flightiness. Bryce's reveal of buying her deed and freeing her! So good, so heartbreaking.
Also, Bryce was repeatedly described as "curvy" so I was excited to read about a main female character that is not stick-thin or on the thinner side like her other FMCs. Not just "curves in all the right places" - but unfortunately that's exactly what it ended up being. I'm sure it struck home with other readers, but I was disappointed in this portrayal.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
raven_go'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
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail