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valerian_honeybee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Colonisation
aishoka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
lost_library's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- 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
Such an incredible book. This was the first space opera I’ve ever read and it has it all: amazing queer representation, fascinating and immersive worldbuilding, nuanced discussion of the impacts of imperialism, humor, court politics, truly lovable characters with a beautiful romance, and fast-paced plot. I could go on about this forever (and have many times); it’s my favorite book I’ve read in a really long time and after reading this I’ll read literally anything Everina Maxwell writes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
hellavaral's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Murder
dandeliongirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I fell in love with both the characters and the world building.
This book dealt with the aftermath of abuse in a real yet responsible way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
Minor: War
mkate4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
abbyaroza's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This is a review of the audio book. The book was like watching an action movie, if action movies had queer characters. Enjoyed the characters and plot. I hope this author writes a pile more books. Entertaining read.
(Gift giving note to myself: sex is not explicitly described, various violence occurs again mostly off page)
(Gift giving note to myself: sex is not explicitly described, various violence occurs again mostly off page)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
thysparklyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It was a great read. I felt very drawn towards the characters/relationships, the world building and their adventures throughout the book.
To me the main couple had Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth Bennet vibes in that they both feel so much for one another and yet other things like pride and prejudice (ha!) get in the way of them sorting it out. Does it detract from the story? Not necessarily. I think the plot has enough to carry it without us needing to focus on their pining for one another however more of that wouldn't have hurt.
One of the few negatives I should mention is that we get very few physical descriptions of the characters. Perhaps I'm used to books over describing people and I need to get over it but it does make it difficult to imagine what they look like.
I was surprised by how interested I was in the whole politics aspect of this, since so often books that try to do both romance and war settings fail. Not here!
My original plan was to switch between reading and the audiobook while multitasking and yet Raphael Corkhill knocked it out of the park so intensely that I had to keep listening while reading because the voices and narrating were incredible.
Also, as I came to write this review I found out there is a second book! Will definitely read it.
To me the main couple had Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth Bennet vibes in that they both feel so much for one another and yet other things like pride and prejudice (ha!) get in the way of them sorting it out. Does it detract from the story? Not necessarily. I think the plot has enough to carry it without us needing to focus on their pining for one another however more of that wouldn't have hurt.
One of the few negatives I should mention is that we get very few physical descriptions of the characters. Perhaps I'm used to books over describing people and I need to get over it but it does make it difficult to imagine what they look like.
I was surprised by how interested I was in the whole politics aspect of this, since so often books that try to do both romance and war settings fail. Not here!
My original plan was to switch between reading and the audiobook while multitasking and yet Raphael Corkhill knocked it out of the park so intensely that I had to keep listening while reading because the voices and narrating were incredible.
Also, as I came to write this review I found out there is a second book! Will definitely read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
liketheverb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Torture and War
rynaissanceenby's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I've given this book a relatively low rating because it wasn't for me, but I want to be clear that it's certainly not a terrible book. If you like awkward romances and feeling secondhand embarrassment, you'll love this book. I thought the political intrigue was interesting and the world-building felt rich and diverse. The only reason I kept reading this book was because I wanted to keep living in it's world. But it definitely had me wanting to yell, "Just talk to each other!" at the characters almost constantly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse