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sophie42'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
bravemaeve'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
4.0
Really important to note though that this book can be tough to read and potentially triggering. TWs for rape/sexual assault/sexual violence. Nothing is too explicit but these are major themes throughout the book.
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
crunchycrystals's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
the sexual assault isn't detailed but the emotions of it are explored enough to make you feel physically nauseous while reading it and is a very prevalent part of the book. do not read this if you are triggered by it even a littlewinryrose'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
4.5
This is the story of a culture full of war and class separation where, every year, 8 girls as young as 16 are chosen to be concubines to the demon king. There is passion, forbidden love, loss, death, chaos and even a little happiness mixed in. Follow Lei on her journey to become the warrior she truly is.
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
scrubsandbooks'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
Considering the story of the FMC being taken away from her family to be one of my concubines to a vicious leader, it was a dark read and often difficult to get through but the love story was searing and gut-wrenching. The world-building was immense and the plot was engaging. I cannot wait to see this story continue and eagerly hoping the patriarchy falls apart.
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and War
starr27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Death of parent, and War
youbelongwithmira's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
thebookdragon_taylorsversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
pandemonicbaby'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? It's complicated
3.0
And don't get me wrong, I think it's SO important how we are in a time period where we're able to have bestselling YA stories with central queer storylines, stories that deal with the theme of sexual assault but focus on the victims' journeys of healing, presenting these themes in a respectful way to a younger audience. I've been having an unfortunate streak with this type of thing lately, and 2 of the last books I've read have had explicit rape scenes which made me greatly uncomfortable. I was really shocked when this book (a YA novel) had the best, most respectful depiction of it out of the 3, and handled the topic with care, moreso than any of those other books I've read. It didn't have to describe it in detail to be impactful, and fully focused on the victim's feelings afterward.
That being said, otherwise, I think this book maybe wasn't exactly for me. People who know me know I LOVE sapphic romance, and will eat up basically anything, but this romance just felt sort of rushed and not really impactful. I wasn't really excited to see them finally kiss or confess their feelings to eachother like I usually am with any sapphic couple I read about. It just felt a bit, I don't know, spiceless, saltless, like the taste of food that you usually really love but in this specific casw it just feels bland. And I don't really think it has to do with the characters themselves, but more with the way the romance was written. Also, I don't know exactly why, but I felt like I didn't really enjoy the writing style. I'm not sure what I felt was lacking in it, but I just wasn't really digging it all that much.
Also, originally, I thought all castes were human, and had NO idea there were gonna be furries in this LMFAO. That *did* make the scenes with the king especially unbearable, though, and I feel like that was probably the intent.
Anyways, it wasn't really for me, but I really do hope that some readers are able to find something they love in this book. I just really really hoped I would love it too.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, and War
Minor: Body horror, Infertility, and Alcohol
Unconsensual sexual acts are mentioned various times in this book, some particularly violent. There is one explicit rape scene in this book (albeit not described in detail).graece_03's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Classism