book_dragon_'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: Terminal illness, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Child death, Death, War, and Blood
csmall73'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
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Slavery, Grief, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, Mental illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Child abuse, Murder, War, Torture, Trafficking, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pandemic/Epidemic
queen_melliott's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Spoiler
only for the very last page to reveal that she’s the long lost rebel princess with a claim to the throneIt’s funny how sometimes I cannot warm up to the characters throughout the whole book and don’t care if they live or die. And then other times, as it was with The Prison Healer, I am so invested in the characters from the getgo. Kiva, Jaren, Naari, Tipp, Mot, I just loved them all. Watching their bonds grow stronger over time, watching their banter, growing trust and support of one another made me grow ever fonder of them. It all felt very realistic for the setting. Also, the romance was built up slowly despite the initial spark between Kiva and Jaren, which I was very relieved about. An insta-love-y romance might have ruined it for me.
Another thing that was developed slowly and tastefully was the world building. It was continuously woven throughout the story and felt organic.
The story orders never got repetitive or boring, despite being set in only one place for 500 pages (in German). There was a lot going on with the friendships, romance, trials, the rebel Queen’s mysterious illness, the plague and overall dynamic at the prison. However, all the stories were woven together organically and made sense, so it never felt like there was too much going on all at once.
One aspect I do have to complain about was the extremely foreseeable plot twists. It’s also not too difficult to imagine where the story might go, but I still can’t wait to get my hands on the sequels.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Physical abuse
Minor: Confinement, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Child death, Death of parent, Rape, Vomit, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
n0elle'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? No
2.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Slavery, Sexual assault, Death, Body horror, Classism, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, War, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Violence
thetalesofabookishmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ok, so when I started reading this book I immediately liked it. I was only 10% in and worried it would be over hyped but I was enjoying it regardless. Now having finished it I can say it was not overhyped. Did I guess all the major plot twists from the very beginning? Yes. Did I still really enjoy it despite having guessed all the major plot twists? Also, yes. Which is a talent because usually I hate books that seem predictable. But this one kept you waiting to find out if you were right until the very end.
This book has a plot but it is definitely character driven. I loved these characters. I love the main four so much! I am excited to see what happens next! Hopefully I’ll love it and will be more surprised by the plot. at least give me more Tipp!
Onto book two.
Graphic: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Self harm, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Confinement, and Terminal illness
kassidyreads'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Rape, and Self harm
Minor: Addiction and Drug use
proseandpurls's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Terminal illness, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Physical abuse
chamaeleontis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The one nit-picky thing was a plot point I personally didn't like, which is why it's 4.75, rather than 5.
Spoiler
It bothered me that we never got to know Tilda despite her being right there. I would have had a problem with it regardless of her being Kiva's mom, but that made it more frustrating. In the same vein, I get why it was done, but I feel that there could have at least been one full sentence exchangedI would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy but is sick of repetitive plots. There's a few common tropes, but they are well done, with unique takes. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual violence, Drug use, Terminal illness, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, Blood, Ableism, Misogyny, Slavery, Medical content, and Sexism
astralbooks'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Vomit
There is a brief scene where (CW drug abuse, sexual assualt, & accidental necrophilia)Spoiler
a guard molests the body of a woman who recently died from a drug overdose, not realising yet that she has died but fully aware that she was in no position to consent even if she was still aliveracheleanne06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
SUMMARY
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Blood, and Vomit
Minor: Animal cruelty