sophs_mood_reading_room's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
When the rebel queen arrives in a state close to death the warden and the prison rebels both demand one thing of her: Keep her alive. 🤦♀️
So now she must do the impossible, all why trying to figure out what strange deadly stomach sickness is spreading throughout the prison as well as not be too distracted by the new handsome and charming inmate.
A little slow in parts and I did predict a major plot point fairly early on, I still really enjoyed this start to the trilogy.
Read if you like:
Found family
Hidden identities
Slow burn romance
Elemental magic
High stakes challenges
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Child death, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical trauma, Grief, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, and Confinement
dwinn5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
No (unmarked) spoilers, but I almost can’t believe I didn’t see some of the stuff in this book coming. The beginning hooked me so well that I could barely put it down; the characters and world are easy to get invested in quickly. The middle got a little slow for my taste for a while there, but it picked back up toward the end and then shocked me so much that I put the book down and stared at the ceiling for a little while. The plot twists and some of the world-building stuff made me feel a way that I haven’t since the 2010s dystopia days, which I loved.
Spoiler
I do agree with some people about the ending- the plot twist was so insane because it felt very out of character and not entirely true to the rest of the story. It was a masterful build up in some ways, and you could see certain pieces fall into place, but I think even some tiny, internal hints that she had a more personal connection to Tilda/the rebels would have helped. It still would have been a complete shock, but without seeming quite as out of left field.Overall, such a fun read!! Had to rush out to buy the next two, cannot wait to find out where this is going. I just know it’s going to hurt 😁
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Medical content, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Blood, and Violence
laurenevlyn'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
4.75
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Medical trauma, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Self harm, Blood, Child death, Murder, Sexual assault, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Animal death
stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Sexual assault, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Torture, and War
izzy_mckeough's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Death, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Medical content
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Blood
sarahsbookss'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Vomit
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
julienicole1106'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: Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
jessannderson'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Medical trauma
dariusmortee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is why I said I did find the characters to be loveable.
Kiva herself wasn’t the worst main character but I think she could’ve been better. Jaren annoyed me.
I did enjoy reading this book! Although it really does fall into some tropes it is an orginal story. A story with a very dark undertone, for which I am a sucker. I am curious to how this story proceeds and will be buying the second one, but I am however also scared for the clichés it could possibly walk into.
Overall: good story, loved the side characters but it has to watch out not to fall into the clichés.
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Torture, and Child death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt