themoodreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death, Animal cruelty, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Death, Medical content, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Bullying, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Slavery
mozzribo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Spoiler
The world seemingly tries not to be Earth, yet they use the Arabic alphabet. That was pretty unnecessary and immersion shattering. Then, the main villain of this book is evil just because he is, fueled by his genetics that make him strong way above average ("fingers around which a child can't wrap their own fingers", and then predictably he gets possessed by demons and becomes even eviler. Give me a break.Spoiler
A tortured donkey elicits a bigger emotional response than most of the people who have very little to their character besides some quirks. Possibly because that is the only instance where some sort of justice isn't served instantly.Spoiler
There are some other clichés, like an implied sci-fi past, which is fine though not much is revealed, and two types of magical power sources: the one that can be "tapped" into at the risk of corruption, and the other that grants more power while in the proximity of some sort of "phlebotinum". Yet, my biggest issue with the whole book was obviously the troublesome eugenics trope. Not only is it boring that some people are different without merit, but it is a stupid and dangerous idea, as anyone with common sense has already realised. This idea doesn't help the narrative as it doesn't involve me, as a reader, deeper into the lore. It doesn't serve as a key element to the plot, the book could have done without it. I just shake my head whenever it is mentioned. And then there are "blood mixings" with some of the people being "pure" while others even a "perfect mix" of sorts. Don't get me wrong: the book is not racist in the modern sense, but this idea – that some are born to be better in some way than those of different bloodlines – is just lame to me and averts me from the world of the novel.In many ways, it is an ambiguous novel, with some qualities shining through the lines, while some problems drag it down into the mediocre. Exposure is often written just a few breaths before they become relevant, while some events are embedded throughout and serve as a genuine surprise in retrospect. It often reads like a young adult novel, with ideas that have been old and overused more than twenty years ago. Yet, there are plentiful gems inside it in terms of engaging, masterful writing and witty thoughts that make it rise above the average young adult novel (and increase my rating). For that alone, it was a worthwhile journey.
Sadly the ending, while pretty much sudden and a cutting off with a cliffhanger, doesn't draw me to explore further.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Animal death, Torture, Violence, Child death, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Cursing
kimia_hyperfocuser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The world building is so creative, and it gives the story such bitter grey vibes. It's set in the distant future when the Sun is not as hot anymore, so the earth is covered with ice except a narrows corridor along the equator. Aliens landed on earth at some point and mixed with humans, which is how we get the magic system. I also loved the combination of the magic system and the theology of the Path. Very original.
The LGBTQ representation is also my favorite kind: casual. The same sex couples are just there, not fetishized but also not hidden. They don't get persecuted within the world of the story (I can forgive the implausibility of an agricultural society not being patriarchal), and their relationship has a role in the plot without taking over their entire characters.
Also, am I reading too much into this or is Nona, the main character, neurodivergent? She's bad with people, she zones out in class, and it annoys her that something square-shaped is called "the ring". It may just be that the writer is trying to give her quirks, tho.
Some things I didn't like: how the
Spoiler
betryal for moneyOther than that, though, I'm looking forward to book 2.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Slavery
kylieqrada'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
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship
azaliz's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I also love the lore and the universe of the story, it's fascinating! Plus the author is very good at explaining the way his world works, and at the beginning of Book Two he summarizes neatly what happened in the previous book, which is a nice touch.
The book contains some flash-forward and flashbacks that are very well done; we are often lead to believe certain things then discover ourselves that we were mistaken, without the characters explicitly explaining what the truth is. It feels very clever.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying and Religious bigotry
Minor: Body shaming and Chronic illness
Lots of heavy and gory fighting. Some characters are treacherous (it's often the case in such books) but that's all the negative emotions the book contains: no sexism, no homophobia…littlestbiscuit's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Pedophilia
Pedophilia is fairly heavily implied but doesn't happen explicitly in the text. Fairly graphic descriptions of gore, I've got a strong threshold and the