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kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
I have been putting off reading this because I didn't want to have nothing from A.K. Larkwood to read. I'm so glad I finally read it, it is so so so good. I'm about to go back and read the first one, because I feel like the vibes were different? Like almost companion novels rather than a series? Will report back.
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Self harm, and Torture
carolined314's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
I loved this sprawling magnificent god-riddled story, and all the ways people fought to have agency. Glorious.
Moderate: Confinement and Violence
Minor: Torture
anxiousnachos's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the sequel to one of my favourite fantasy books ever, but this totally took me by surprise in the best way! It brought my favourite elements of the first book, added some excellent new characters and topped it off with some godly destruction.
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
This book retains the feel of a video game I loved so much from the first one: the worldbuilding is so expansive, and there is always such an ease too to, it never feels too complex. The dialogue and prose are filled with so much banter and snark, it brings me so much joy, I absolutely love this style of writing in SFF, there is just such a relaxed *fun* about it all.
But the star of this book, as the first book, is of course the characters. They are incredible. They remain some of my favourite characters in fantasy, with the new addition of Tsereg who was absolutely wonderful! They’re relationship with Tal is an absolute highlight of my entire reading year so far.
So yes, fabulously fun sequel!!
Content warnings: mentions of torture, death, snakes, murder, blood and gore, violence, brief mention of self-cannibalism
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and Cannibalism
lavenderteacat's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
If I could give this book more stars, I would. I LOVE this series. It wasn't always an easy read, but it was so, so worth it. Before I started it I was worried that, as happens sometimes, after Csorwe and Shuthmili got together the romantic relationship would be the center of the book. Not so!! There are a lot of different threads going on, and that is one of them, but it feels well-balanced. They all have a lot of stuff going on, and I really felt like I was right there with each characters. And the character growth, WOW. I am so attached to all of them now, even (especially, let's be honest) Tal.
This series swings a blunt object at many oft-romanticized aspects of love, and then rebuilds something stronger and better and healthier from the broken shards.
This series swings a blunt object at many oft-romanticized aspects of love, and then rebuilds something stronger and better and healthier from the broken shards.
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and War
bluejayreads's review against another edition
I misunderstood book one (The Unspoken Name) and thought this series was, fundamentally, Csorwe's story. It isn't, and Csorwe herself was barely in this book. Tal and Shuthmili are good characters, but Csorwe was the one I really loved, and without her driving the story, I didn't quite care enough to finish reading.
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Body horror, Child death, and Torture
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