vanesst's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Suicide and Adult/minor relationship
laneys_library'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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Violence, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Rape, Torture, Slavery, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
lizzie24601'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
3.5
Nevertheless, there is some great character growth here, too - mostly for Minya and Thyon. The new characters were interesting and helped broaden the world. There's a little less adventure and mystery in this book, but Laini Taylor's writing is so good that you're still devouring each page, and it is quite a satisfying ending. (Obsessed with
Spoiler
Thyon's growth (I was so excited for him to reunite with Lazlo afterward) and with Sarai deciding to become a therapist at the end. Love that for her.Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Torture, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Slavery
anneroza'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
3.75
Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Slavery, Death of parent, Confinement, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
doodeedoda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Death, Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Child death, Mental illness, Trafficking, and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Self harm
forgettingtofly's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide, Child death, and Rape
lis98'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
3.75
Pros:
The exploration of past trauma and how it affects us in the present is done masterfully. Especially concerning the circle of revenge and violence Laini Taylor handled the topic in a way I’ve never seen before. This book is a truly unique piece of art.
The characters felt so real and believable. Except for Skathis there’s no real evil people in this book. Every person has such rich emotions and motivations that you can’t help but feel for them even when they do the most horrendous things. Which gives the book quite a sad undertone throughout the whole story, I suppose.
Contrary to the opinions I’ve seen on the internet so far I really enjoyed Nova’s story line a lot, especially in the beginning of the book.
Spoiler
As tragic as it was, I felt the completion of her story with her committing suicide quite fitting since it was hinted at from the start.Cons:
This time around, since the general tone of the book was heavier than the last I sometimes felt as if the poetic writing was kinda out of place. At times it would also feel a bit corny.
I personally didn’t like the turn the plot took. The expansion of the scale of the story felt too grand for me, I didn’t like the idea of the different worlds.
The pacing in the beginning was extremely slow. I think that some of the scenes we spent with Sarai and Lazlo could have been cut as much (as I adore the two together) while we could have spent a little more time in the end which felt a bit rushed at times.
Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, and Child death
nytephoenyx'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, Child abuse, Rape, and Trafficking
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and War
chantellimus'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
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, War, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism, Lesbophobia, Self harm, and Sexism
bethy_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, Murder, and Bullying
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy