grets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Murder, War, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Torture, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
jenteague's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I especially loved the imagery throughout this story. I hope the sequels provide more background of the world this story takes place in, but all in all I was hooked the whole time!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
iforgotilivedhere's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.25
I had fun with this. It’s not necessarily the most original fantasy book I’ve read but I still rather enjoyed it. I liked the characters for the most part. I see what Piper CJ is doing with this. SJM did the same with Throne of Glass which is start out slow and unoriginal and then EXPAND. I didn’t see the plot twist with Moirai coming and I didn’t see some of the other twists that Amaris had. I really want to see where this romance is gonna go because there’s so much potential!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Slavery, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
aubreycc123's review against another edition
DNF @ 50%
I really wanted to like this but it’s such a chore. The feminist themes(and honestly the book in general) are always tell don’t show and you can really tell it’s written by a cis woman. The themes fall flat when you actually pick at them and with Nox in particular they often mirror racist tropes about black women.
The lowlights for me were:
- calling periods the “curse of womanhood”
- “hard thick rod of serotonin” is one of the worst things I’ve had the displeasure of reading.
- saying the women working in the brothel were empowered when they were literally sold into sex slavery, this view was not challenged in what I read
- the graphic depiction of a black girl getting whipped for really just no reason at all
- Giving the lesbian character who was sold to a brothel a sex scene with a man that by all accounts is smut and seen as something enjoyable for her. I know this is marketed as a bi fantasy but Nox is literally described as having no taste for men so wtaf was that.
I really wanted to like this but it’s such a chore. The feminist themes(and honestly the book in general) are always tell don’t show and you can really tell it’s written by a cis woman. The themes fall flat when you actually pick at them and with Nox in particular they often mirror racist tropes about black women.
The lowlights for me were:
- calling periods the “curse of womanhood”
- “hard thick rod of serotonin” is one of the worst things I’ve had the displeasure of reading.
- saying the women working in the brothel were empowered when they were literally sold into sex slavery, this view was not challenged in what I read
- the graphic depiction of a black girl getting whipped for really just no reason at all
- Giving the lesbian character who was sold to a brothel a sex scene with a man that by all accounts is smut and seen as something enjoyable for her. I know this is marketed as a bi fantasy but Nox is literally described as having no taste for men so wtaf was that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Racism, and Sexual assault
The first 2 content warnings are because of how the author wrote it and not the actual content of the text.thebluebird3752's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- 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? No
2.75
It was fine, I enjoyed the writing style. There were some aspects I did not enjoy, and several that were outright problematic. it also felt like there was a lot of nothing happening in some chunks. I wouldn't read it again, but I didn't hate reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape
The main points if racism are not due to the world it is set in but rather due to the authors own decision. I do not believe it was their intention for it to come off that way but it did regardless.em_psolka's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Murder
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism and Death
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, and War
kelanor's review against another edition
It's mediocre and boring. So many grammatical mistakes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
masoncasper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.25
I really enjoyed this feminist, bisexual fantasy book that explored power and ownership as manipulative concepts. The characters were all amazing and the found family made my heart happy. It’s a lovely introduction and I’m looking forward to seeing where the world goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Murder, and Sexual assault
sprossa's review against another edition
3.0
Oh where to begin? While the concept as a baseline for this story is really not bad, in fact I think it’s a pretty good concept, it’s execution definitely leaves you wanting. Obviously the editing issues are there, but past that there are some serious issues I take with the actual content.
For one, how has the author created a matriarchal society where in the book she refers to men as the “lesser sex” and yet misogyny and sexism is central to the story? Amaris and Nox’s development and storyline as it stands could not have progressed in any way without rampant misogyny and blatant sexism. If you are going to create a universe that is matriarchal, then having misogyny and sexism present really doesn’t make any sense.
Second, the depiction of Nox. I understand the authors desire to create a diverse story and claim a POC main character. But for Nox to be the only fleshed out POC in the entire novel, and for her be consistently and horrifically abused and tokenized was a terrible choice. From the beginning Nox is aware of her standing as a token in the orphanage she lives in. Nox ends up feeling like she was made to be a woman of color just to provide diversity points for the book. She wasn’t written with any understanding of the experiences of WOC and that makes her physical attributes feel like they only exist to be the darkness to Amaris’s lightness.
If the author had taken the time to edit more thoroughly and engage sensitivity readers I think a lot of the controversy with this book could have been avoided. She had a solid idea and I would have been interested to see where the rest of the story goes, but as this book stands I couldn’t support this author and series.
For one, how has the author created a matriarchal society where in the book she refers to men as the “lesser sex” and yet misogyny and sexism is central to the story? Amaris and Nox’s development and storyline as it stands could not have progressed in any way without rampant misogyny and blatant sexism. If you are going to create a universe that is matriarchal, then having misogyny and sexism present really doesn’t make any sense.
Second, the depiction of Nox. I understand the authors desire to create a diverse story and claim a POC main character. But for Nox to be the only fleshed out POC in the entire novel, and for her be consistently and horrifically abused and tokenized was a terrible choice. From the beginning Nox is aware of her standing as a token in the orphanage she lives in.
Spoiler
Then Nox is sold to a brothel where she is sexual assaulted daily! And the author decides to make her a succubus, insinuating that not only did she “need” the abuse to survive but that she enjoys is. This just plays into the jezebel stereotype that women of color face daily.If the author had taken the time to edit more thoroughly and engage sensitivity readers I think a lot of the controversy with this book could have been avoided. She had a solid idea and I would have been interested to see where the rest of the story goes, but as this book stands I couldn’t support this author and series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders