neko_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So this one started a little bit slow for me, but
by the last 150ish pages its safe to say I was a little obsessed. Not kidding the climax of the book had me so mad and celebratory at the same time I was screaming about it lmao
Also the CHARACTERS how am I supposed to choose between dorian and chaol when their both such amazing characters?
Just wasn't enough to be a 5 star BUT it was close.
by the last 150ish pages its safe to say I was a little obsessed. Not kidding the climax of the book had me so mad and celebratory at the same time I was screaming about it lmao
Also the CHARACTERS how am I supposed to choose between dorian and chaol when their both such amazing characters?
Just wasn't enough to be a 5 star BUT it was close.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Slavery, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Vomit and Sexual assault
ladydeathnesta's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.25
I had a harder time getting through this book than any other SJM book. That being said, it was still a good book, and vital to the storyline for the rest of the series. This book is definitely the turning point of the storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Hate crime, Body horror, Stalking, War, Abandonment, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
nayomschwen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Slavery
erafact's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Blood, Confinement, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
kamrynkoble's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Oh my word! Gah. Those are the two things that keep popping in my head.
I love this. This was a huge step up for me from AB and TOG and I still enjoyed both of them. I love these characters so much already and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I love this. This was a huge step up for me from AB and TOG and I still enjoyed both of them. I love these characters so much already and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Minor: Slavery and Sexual content
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
5.0
This was such a strong sequel and I can’t wait to see how the story continues to progress! Love being back with these characters ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, War, Death, Slavery, and Murder
Spoiler
slavery in the sense that people are sent to the mines to basically die or suffer the entire time they’re thereSpoiler
laceylove's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Child death, Classism, Stalking, Confinement, Genocide, Death of parent, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Rape, and Torture
ktmcd26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A solid follow-up the first book in the series. It picks up not long after the original book and includes all of the players that we saw in the first with very few few additions. It primarily serves as a bridge book, primarily setting up what’s to come next. And I think it does that in a compelling way.
However, one of the main devices to move us to that next section is a very explicitly racist and sexist troupe. I knew that something like this was coming based on other critiques of this author, but I didn’t expect it to be this blatant.
Our three main characters are all kind of navigating the same basic journey of discovering where they fit into the larger picture of the world around them. It’s interesting to see how they are all handling it differently, and I am more surprised than anyone to find I think Dorian is handling it the best.
Celeana needs to stop taking things that people say at face value. She has yet to learn to think just one layer deeper, and critically analyze the information see is receiving. I think once she does that and has a chance to process her past (and not resort to murder as a first resort), she will become a more enjoyable heroine to read. I will be looming for that character development in the next few books.
Now for Chaol. O Chaol, I need to stop loving this boy for his potential and acknowledge his actual actions.
I do think this book does and excellent job of telling a young love story. The highs and lows are felt very acutely. And the complexities that come with love are also explored.
However, one of the main devices to move us to that next section is a very explicitly racist and sexist troupe.
Spoiler
The only main character of color and the only other female character was brutally murdered for the sole purpose of propelling the main character forward in the story. This is also not conjecture or reading between the lines; there is a whole chapter dedicated to spelling it out for the reader.Our three main characters are all kind of navigating the same basic journey of discovering where they fit into the larger picture of the world around them. It’s interesting to see how they are all handling it differently, and I am more surprised than anyone to find I think Dorian is handling it the best.
Celeana needs to stop taking things that people say at face value. She has yet to learn to think just one layer deeper, and critically analyze the information see is receiving. I think once she does that and has a chance to process her past (and not resort to murder as a first resort), she will become a more enjoyable heroine to read. I will be looming for that character development in the next few books.
Now for Chaol. O Chaol, I need to stop loving this boy for his potential and acknowledge his actual actions.
I do think this book does and excellent job of telling a young love story. The highs and lows are felt very acutely. And the complexities that come with love are also explored.
Spoiler
I am relieved the author didn’t try to drag out the reveal that Celeana is the lost princess any longer because that would have gotten cumbersome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Racism, Murder, and Slavery
Moderate: War and Rape
jcrawford31's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit, War, Torture, and Slavery
gretchenplz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
I found this book to be much slower in pace than I expected. It took me until almost halfway to get fully into it.
I find Celaena to be a complicated protagonist, and I'm not sure that I actually like her. I find her logic confusing, especially when it comes to keeping secrets from her vs. her keeping secrets herself.
I'm still firmly #TeamChaol (if that is even a thing).
I find it pretty offensive to kill off the only POC character, but I digress.
Looking forward to reading the next book. I was told by some friends to read The Assassin's Blade now (3rd) instead of after Heir of Fire (4th). I think I'm going to do that to get some backstory now and be able to delve into the true plot fully once that is out of the way (plus I'm not sure I'm ready for a 600 page book rn).
I find Celaena to be a complicated protagonist, and I'm not sure that I actually like her. I find her logic confusing, especially when it comes to keeping secrets from her vs. her keeping secrets herself.
I'm still firmly #TeamChaol (if that is even a thing).
I find it pretty offensive to kill off the only POC character, but I digress.
Looking forward to reading the next book. I was told by some friends to read The Assassin's Blade now (3rd) instead of after Heir of Fire (4th). I think I'm going to do that to get some backstory now and be able to delve into the true plot fully once that is out of the way (plus I'm not sure I'm ready for a 600 page book rn).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Rape