The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
buttermellow'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: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Colonisation, Infertility, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Deadnaming and Death
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The queer representation was good. I empathized with Wyattâhis self-loathing, his anger, his tendency to lash out instead of facing his emotions, and his selfishnessâeven when he frustrated me SO MUCH.
I did like a lot of the secondary characters as well, but overall it seemed like the author was so focused on examining Wyattâs internal struggles that not enough focus was spent on making any of the other characters very nuanced or multi-dimensional. (Tessaâs arc is, I think, meant to involve growth and development, but it comes across more as a clumsy and sudden about face.)
I also didnât think the author did a good enough job of making us understand why Emyr found a marriage to Wyatt so necessary that he was willing to force him into it under penalty of death. It just didnât feel fleshed out enough to read as believable, which gave the entire premise of the story a sort-of unmoored quality. (Maybe multiple POVs would have helped here?)
Plus I felt like a lot of the plot development got squished into the last 20% or so of the book, making it read very much like an attempt to quickly tie up lose ends and insert twists where they didnât feel necessarily natural just to set up the events of the second book. (The big âaha!â moment at the end when the villain is confronted felt very similar to the end of a Scooby-Doo episode: âand I wouldâve gotten away with it too, if it werenât for you meddling kids!â)
Finally, a lot about the way witches in this story are born to (and subsequently rejected by) Fae families seemed to be an allegory for the queer experience, especially when at one point, that similarity is explicitly pointed out on page by Wyatt.
You have the Fae (conservative) businesses refusing service to the witches, then the guard (police) siding with the Fae when they protest/incite violence against witches using language most readers would immediately associate with white supremacists.Â
But at the same time, this allegory breaks apart when you consider this magical realm is also supposed to exist WITHIN the current, human world (and that there also exist Fae queer people). If an allegory is meant to be a fictional representation of a real-world people, institution, or concept, how can that allegory exist in a fictional story where the very real thing itâs meant to be representing ALSO exists? So maybe itâs not meant to be allegory at all, I donât know, but I found my confusion over it very distracting as I was reading.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility
itsapaxycab'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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Violence
Moderate: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Abandonment, and Death of parent
ashylibrarian's review
- 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 have had this book on my radar for about a year now, and I finally read The Witch King for the #TransRightsReadathon. I am so happy I added this to my list.
I had a lot of fun with this one. Through humor-filled banter and action-packed adventure, H.E. Edgmon addresses important ideas of found family, the spectrum of gender and sexuality, and so much more. I have been slowly working my way up to reading more fantasy books, and this one did not disappoint.Â
I will be recommending this title!
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Child abuse
sglance9's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia, Bullying, Police brutality, Deadnaming, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Colonisation and Infertility
betweentheshelves's review
- 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
Wyatt and Emyr's evolving relationship is also what kept me hooked. Even though they've lost a lot of years, you can tell there's a strong connection and great chemistry between them. They have a rocky start, but Edgmon did a great job writing the both of them. It's why I immediately needed the next book as well!
The only aspect I would have changed is a bit more world building and a bit more clarity in the timeline. At times, I felt a bit lost and a few more details would have helped situate me a little more in this particular world.
Aside from that, I was absolutely hooked and I can't wait to see what happens in book 2!
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage, Child abuse, and Infertility
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.75
I've been meaning to read this book since it's release and I'm so glad I finally did! We get found family, being true to yourself, romance, soulmates, and so much more. I'm looking forward to reading book two and for them both to be available in paperback so I can buy and annotate my own copies đ„°Â
Graphic: Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Transphobia
Moderate: Infertility, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Fatphobia
Minor: Pregnancy
lyd41's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Mental illness, Infertility, Gore, Grief, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Suicide, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Deportation, Deadnaming, Death, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit, and Police brutality
Minor: Genocide, Stalking, Physical abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
greyys_libraryy'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Deadnaming, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
Minor: Gore, Infertility, and Sexual assault
kstrammel's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Vomit, Terminal illness, Confinement, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Child abuse, and Transphobia
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Police brutality