amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical trauma, Blood, Murder, Torture, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
anniereads221's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Vomit, War, Violence, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Sexism, Torture, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Murder
PTSDreadwithde'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
4.25
While I get why Mare would be kept prisoner for so long, I would have preferred more interactions with the court, if not with Maven.
Spoiler
Even bringing in Evangeline's POV chapters earlier would have helped that section fill out a bit more, even if it tipped her family's hand a bit.Cameron was an interesting POV for the Scarlet Guard/red side of things, which again left much of the political machinations off the page, but at least gave the basics. Even Kilorn would have been a better choice, in my opinion.
I feel like the final third of the book dragged a bit, at least up until the climax,
Spoiler
the second battle at Corvium.Spoiler
Mare was rescued by the Scarlet Guard.Finally,
Spoiler
I know we should want Cal to choose Mare, but I don't think he's wrong to ask Mare to choose him instead. I'm hoping there is a way for compromise in the final book, but I'm happy that each of them are actually dealing with what they want instead of throwing away their convictions, training, or lives.Overall, this was a strong sequel, and I was surprised by a few things; I'm very excited to read the final book and the short stories.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Vomit
llsugarspicell'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
4.25
⛔️ Spoilers ahead ⛔️
Spoiler
I loved Cameron and Evangeline POVs and enjoyed being in their heads for a change. Mare is good but she can’t pick aside just like Cal, she’s desperate and in love-hate relationship with Maven … yes she hates him but at the same time he’s all she can think about and want his attention and get jealous and want to convince herself she doesn’t care about him all the time.
Maven’s back story just broke me, i mean i guessed before his mother did something with his brain but I didn’t imagine it to be that bad, she converted him into a sociopath and i just hated her more.
and can we talk about how the bath tub scene is THE BEST .. I don’t know why but my heart broke into millions and millions pieces after reading that chapter it was so great i felt every emotion … I’m not ready to read how my mavey baby gonna die 😢😭💔
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Moderate: Vomit