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paigekrug45'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
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Torture and Fire/Fire injury
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: insects, mind control, loss of a loved one Minor: sick parent, gentrificationknockoffrainbow'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
starrysteph'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
4.5
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
bookishflower'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
4.0
- Lesbian rep
- Filipino-inspired fantasy
- star-crossed lovers
- childhood friends-to-lovers
- 'I'd let the world burn but never let it touch you' trope
This is a book I can tell will stay with me for a long time.
I think the shining star of Dauntless is without a doubt the characterisation. Both Seri and Tsana felt their age and incredibly human, with their PTSD, relationship, and coming-of-age arc handled beautifully. (I am officially a Tsana protector, if anyone says anything mean about her I am running at high speed to your location. Eshai is also very relatable, if you've ever hidden in self-preservation or felt responsible for everyone at the expense of your own welfare be prepared to cry).
The wonderful writing and world building was beautiful and completely immersive with a dark underside. The lack of a clear moral judgement or good and evil between the two people added a wonderful depth to the book too. However, this never takes over the story. The found family relationship between Seri and Eshai, Eshai and Lavit's relationship, and Tsana and Seri's lesbian romance creates the needed light and hope to balance the dark.
This was a beautiful book that deserves to get so much love!
I'm very thankful and proud to have read this book early as a part of the street team for Dauntless (all opinions are my own), and I'm very excited to be able to gush about this book with everyone on July 19th!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Classism