Scan barcode
rafaelsampaio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
gabsoulutely's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I am giving it a 3.75 stars because the ending was better than I thought it would be. I really wish the best for the characters involved, but man it's so sad that there's so much drama and trauma for the main characters. It's truly such a difficult read in the topics that they focus on, including sexual assault and so much political intrigue. Even murder and kidnapping. Just so much happened in this book and I'm like overwhelmed. I still barely know who's who in this book, but I do appreciate Addam.
TW: detailed description of sexual assault, attempted murder, murder, and kidnapping.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Genocide
maregred's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, and Colonisation
greycifer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Slavery, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
banannafox'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
5.0
This was a reread and I loved it all over again.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Rune often uses fire attacks on enemies.starlitpage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Classism
20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Trafficking, and Alcohol
wardenred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I hear all the cool bodyguards love to shut their clients in a strange room with a strange man. Extra points when zombies are involved.
This series has been recommended to me more times than I can count, but I've shied away from it because of the trigger warnings. I cracked open the Amazon sample once, and the way Rune's past trauma was mentioned/handled at the very beginning didn't sit well with me. But the recs kept coming, so I eventually caved, and wow, I don't regret it one bit! There were some aspects of the trauma narrative I remained slightly put out by until the end, I admit, but there were also scenes where I liked the handling of it, and anyway, there is just SO MUCH MORE to this book.
I really loved the worldbuilding and how it was delivered. The author uses my absolute favorite approach: just plunge the reader in the middle of things, throw in a bunch of stuff that is completely natural to the POV character so he doesn't dwell on every detail and just experiences things instead of actively explaining them, and wait until it all makes sense. A tad overwhelming at first, but by the end of first act I felt like I had a strong grasp on the basics of the setting, and then more exciting stuff kept getting added throughout the book, making for a super exciting kitchen-sink-type urban fantasy setting with complex political relations between the Tarot-inspred courts and an interesting take on the Vancian magic system. And it's not just the worldbuilding info that's delivered this way: Rune definitely keeps secrets from the reader that he alludes to periodically—or rather, it's not that he actively keeps secrets, it's that he only narrates what is immediately relevant. So I'm very excited to keep reading and learning more about all the things that's been hinted at.
The character dynamics are a huge strength of the story. There's a big web of relationships growing around Rune, each of them unique and compelling. I particularly adored the relationship he has with Brand, and how most of their interactions consist of sniping at each other in fluent sarcasm, but when it matters, they're always able to brush it aside and have an honest, vulnerable conversation. I also liked the budding relationship between Rune and Addam, and Rune's interactions with Lord Tower, and so many more connections. Also, the banter is absolutely to die for. I may have burst out into loud laughter at least four times. I also found myself a huge fan of action scenes here. A lot of them are long, but they never feel drown out and are always exciting in more ways than one, slipping in plenty of character development and worldbuilding info between all the tension.
The plotting overall is solid, both in terms of delivering a self-contained adventure and setting up the foundations for an overarching plot. I was, however, a bit annoyed by the number of times the characters were backed into a corner and then saved by a happy accident. Though this kind of thing was easier to stomach when I remembered that
Finally, a shoutout to Josh Hurley who's 100% one of the best audiobook narrators I've come across. Such an amazing job making every character feel distinct and maintaining the mood throughout!
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement and Rape
remimicha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
littlebopeep's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder and Blood